The College plays a key role in the development of the research of art and design, both nationally and internationally.
The RCA is unusual both in its particular juxtaposition of art in a design environment and design in an art environment, and in its advancement of knowledge in the principles of art and design in their specific relation to industrial and commercial processes. The belief that knowledge can be generated, and questions answered, through analytic scholarship, experimentation and innovative examples of artefacts and designs, underpins our developing research projects and disciplines. Our interdisciplinary structure has facilitated our rapidly expanding research profile, as has our commitment to individual research practice, enquiry and output of international excellence. See RCA Research Environment for more information.
The
RCA’s academic environment is enhanced by extensive partnerships with
other world-class institutions – academic, museum and industrial –
including Imperial College London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the
National Portrait Gallery and the Science Museum. In addition to
Research Council, public-sector and trust-sponsored projects,
collaboration with business is an increasingly important component of
the College’s contribution to the creative economy. Business
partnerships have included projects with Apple Computer, Philips,
Hewlett-Packard, Interval (California) and IDEO Product Design. The strength of the RCA’s funding model is the balance between
Research Council funding, trusts and foundations and industrial
support. See Research Funding for more information.
Professor Jeremy Aynsley is the newly appointed Director of Research at the Royal College of Art. To view his Research Profile click here.