The History of Design programme runs regular research seminars each autumn and spring term, at which invited speakers present their latest research. This event is open to the public, as well as staff and students of the course. The spring term 2010 Material Cultures of the Renaissance Research Seminars can be downloaded here and the spring term 2010 History of Design and Material Culture after 1800 Research Seminars (Modern and Asian Design History) can be downloaded here.

The History of Design programme is a lively research environment, regularly hosting conferences and symposia. It has also been the home to major research projects. From 2006–9, the programme was centrally involved in the AHRC-funded research project, 'The Viennese Café and Fin-de-siècle Culture', a collaboration with the School of History of Art, Film and Visual Media at Birkbeck College. This project was an extension of the work of the AHRC Centre for the Study of the Domestic Interior (2001–6), which the programme hosted. Staff are currently running a series of symposia and publications on approaches to global design history.