The great majority of contracted academic staff who work at the College are, first and foremost, professional artists and designers. It’s this invaluable perspective – that of working art and design professionals, constantly embracing and evolving new ideas – that all our teaching staff are able to bring to their academic work. The majority of staff also conduct research, seeking to engage with issues that drive the various disciplines.

Hundreds of visiting staff come to the RCA every year to provide lectures, seminars, masterclasses, crits and individual tutorials. They include pre-eminent artists, designers, intellectuals and business people from across the international stage; people who are attracted to the College because they like to share their knowledge and experience and to be involved. They know they will be working with extremely talented students – the professionals of tomorrow – and will be finding inspiration as well as providing it.

Technical staff are another vital resource within the College and in every programme expert technicians and technical instructors help students to develop their skills and realise their potential. Often our technicians have moved into the College from industry and so the connection with the real world of professional practice applies here too. Details of technical staff in each academic programme can be found under Programmes.

Profiles of academic staff – which detail their biographies and special areas of expertise including professional practice, external collaborations and research activity – can be viewed by clicking on the links below.