Dr Sarah Teasley Appointed as New Head of History of Design
The RCA is delighted to announce Dr Sarah Teasley as the new Head of the V&A/RCA History of Design programme at the Royal College of Art.Â
Dr Teasley is currently Reader in Design History and Theory in the School of Humanities at the RCA, where she has taught since 2009 in History of Design and served as Critical & Historical Studies Liaison Tutor for Design. She is known internationally for her work on gender, class and technology in modern Japanese design, and for developing global history as a perspective for design history research, and has been exploring design history’s potential as a research method for policy-making and design practice, an initiative increasingly recognised in industry, government and academia alike.Â
She has previously taught at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Northwestern University. An international education includes degrees from Princeton University and Musashino Art University and her PhD from the University of Tokyo. External grants include awards and funding from the AHRC, British Academy, Association of Asian Studies, Design History Society, Andrew W Mellon Foundation and the Japanese Ministry of Education.
Dr Teasley’s publications include Global Design History (Routledge, 2011) and 20th Century Design History (Petit Grand Publishing, 2005), as well as numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles. She currently serves as a member of the AHRC Peer Review College, and is on the editorial board of Design Issues. Sarah is past vice-president of the Design Studies Forum and associate editor of its peer-reviewed journal, Design and Culture.
Professor Jane Pavitt, Dean of the School of Humanities said: 'I am delighted to welcome Sarah as the new Head of History of Design. Building on her previous work at the RCA as Senior Tutor and Reader in design history and theory, she brings a depth of knowledge and vision to the programme that will ensure its vitality in coming years. The V&A/RCA History of Design programme holds a very special place at the College – in that it unites history with design practice in a unique way, based on the partnership with the V&A Museum, which has existed, in some form or another, since the founding of both institutions. Sarah is especially well-placed to ensure that this continues – she is a skilled historian, with a very clear eye on the future.'
Professor Naren Barfield, Pro Rector (Academic) commented: 'The leadership of History of Design is a crucial role for the RCA, and for the future development of the successful and long-standing partnership between the V&A and the RCA. I am confident that Dr Teasley will fill that role with distinction, and will provide vision linked to breadth and academic rigour. An outstanding appointment from a very strong field of internationally respected academics, I am very pleased to welcome Sarah to the role and wish her, and the programme, well for the future.'
Dr Sarah Teasley said of her appointment: 'Today, emerging technologies and global connections have fundamentally changed how historians and designers work, and design is reaching new communities worldwide. As global leaders in design education, curation and collection with a strong public-facing mandate, the RCA and V&A provide unique opportunities for historians to engage with design practice past, present and future, and the History of Design programme is uniquely situated to take advantage of these strengths. I’m honoured and excited to work with colleagues on the V&A/RCA programme to shape new research, writing and curating agendas for the history of design and material culture.'
The V&A/RCA History of Design programme is an internationally acknowledged centre for the postgraduate study of design history, offering a two-year MA, MPhil and PhD programmes of study. Founded over 30 years ago, the programme is a centre for pioneering study in the history of design across global geographies, from the fifteenth century to the present day and beyond. Â The progamme is run in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum, affording students the opportunity to work with museum collections, curators, and a dedicated V&A team led by Dr Marta Ajmar, V&A Head of Graduate Studies. Graduates go on to influential careers in museums, the design and cultural sector worldwide.
Dr Teasley will take up the post in 2015.Â