RCA x Design for Good Academy 2026

For the forth year, the RCA x Design for Good Academy will enable creatives from the Design for Good alliance to enhance their ability to design and implement integrated products and services to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Starting in October 2026 and running until March 2027, six modules will be taught by leading faculty and leaders from the Royal College of Art (RCA), Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town, Imperial College London, Stanford University, Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID), FLAME University, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL+ECAL Lab) and UK Design Council.

The topics and speakers to include:

• Principles and Processes of Mission-led Innovation for People and Planet Health, featuring Dr Nick de Leon, Design for Good Co-founder, and Cat Drew, Chief Design Officer, UK Design Council
• The Application of Green Design Skills and Co-design Practices, featuring Richard Perez, Founding Director of the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town
• Understanding Wicked Problems and Design for Complex Systems, featuring Dr Cristobal Garcia-Herrera, Director of Wicked Labs, Imperial Business School
• Harnessing the Power of Nature-inspired design for People and Planet, featuring Dr de Leon and Steve Blank, adjunct professor in the Department of Management Science and Engineering,Stanford University
• Harnessing the Power of Nature-based Solutions for People and Planet, featuring Simona Maschi, co-founder and director of the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, and Dr Amit Kundal, associate professor and dean at the School of Design, Art and Performance, FLAME University
• Transforming Concepts into Impactful Propositions, featuring Dr de Leon and Nicolas Henchoz, founding director of the EPFL + ECAL Lab

The Academy will operate as a networked model, where each of the academics contribute to modules in a shared curriculum. RCA will act as the academic anchor, designing the overall programme framework and narrative and providing coordination, certification and quality assurance. This structure ensures the RCA x Design for Good Academy learning outcomes remain globally scalable and locally grounded, building a long-term international community of creatives equipped to address interconnected social and environmental challenges.

Participants will delve into the intersection of design and social responsibility, and explore avenues to create meaningful change in their communities and professional spheres by applying the learning to a real life project or activity.

With up to 1000 participants, this collaboration marks the largest longstanding international online course ever initiated by the RCA.

The Design for Good alliance comprises a growing list of the world’s largest companies and organisations including Logitech, McKinsey & Company, Philips, Microsoft, Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal College of Art.

Alongside the course, the RCA x Design for Good Academy is hosting two free public Masterclass Talks, open to all as live webinars.

This year’s series will feature two masterclasses: one from OpenStudio on Designing with AI and another from the RCA-led Ecological Citizen(s) Network+.

The free online talks are an opportunity to engage directly with experts, ask questions, and gain a more nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities in designing for positive impact.