RCA x Design for Good Academy launches to empower designers to address UN Sustainable Development Goals

Running from January to April 2024, the RCA x Design for Good Academy aims to empower experienced professional designers with the knowledge and skills to create solutions that address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The course is led by Dr Nick de Leon and Dr Delfina Fantini van Ditmar from the School of Design, delivered with expert RCA academics and invited industry practitioners including Jeroen Spoelstra and Damien Lutz from the Life Centered Design collective. 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 275 participants drawn from 22 countries including Brazil, India, the USA and the UK, this collaboration marks the largest live international online course ever initiated by the RCA. Through a carefully curated curriculum of 6 taught Modules and 3 expert Masterclass Talks alongside an online virtual learning environment, the global cohort of participants can access learning resources at their own pace and convenience.

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 for Design for Good alliance members, the RCA x Design for Good Academy is hosting three free public Masterclass Talks, open to all as live webinars.

The talks will feature leading experts in the field of design and sustainability:

• Masterclass Talk: Don Norman (Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Science and Psychology, and Founding Director of the Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego), 6 February 2024
• Masterclass Talk: Daniel Christian Wahl (Consultant, Educator and Activist), 5 March 2024
• Masterclass Talk: Terry Behan, Head of Design at Nedbank South Africa, and Sandy Speicher, Design and Innovation Leader, 9 April 2024

Find more information about the masterclass talks here

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.

This collaboration between the Royal College of Art's Executive Education team and Design for Good sets a precedent for future initiatives that seek to unite the design community in addressing the world's most pressing issues.