The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design | Royal College of Art

South goal with boys

The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design is a global leader in Inclusive Design, Design Thinking and Creative Leadership, working with government, business, academia and the third sector.

About the centre

Design Different

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The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design
Royal College of Art
Rausing Research & Innovation Building
15 Parkgate Road
London SW11 4NL

[email protected]

The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design

Age and Diversity

How can designers shape a future that is inclusive of all?

RCA Creative Leadership Masterclass

Inclusive Design for Business Impact

How can Inclusive Design processes directly impact and influence business and industry?

SlowMo

Healthcare

How can design humanise healthcare in the 21st century?

Our Future Foyle

Inclusive Design for Social Impact

How can Inclusive Design be used to work with individuals and communities addressing pressing social issues in different global context?

Framing Privacy

PhD supervision at HHCD

The Centre works with RCA Schools to offer joint PhD supervision for candidates seeking to create new knowledge and practice within inclusive design.

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External Partnerships

The Centre works on design and research projects with business, government, community and public sector with small, medium-sized and large organisations.

Pathfinder Projects

How can we partner with you to help you scope new innovation and market opportunities in a way that is people-centred, creatively leading and future-focused?

Academic collaborations

Academic collaboration is a fundamental part of the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, leading to cutting edge research outputs and knowledge exchange.

Events and Conferences

The Helen Hamlyn Centre designs, hosts, and looks to partner with, different types of events including workshops, lectures, forums and conferences on a national and international scale.

External Education

Our External Education programme offers bespoke courses, workshops and modules in three areas: Inclusive Design, Design Thinking and Creative Leadership. We offer training, teaching and professional development for business, government, academia and the third sector.

Thought Leadership

The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design shares its knowledge through a variety of channels to provide thought leadership in the field of inclusive design. As the originator of the term ‘inclusive design’ it has been the go-to source of cutting edge developments in this space for over thirty years. Ongoing development of knowledge occurs through several channels, including live projects, industry and academic collaboration, executive education, policy intervention, public promotion and publication.

Associate Director of Research

Melanie is a psychologist and neuroscientist whose research enquiry is at the intersection of design, systems thinking and cognitive neuroscience.

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Helen Hamlyn Chair of Design

Jeremy has been academic, author and activist in design for more than 40 years. He co-founded the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design in 1999.

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Senior Research Fellow

Chris is a Senior Research Fellow and Reader in Inclusive Design at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design (HHCD), based in the Royal College of Art (RCA), where he leads the Age and Diversity research space, and the Design Age Institute’s Research Unit.

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Innovation Fellow, Inclusive Design for Business Impact

Dr Ninela Ivanova is an interdisciplinary designer, researcher, facilitator, and innovation lead.

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Senior Research Associate

Gail is a design researcher. Her research addresses social challenges through participatory and co-design methods with citizens and communities.

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Research Centre Administrator

Senior Research Associate

Katie is a designer whose work celebrates neuro-diversity and whose research explores how design can improve living environments for autistic adults.

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Senior Post Doctoral Researcher

PhD Candidate

PhD Candidate

PhD Candidate

PhD Candidate

PhD Candidate

Royal College of Art Appoints New Chairs of Design at The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design

24 February 2025

World Toilet Day: RCA students design solutions to tackle toilets

19 November 2024

IN SESSION: Designing for Delight

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