Student connections with industry

A two-way creative exchange

Exchange with industry is an important aspect of the RCA learning experience. It helps students to broaden their understanding of the creative industries as well as build networks and make connections with key individuals and organisations relevant to their practice. Through collaborative briefs such as Studio Projects, students gain insights into real world constraints, the latest technologies and new ways of working.

“Working with industry teams opens a rare window for students into the workings of the industry, broadening their contextual understanding and informing them on design and production processes, priorities and directions for development.”
Alon Meron Tutor, RCA x OPPO project lead

Expand the possibilities of your practice

Opportunities range from School-wide projects supported by multiple industry partners, such as the Grand Challenge and Design for Good, to individual guest projects and lectures within individual programmes.

Our students have exhibited digital works with Outernet, explored the future of technology with OPPO, curated exhibitions with leading London galleries, and developed credible and sustainable solutions to the climate crisis as part of the Terra Carta Design Lab.

While all our degrees offer these opportunities, our MFAs in Arts & Humanities and Communication, and MDes in Design Futures, have been specifically designed to enable industry-based learning such as placements or action research projects as part of their curriculum.

“Through idea sharing on the first day, we saw how an idea could be built very quickly from nothing [...]. This rapid feedback meant you could make instant improvements to your idea and quickly identify the essentials.”
Charles Leclercq student participant

BA 2119: Flight of the Future exhibition

Innovative business support

Students interested in starting their own business can find support through InnovationRCA, the College’s centre for entrepreneurship and commercialisation. InnovationRCA provides incubation for new businesses, offers advice to students on Intellectual Property (IP) and patents, as well as business support through expert coaching and business mentoring.

Startups supported through InnovationRCA cross disciplines, from the world's first sustainable leather and a device for sketching in 3D through augmented reality, to luxury scarves and homeware brand Emma Shipley and gender-fluid jewellery brand Räthel & Wolf.

Daniela Paredes Fuentes, Co-Founder of Gravity Sketch, an InnovationRCA Incubated Start-Up

Design for Good will work towards solutions for clean water and sanitation.

Design for Good: RCA students collaborate with industry to create solutions for clean water and sanitation

Five RCA students share their experience of using human-centred design to create impactful products and services that address the United Nations's Sustainable Development Goal 6: clean water and sanitation.