Open for Innovation

Delivered by the Royal College of Art’s Executive Education programme, the event will bring together up to 60 guests, including RCA academics, business leaders, innovation managers, community organisations and designers, to discuss how design-led innovation, creativity and collaboration with universities can contribute to the current challenges of business and wider society. - Explore new ways business, policy makers and higher education can collaborate to transform their capacity for innovation - Three interactive workshops designed by RCA Executive Education faculty including Dr Nick de Leon, Clive Grinyer and Colum Lowe - Network with business leaders, innovation managers and designers - Experience the new 7th floor Executive Education spaces, with 360 degree views of London - Take a behind the scenes guided tour of the research centres, IRCA incubator, MA studios and facilities - Access world leading research from RCA Research Centres and InnovationRCA - Join an exclusive networking group and stay connected with invitations to future talks and events. We welcome open applications to join this event. Sign up by sharing why you are interested in collaborating or working with universities on design led innovation. - Selected participants will be sent a booking link. - The attendance fee is £20.00 which includes refreshments during the event. - Spaces are limited, register early to avoid disappointment! Agenda 9.30am Arrival, registration and refreshments 10.00am Welcome address from Dr Nick de Leon and Dr Emma Wakelin. Invited industry speakers to be announced. 10.30am 3 x interactive small-group workshops, facilitated by leading RCA academics, industry partners and graduate ambassadors on: - Sustainability, led by Professor Clive Grinyer, Head of Service Design MA - Design for social innovation, led by Colum Lowe, Director, Design Age Institute - Responsible business growth and development, led by Dr Nick de Leon, Executive Education and Knowledge Exchange Lead 11.30am Key take-aways and reflections from the workshops are shared. 12.00pm Exclusive networking reception with refreshments on the Terrace with 360° panoramic views of London. 1.00pm Optional behind the scenes guided tour of the research centres, IRCA incubator, MA studios and facilities led by Dr Nick de Leon About Executive Education at the RCA Executive Education at the Royal College of Art delivers open and custom masterclasses, workshops and short courses that provide senior-level professionals with critical business skills, covering topics such as design thinking, service design, creative leadership, human-centred design, architecture, curating, graphic design and contemporary art practice. Granting access to advanced level lectures and seminars by RCA academic faculty as well as notable guest speakers and industry practitioners, Executive Education is a meeting place for ambitious professionals wanting to further develop their creative skills and global network. About the Royal College of Art The Royal College of Art is the world's leading university of art and design. Specialising in teaching and research, the RCA offers degrees of MA, MPhil, MRes and PhD across the disciplines of architecture, arts & humanities, design and communications. The RCA's approach is founded on the premise that art, design, creative thinking, science, engineering and technology must all collaborate to solve today's global challenges. In 2022 the RCA was named the world's leading university of art and design in the QS World Rankings for the eighth consecutive year. A specialist and research-intensive postgraduate university, the RCA is based in the heart of London – which is home to the top two art and design universities globally.