Design Products

Gareth Williams

The new Senior Tutor will talk about his previous role as curator of twentieth century and contemporary furniture at the V&A, various exhibition and gallery projects and his current project, a book and exhibition to take place this summer called ‘Telling Tales, Fantasy and Fear in Contemporary Design’.

Ways of Working in Design; Bill Amberg, Libby Sellers and Paul Priestman, in conversation with Sebastian Bergne

Visiting Professor Sebastian Bergne will lead a discussion with three very distinguished design figures about different career paths that can be taken in Design. Bill Amberg is a designer of leather luxury goods and interiors, Libby Sellers is an independent gallerist and curator of contemporary design and Paul Priestman is a partner in the product, transport & environment design consultancy Priestman Goode.

James Auger

James is currently a research fellow within the Interaction Design department at the RCA collaborating with Philips Research. Between March 2002 and Jan 2005 he was a research associate at Media Lab Europe. The aim of this research was to explore technology's effect on human culture, behaviour and experience. During this time he collaborated with Jimmy Loizeau on several projects including the Audio Tooth Implant and the Iso-phone. After Media Lab he moved to Japan to Work for Issey Miyake. He has an Engineering apprenticeship from Rolls-Royce (aero engines) and an MA in Design Products from the Royal College of Art in London. Prior to the RCA James worked in the field of model-making and special effects for film and advertising.

Deyan Sudjic

Director of the Design Museum, and Visiting Professor of Design Products, Deyan Sudjic will talk about the Language of Things, the title of his recent book (Allen Lane, 2008).

Who are we designing for? Konstantin Grcic in conversation with Sebastian Bergne

Sebastian Bergne will discuss the different clients and purposes of design with Konstantin Grcic. Grcic defines function in human terms, combining formal strictness with considerable mental acuity and humour. Each of his products is characterized by his careful research into the history of design and architecture and his passion for technology and materials. Known for pared-down pieces, Grcic is often called a minimalist but the designer himself prefers to speak of simplicity. Konstantin Grcic Industrial Design (KGID) was founded in 1991. The office specializes in various fields of design ranging from furniture and industrial products to exhibition design and architecture related work. KGID is working for some of the leading names of the international design industry. Many of their products have received international design awards and form part of the permanent collections of the world´s most prestigious museums (MoMA / New York, Centre Georges Pompidou / Paris, Die Neue Sammlung / Munich, V&A / London). In June 2005 Phaidon Press London published the first comprehensive monograph about the work of Konstantin Grcic, edited by Florian Böhm.

Tomoko Azumi

t.n.a. design studio is a multi cultural design team based in East London, led by Tomoko Azumi. Since being founded in 2005, the studio has undertaken design work in the fields of furniture, household and electrical products, and lighting. It also carries out exhibition and commercial space design, as well as research projects. “Although our goals vary according to the nature of the project, we always thrive on context and history, and enjoy the challenges of fabrication methods and materials. We aim to improve the quality of daily life, its functionality and visual landscape.” Tomoko has also been a tutor for the Yamaha project for Platform 2 this term.

Sarah Teasley

Sarah Teasley, the new CHS tutor for Design Products, is a specialist in Japanese design. She received her postgraduate degrees from Musashino Art University and the University of Tokyo, and taught at Northwestern University in Chicago before arriving at the RCA. In this talk, she will introduce some of her past projects and current research on design, technology, gender and media in twentieth-century Japan.