Tutor; Research) Design Products, School of Design; fte

Tutor (Research) - Design Products

Royal College of Art | School of Communication & Design | 0.8 FTE | Permanent

The Royal College of Art is seeking an outstanding practitioner and researcher in the expanded field of Design Products to join our School of Communication & Design.

The School offers programmes spanning industry-focused design, experimental and theoretical practice, and collaboration with engineering and science. With a strong culture of innovation, experimentation and debate, the School explores the boundaries of knowledge across industrial design, design engineering, product design, service design, critical design, systems and services, social innovation, new materials and global approaches to design.

Design Products explores new terrain for designing products, questioning what a product is and how design can contribute to better futures. The programme embraces areas including design subtraction, multi-species design, circularity, design justice, decolonising design, new materials and design within wider systems.

Working with industry, start-ups, governments and global agencies, the programme explores new locations and relationships for designing products and considers the experiences and impacts generated through design interventions.

As Tutor (Research), you will make a significant contribution to teaching, research and the wider academic life of the Design Products programme. You will support postgraduate students through tutorials, workshops, seminars and critiques, provide constructive feedback, contribute to assessment and help shape an innovative and forward-thinking curriculum.

You will also teach from your own research and practice, contribute to exhibitions, events and cross-College activities, and support student recruitment and academic administration.

A key aspect of the role will be developing and disseminating your own research. You will be expected to produce research outputs of at least 3 *, develop research funding opportunities and build collaborative relationships that contribute to the research culture and reputation of the School and College.

Design Products will introduce a new two-year MDes programme from 2027/28. To support this development, we are particularly interested in candidates with experience in physical computing, stakeholder relationship management and/or entrepreneurship, including founding or venture building.

You will have a relevant degree and either a PhD or equivalent professional practice or academic achievement. You will bring experience of design practice, ideally with an entrepreneurial or leadership dimension, alongside subject expertise in areas such as physical computing, digital and physical interaction design, healthcare design, materials or modelling.

You will have experience of studio-led teaching, curriculum development and supervising postgraduate academic work, together with strong physical prototyping and design critique skills. You will also demonstrate a commitment to high-quality teaching, research, collaboration and an inclusive learning environment.

Join the RCA and help shape the future of Design Products through innovative teaching, ambitious research and creative practice.

This role closes for applications m on 2 September 2026

Interviews are expected to take place: early September 2026 with a view to commence employment as soon as possible thereafter.