Design for the Real World exhibition
An exhibition of inclusive and people-centred design projects
Friday 21 September - Wednesday 3 October
10am-5:30pm daily - Free admission
Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU
Nearest tube: High Street Kensington, South Kensington
Buses: 9, 10, 52, 452
A symposium and private view was held at the Royal College of Art on Thursday 20 September.
The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design's annual exhibition of work by its research associateswas devised for the 2012 London Design Festival as a joint show with SustainRCA to mark the 40th anniversary of the English-language publication of Victor Papanek's seminal text, Design for the Real World.
In 1972, at a time of rampant consumerism, Papanek made a powerful case for the importance of inclusive and sustainable design in meeting the real needs of people.
Both aspects of Papanek's legacy are explored in the Design for the Real World exhibition, which runs from 21 September to 3 October inclusive.
In the Entrance gallery, the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design presented a range of inclusive and human-centred design projects by the Helen Hamlyn Research Associates 2012 - sixteen new RCA design graduates. Themes focused on ageing, diversity, health, working life and the city.
In the Upper Gulbenkian Gallery opposite, Sustain RCA, the cross-College centre for sustainability led by Clare Brass, presented the best sustainable design concepts by graduating RCA students.
Helen Hamlyn Professor of Design Jeremy Myerson commented: 'The Papanek anniversary provides a good platform to show current RCA research and projects in inclusive and sustainable design. At a time of tough economic challenges, here is an opportunity to demonstrate the relevance of taking a social responsive and human-centred design approach.'
