Deputy Director
Tel: +44 (0)20 7590 4242
E-mail: rama.gheerawo@rca.ac.uk
Academic and research background
Rama joined the Helen Hamlyn Centre at its inception in 1999 and now leads a team of design researchers on the Centre's Research Associate Programme working closely with business partners on applied inclusive design research projects.
Rama has experience in the creative industry and has worked in the automotive, product design, multimedia design and design engineering sectors. He writes, publishes, lectures and curates exhibitions on inclusive design to audiences that include students, academics, designers, industry and government.
His first degree was a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London and his second degree was an MA in Industrial Design Engineering from the Royal College of Art.
Research interests
Rama specialises in people-centred design practice, the development of core methodology and knowledge transfer to business. His key areas of interest include transport, technology and independent living - the creation of products, services and environments that give marginalised groups greater choice and sustained independence in their daily lives.
His work with the Research Associates Programme focuses on 'innovation through inclusive design' looking at how involving these groups can create new opportunities for mainstream business. Central to this is the articulation of the business benefits of inclusive design and the creation of management models to incubate the inclusive design process in industry.
Rama uses a range of research methodologies including 'close-to-consumer' ethnography and maintains a practical focus. His work also investigates the role of the designer within a people-centred context.
Current projects
Rama leads the Centre’s Research Associate Programme which teams recent design graduates of the Royal College of Art with industry partners to work on year-long inclusive design research projects. Work focuses on knowledge transfer to business and ranges across the Centre's themes from healthcare to workplace to technology - a growing research strand within the programme - and independent living. Recent partners have included Nokia, Research in Motion, Toyota, Levi Strauss, B&Q, Orange and GlaxoSmithKline.
Rama is Deputy Chairman of the Paper Review Committee of the Centre's biennual Include conference for the last six years.
He has curated and contributed to exhibitions on people-centred design worldwide. He has been a member of judging panels looking at socially-centred design, most recently for D&AD in the UK.
Rama sits on the Approval Committee for Engage, the business network for Help the Aged and is an invited member of the Inclusion by Design Group for CABE, the UK government's advisory group on architecture, urban and public space. He is also the UK Director and representative for EIDD, a European-wide Design for All network.
Rama has been made the Worshipful Company of Carmen Research Reader in the RCA Vehicle Design Department where he furthers the remit of inclusive design.
2008
Gheerawo R & Bichard J (2008) 'Accessing Aspirations - Inspirational Kitchen and Bathroom Design for Older People' Abstract published in International Federation of Ageing 9th Global Conference ' Ageing & Design' Montreal 4-7 September
McGinley C, R. Gheerawo, Slater A (2008) 'Enlightened: Designing domestic lighting for older people' Abstract published in International Federation of Ageing 9th Global Conference ' Ageing & Design' Montreal 4-7 September
Gheerawo R. & Bichard J (2008) Living Independently: accessing aspirations for kitchen design in Access by Design: The Journal of the Centre for Accessible Environments Issue 114 Spring 2008
Gheerawo R & Matthews E (2008) 'Academia and industry: managing knowledge transfer to improve patient safety' in proceedings, International DMI Education Conference,14-15 April, Cergy-Pointoise, France
