The Royal College of Art Podcast

00:00 – Intro from professor Christoph Lindner 02:00 – Meet the guests: Zey Suka-Bill & Damien Roach 03:04 – The truth about non-linear careers 08:01 – Why being a "multi-hyphenate" can help you succeed 09:38 – How to keep your creative curiosity alive 13:34 – Redefining the "entrepreneurial mindset" for artists 15:17 – Why talent is overrated (and resilience is everything)...

00:00:00 Introduction: Can creativity transform the future of healthcare? 00:01:35 From "nice-to-have" to vital: Defining creative health today 00:06:12 Making the invisible visible: Immersive tech and body image 00:11:45 Reclaiming the narrative: Finding the beauty in illness 00:17:30 Positive distraction: VR as a tool for empathy and healing 00:22:15 The systemic challenge: Funding, so...

00:00:00 Introduction: Will AI Nurture or Erode Our Relationship with Nature? 00:00:50 Will AI Nurture or Erode Our Relationship with Nature? 00:05:59 The Non-Human Lens: Is Our Humanness the Block to AI & Nature? 00:09:39 Data as an Art Material: A Taxonomy for Artists and Creatives 00:14:37 Project: Models of Care – Low-Resource AI & the Melting Glacier 00:17:58 Project: RAT Systems – Da...

In this episode of the RCA Podcast, RCA President Christoph Lindner speaks with artist and educator Sarah Staton and architect Liza Fior about the power of public art and architecture in shaping belonging, community, and inclusion. They explore its power to invite connection, the challenges of gentrification, and the ways art can redefine the spaces we share. Guests: Sarah Staton: Sculptor, educat...

In 2024, representatives from the Royal College of Art (RCA) joined the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) on an expedition from Greenland to Iceland onboard Royal Research Ship James Cook, but what exactly was an art school doing in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?  In this collaborative episode, Into the Blue Podcast and the Royal College of Art Podcast join together to explore the critical rol...

What does a genuinely ‘decentered’ space look like in creative education and the fashion industry? Ahead of the upcoming FACE (Fashion Academics Creating Equity) Summit at the Royal College of Art on November 7-8, 2024, we explore the deep, systemic work necessary to create fairer, more inclusive spaces within the arts and education. FACE is a pioneering collective founded to confront inequities i...

In the final episode of our Dean's Downloads series for RCA2024, we catch up with Kerry Curtis, Dean of the School of Communication. Kerry chats with Etan about The Festival of Communication, which takes place across a variety of London locations between 17 July and 4 August. They discuss the innovative programmes at the School, which explore how communication shapes our lives and develop new ways...

In the third episode of our Dean's Downloads series for RCA2024, we catch up with Professor Paul Anderson, Dean of the School of Design. We discuss the School's upcoming exhibition taking place from Friday 12 - Sunday 14 July at RCA Battersea Campus. The School's exhibition will take place across two weeks in the Studio Building on the RCA's Battersea Campus on Howie Street. Paul chats to Etan abo...

In the second episode of our Dean's Downloads series for RCA2024, we catch up with Dr Adrian Lahoud, Dean of the School of Architecture. The School's exhibition will take place at The Truman Brewery on London's Brick Lane from Friday 12 - Sunday 14 July 2024. Adrian chats to Etan about the School, how its programmes operate, and the themes of the work that will be on show. Programmes include: MA A...

In this episode, we chat to Kimberly Burrows. Kimberly graduated from the Royal College of Art with a MA in Painting in 2023, and continued her RCA journey as the President of the RCA Student Union. She is an interdisciplinary artist, disability advocate and model living and working in London. Kimberley is a recipient of the Tony Snowdon Scholarship, awarded by The Snowdon Trust to exceptional dis...

In the first episode of our Dean's Downloads series for RCA2024, we catch up with Ken Neil, Dean of the School of Arts & Humanities, to chat about the School's upcoming exhibition taking place from Thursday 20 - Sunday 23 June. In the midst of the exhibition install at the RCA's Battersea campus, Ken discusses the diverse offering of work that will be on display from the 11 programmes exhibiti...

How can we integrate sustainability into arts and design education to empower students to make an impact? In the latest episode of the RCA Podcast, Dr Nick de Leon explores this question with representatives from the Sustainable Markets Initiative, the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (UAE), the National Institute of Design Ahmedabad (India) and the Rhode Island School of Design (USA). Fol...

In this episode, Benji Jeffrey chats to Christoph Jones and Melanie King from the Working Class Collective (WCC). The WCC is a student-run society, founded by Jennifer McMillan and Cristoph Jones in 2020 with an aim to uplift and provide solidarity for working-class students at the RCA. The WCC acknowledges and celebrates the varied lives and experiences of working-class people through talks, even...

In a special episode for International Women’s Day , this week's episode focuses on InnovationRCA - the Royal College of Art's centre for enterprise, entrepreneurship, incubation and business support. In the last five years, companies supported through InnovationRCA’s incubator programme have been valued at more than £305 million, with 52% of the 116 founders being female, and 34% of found...

In the latest episode of the Royal College of Art Podcast, Emily Moore and Ekua McMorris discuss initiatives to support the RCA’s Black community. Host Benji Jeffrey was joined by Emily Moore (Painting MA, 2020) – co-chair of RCA BLK, the association of Black Students, Alumni & Friends – and Ekua McMorris (Photography MA, 2009), former RCA Student Union President and current tutor on the Gradu...

In this episode of the Royal College of Art Podcast, host Benji Jeffrey delves into the fascinating world of public toilets with guests Gail Ramster and Professor Jo-Anne Bichard . As part of the RCA's Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design , they lead the Public Toilet Research Unit, exploring the crucial intersection of design, inclusivity, and public spaces. From the challenges of finding a decent...

Welcome to the Royal College of Art podcast, exploring the world of art, design, and research at the World's Number 1 College for postgraduate artists and designers worldwide. In this episode, Benji speaks to Dr Dave Webster, Assistant Dean (School of Design), where they delve into the essential topic of inclusive research methodologies, emphasising the importance of inclusivity at every stage...

In this episode, Benji takes you on an enlightening journey through the Venice Biennale, where the theme of "The Laboratory of the Future" spotlights Africa as a pivotal force in decolonization and decarbonization. We explore how architecture has historically shaped colonialism, racial capitalism, and carbon economies. Join us in questioning the importance of thinking locally in architec...

In this episode, Benji dissects the multifaceted concept of communication with Dr Barbara Brownie, Assistant Dean (School of Communication) at the RCA. We journey through the challenges of pushing disciplinary boundaries and unravel the relationship between the body and designed objects in sci-fi movies. Learn more on https://www.rca.ac.uk/news-and-events/rca-podcasts/

In this episode, our host Benji sits down with Chris Mitchell, Deputy Director of Academic Development at the Royal College of Art (RCA), to explore what sets creative education apart from conventional learning methods. We delve into the dynamic shifts in education and how the RCA adapts to an ever-changing world. Discover the nuanced journey of individual students and the transformative role of t...

Benji speaks to Martin Newth, Assistant Dean (School of A&H), on what the Arts and Humanities is, how the art world has changed, the value of slow learning, and young people in the arts. Find out more about how the Royal College of Art's new MFA Arts & Humanities respond to the vast array of practices and approaches, and creating space for collaborative and collective work. Read the sh...