The Royal College of Art has announced the appointment of Professor Hua Dong as the new Director of The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, with her tenure beginning in October 2025. Professor Dong brings extensive expertise in inclusive design and a long history of collaboration with the Centre, making her well-positioned to advance its mission of creating a more inclusive future through design innovation.

The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design stands as the Royal College of Art's longest-running research center, specializing in inclusive design approaches that address population aging, disability prevalence, and health and social care needs. The Centre has consistently delivered positive impact across various sectors, benefiting individuals, healthcare providers, third-sector organizations, and commercial partners through its innovative research and design solutions.

Professor Dong's appointment represents a homecoming to the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, where she previously served as a Visiting Fellow from 2004 to 2006. During her career, she has maintained extensive collaborative relationships with Centre researchers on diverse projects spanning design education, industry partnerships, and healthcare innovation. Her notable contributions include co-editing the influential publication "Design for Inclusivity" and participating in the award-winning Design Bugs Out program for the National Health Service alongside Dr. Chris McGinley.

The new director joins the Royal College of Art from Brunel University of London, where she currently holds the position of Professor in Design and serves as Director of the Brunel Design Research Centre. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Engineering in Industrial Design, a Master's degree in Architecture from Tongji University, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. This diverse educational background has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of design principles across multiple disciplines.

Over the past two decades, Professor Dong has established herself as a global leader in inclusive design research and advocacy. Her achievements include founding the Inclusive Design Research Group at Brunel University, establishing China's first Inclusive Design Research Centre, and producing the country's first industrial guidance on inclusive design in collaboration with Alibaba. These accomplishments demonstrate her commitment to expanding inclusive design principles internationally.

Professor Dong's dedication extends beyond research to nurturing the next generation of design professionals and researchers. She has supervised more than a dozen PhD candidates and mentored numerous early-career researchers throughout her academic career. Her leadership extends to international academic circles, where she sits on several prestigious boards, including the Design Research Society, where she serves as Vice-Chair of the Executive Board and Convenor of its Inclusive Design Special Interest Group.

Her appointment coincides with other significant leadership changes at the Centre, including the recent appointments of Professor Claire Craig and Professor Paul Chamberlain as the Helen Hamlyn Chairs of Design. These collective appointments represent an important and transformative step in positioning the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design for continued success and growth in the coming years.

The Helen Hamlyn Trust, which supports the Centre's work, was established in 2001 by Lady Helen Hamlyn CBE to initiate major projects with leading organizations and individuals focused on fostering innovation. The Trust's grant-making activities encompass medical innovation, arts and culture, education, welfare, healthy aging, humanitarian affairs, and heritage conservation in India. Major initiatives supported by the Trust include The Hamlyn Centre Chair of Surgery at Imperial College London, The Helen Hamlyn Panufnik Composition Scheme with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy for ages 0-11 years at UCL's Institute of Education, ARCHiOx at the Bodleian Libraries, and EPIC Networks at Oxford University.

Lady Helen Hamlyn expressed her enthusiasm for the appointment, stating, "Professor Hua Dong's appointment reflects The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design's commitment to global leadership in inclusive design. Her exceptional record of research and international collaboration, combined with an understanding of the Centre's values and history, make her ideally placed to lead the next chapter of its development."

Professor Christoph Lindner, President and Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art, also welcomed the appointment, saying, "We are delighted to welcome Professor Dong as Director of The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design. She brings a compelling vision and impressive international experience to a Centre that is integral to the RCA's research culture and impact." The appointment signals the Royal College of Art's continued commitment to advancing inclusive design research and its practical applications across multiple sectors and communities worldwide.