In memory of Professor Rachel Cooper OBE

A hugely influential academic leader and researcher, Rachel was Distinguished Professor of Design Management and Policy at Lancaster University; Director of ImaginationLancaster, an open and exploratory design-led research centre conducting applied and theoretical research into people, products, places and their interactions; and Chair of Lancaster institute for the Contemporary Arts.

Her research interests covered design thinking, design management and design policy, with a specific interest in design for wellbeing and socially responsible design. She published extensively on these topics, as well as being editor of the Routledge series Design for Social Responsibility and founding editor of The Design Journal. She was founding President of the European Academy of Design and President of the Design Research Society. She was also a prolific PhD supervisor, supporting the careers of many new design researchers and academics.

Professor Cooper’s world-renowned expertise led to her undertaking a large number of important advisory roles to national and international universities, government and non-governmental organisations, as well as to the EPSRC and AHRC, and as part of the REF. She was a member of the RCA’s Council from 2016 to the present, having previously also been a Visiting Professor, and having led ‘The Creative Exchange’, an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Knowledge Exchange hub partnership with the Royal College of Art, which looked at the growth of the creative industries through the exploration of ‘digital public space’.

Professor Christoph Lindner, President and Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art said:

“Rachel was a true pioneer in the design field and played a vital role in both creating design as an academic and research discipline, and championing its impact at the highest level. Her impact is an inspiration to us all. As an RCA Council member, her expertise and insight were enormously valued. It was our immense privilege as an institution and as individuals to be able to work with someone with so much wisdom, generosity, drive and warmth, and she will be greatly missed. As a College, all our thoughts are with her family, friends, and colleagues.”

Sir Peter Bazalgette, RCA Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council, added:

"Rachel was a brilliant Council colleague, who will be sadly missed. Her deep knowledge of art & design had a hugely positive impact on the work of the RCA. Our students, staff and researchers were very fortunate to benefit from her support and insight. Not least in her valued contributions to the groundbreaking creation of our Battersea campus."