Hyundai and Kia Renew Partnership with Royal College of Art

Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) and the Royal College of Art today announced that affiliates Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation are renewing their partnership with the RCA in support of the Hyundai-Kia Innovation Laboratory at the RCA’s Intelligent Mobility Design Centre (IMDC).

Recognised as a global centre of excellence in automotive and design education, the IMDC is the home of RCA’s Intelligent Mobility MA programme and leads research at the intersection of people, mobility and technology within a complex and changing urban and global environment.

In 2016, Hyundai Motor UK Ltd and Kia UK Ltd made a donation to establish the Hyundai- Kia Innovation Laboratory. This was the first industry-funded research lab launched at the IMDC. The Group and its Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands partnered with the IMDC to foster the creative exploration of the future of mobility. In the laboratory, the team collaborates on research projects that conceive and explore new areas in mobility systems, vehicle design, digital technology integration and transport experiences.

The RCA will host a signing ceremony for the partnership renewal today at its Battersea campus, which will be attended by alumnus Peter Schreyer, Executive Design Advisor along with company representatives from Korea. RCA has a long-standing relationship with Schreyer, who earned a Master of Vehicle Design at RCA in 1980. Schreyer received an Honorary Doctorate from RCA in 2006 and serves on the RCA Alumni Council.

The renewed partnership will support four key areas, including the Hyundai-Kia Design and Innovation Project, Intelligent Mobility MA Visiting Design Fellowship Programme, Custom Professional Development Workshops and The Hyundai-Kia Student Awards.

As part of the Hyundai-Kia Innovation Laboratory, the interdisciplinary Hyundai-Kia Design and Innovation Project will be conducted with IMDC staff and a selected group of RCA students. The project outline and direction will be mutually agreed by the partners and will be supported by Schreyer in the role of Visiting Professor.

For the Intelligent Mobility MA Visiting Design Fellowship Programme, a number of designers from Hyundai, Kia and Genesis will visit the IMDC during the year. Each Visiting Fellow will co-develop a design research project with IMDC colleagues and receive dedicated mentoring support in design and research from the IMDC team.

Four custom professional development workshops will be delivered annually for the fellows and Group staff. These will focus on various subjects, such as IMDC city mobility, new vehicle typologies, and future-facing automotive design issues, such as sustainable design and autonomy.

The annual Hyundai-Kia Student Awards will provide opportunities for the entire RCA student community to refine their understanding of mobility challenges and mobility creativity while developing an understanding of relevant industry propositions.