Royal College of Art appoints Dr Christina Youngmi Choi as Head of Programme for Design Products and holder of Conran Chair

Dr Christina Youngmi Choi will join the Royal College of Art as Head of Programme in Design Products, in the School of Design in May 2022. The role carries with it the title of Conran Chair of Design, generously funded by the Conran Foundation, the charity founded by former RCA Provost the late Sir Terence Conran, and represents the RCA’s second named Chair position (after the Helen Hamlyn Chair in Design).

Dr Choi said of her new role at the RCA:

“Product design today presents so many evolving opportunities and challenges. I'm honoured and excited for the opportunity to contribute my experiences in research and teaching to a world class team as we develop ways to meet those challenges and continue to equip future design leaders.”

Dr Choi will join the College from Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design, where she is currently an Associate Professor and an Associate Chair. An expert in her field, Dr Choi has a range of honours and awards as well as being widely published in leading journals and publications, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the RCA.

Commenting on the appointment, Professor Naren Barfield, RCA Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, said:

“Dr Christina Youngmi Choi is an outstanding academic with a strong track record and accomplishments combining teaching and research, with awards, publications, projects and outstanding citizenship. I have no doubt that she will be an asset to our College as our Conran Chair in Design Products.”

Professor Paul Anderson, Dean of the School of Design, said:

“I’m thoroughly looking forward to welcoming Dr Choi to the School of Design and am confident that her experience, expertise and passion for design will be of great benefit to students and colleagues alike.”

Sebastian Conran, Chair of the Conran Foundation, said:

"Since childhood Terence was fascinated in how objects were made and he soon realised how important design was not just in how things looked but how well they functioned. The Conran Foundation was set up to promote the use of outstanding design in the manufactured product reflecting the mantra of Form Follows Fabrication. Along with the Design Museum, the Conran Chair of Design at the RCA is a tangible expression of this ethos, with the ambition of inspiring future generations.”