Action by design
The Chair of the RSA’s Trustee Board introduces the Journal’s ‘Action’ issue, which includes interviews with the latest Royal Designers for Industry, an investigation into future-thinking by Nick Foster RDI and an ‘In Conversation’ with Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy.
Next year will mark 90 years of the Royal Designers for Industry (RDIs). Created by the RSA in 1936, the RDIs were established to recognise outstanding designers and promote the contribution of design to manufacturing and industry.
A roll call of past and present RDIs – from Barnes Wallis (aircraft) to Jony Ive (product), Vivienne Westwood (fashion) to Lauren Child (illustration), Norman Foster (architecture) to Es Devlin (theatre) – shows their remarkable range and calibre. Whether it’s through simple and clear typography on motorway signage or the invention of an innovative vacuum cleaner, the RDIs enhance our experience of daily life. Their work is uplifting, inspirational and beautiful, while being absolutely pragmatic.
The Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry attracts the brightest and the best, who all become RSA Life Fellows. In November, five new RDIs and two honorary (non-UK) RDIs were welcomed to the faculty at a ceremony at RSA House. They are leaders across diverse fields, encompassing memorial sculptures, data journalism, ‘pollinator’ art, graphic design, digital technology, sustainable construction, furniture and public spaces.
The RSA House event also saw a changing of the guard – as Jo Gibbons became Master of the faculty, taking over from Charlie Paton. It was symbolic of RDI diversity that Jo, a landscape architect, succeeded Charlie, a design engineer.
You can find out more about the latest RDIs in an extended feature in this issue of the Journal, which has ‘Action’ as its overall theme. All seven discuss their work and their motivation. Our lead article is also written by an RDI – Nick Foster, former Head of Design at Google X – who discusses how we envisage the future and why future-thinking matters.
Our Action theme continues in the ‘In Conversation’ interview with Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy. Greg tells broadcaster Lucy Siegle about using technology to accelerate the energy transition, responding to the net-zero backlash, and his advice to young people wanting to take action to combat climate change.
Examples of young people taking action are a major part of this Journal issue. Clover Hogan – an activist who has petitioned for change within boardrooms, at COP negotiations and from the TED stage – argues for more honesty in the climate debate. Fellow Billie Carn relays the story of two young Londoners who have given local people a voice by creating a digital storytelling platform, while young Fellow Dev Sharma spells out his campaign for food justice.
And don’t miss Amir Nizar Zuabi’s feature on THE HERDS – an arts project that sent giant puppets trekking 20,000km across the globe to highlight the frailty of the world and our human connection to it.
This issue celebrates how design shapes our world and how action – whether through innovation, advocacy or art – can drive meaningful change. I hope it provides inspiration for your own endeavours as we move into a new year of action, debate and change in 2026.
Knowledge grows when shared.
If you found this interesting, pass this article on to your friends and family.
Share on LinkedIn | Share on Whatsapp
Featured articles
Action by design
Introducing the Action issue
Creating tomorrow
Hear from the seven newly appointed Royal Designers for Industry
Herd instinct
The life-size puppet animals highlighting the fragility of our world
Heated debates
The fight to save our climate is at a crossroads that demands honesty not just optimism
From ask to action
How asking questions transforms into a movement for authentic community connection
Greg Jackson
Is the clean-energy transition held back by markets built for fossil fuels?
Dev Sharma
Food activist and former Youth MP tells us about his campaigns against food poverty
Sweeping change
About the Society’s competition to create a mechanical chimney cleaner
Badging for change
A new blueprint shows how digital credentials can make invisible talents visible
Commit
Cartoonist Jeremy Banx imagines what it takes to ‘commit’