London,
07
May
2019
|
09:07
Europe/London

Logitech Teams Up with Royal College of Art to Support Innovative Tech Design

Partnership Kicks Off with Fireside Chat About Embracing Technology as an Artform

LONDON, United Kingdom — Logitech and the Royal College of Art (RCA) have announced a multi-year agreement to collaborate and be inspired by the next generation of designers. The program will support master’s students at RCA’s School of Design in furthering their exploration of innovative design while collaborating with Logitech to shape the products and experiences of the future.

To celebrate the beginning of this journey, RCA alumnus Alastair Curtis, who now serves as Logitech’s chief design officer, and Paul Anderson, Dean of the School of Design will come together for a fireside chat at the school. Curtis and Anderson are expected to discuss what the future of product design looks like in a world in which technology permeates everything. They will also challenge the audience to share their vision for the future on what role technology and design will play to push human beings beyond their current capabilities and solve the big challenges ahead of us.

“We are at an inflection point in product design where new technologies like artificial intelligence will be woven into everything we touch,” said Curtis. “This partnership is a challenge for both Logitech and RCA students to continue pushing the envelope. Together we will explore the interweaving of technology and modern life, recognise and plan for future obstacles, and build off of ideas, experiences and environments in which consumers use existing technology to do more than what they’re capable of on their own.”

“I am confident that Logitech and people around the world will only stand to benefit from the vision and innovations poised to emerge from this partnership,” continued Curtis.

“Logitech is a tremendous example of a company leveraging contemporary design philosophies to transform technology, and we are delighted that they have recognised the talent that this school attracts every year as a valuable source of innovation,” said Professor Paul Anderson, dean of the RCA School of Design. “Through this partnership, students will gain invaluable hands-on training in pushing the boundaries of design and technology, accelerate their growth, and directly contribute to the products of tomorrow.”

Since joining Logitech as chief design officer in 2013, Curtis has led the creation of its internal design organisation which brought unprecedented design capabilities, aiding in the company’s acceleration from a market cap of approximately $1 billion to a $6 billion portfolio. Today, Logitech is made up of six unique brands, each distinguished by their own design aesthetic. The company’s partnership with RCA represents its first integration with a design college and serves to fuel a pipeline of talent while advancing products across all categories.

About Logitech

Logitech designs products that have an everyday place in people's lives, connecting them to the digital experiences they care about. More than 35 years ago, Logitech started connecting people through computers, and now it’s a multi-brand company designing products that bring people together through music, gaming, video and computing. Brands of Logitech include Logitech, Ultimate Ears, Jaybird, Blue Microphones, Logitech G and ASTRO Gaming.

Founded in 1981, and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI).

Find Logitech at www.logitech.com, the company blog or @Logitech.

About the RCA

The Royal College of Art, the internationally renowned art and design university, provides students with unrivalled opportunities to deliver art and design projects that transform the world. A small, specialist and research-intensive postgraduate university based in the heart of London, the RCA is a high performing institution, a radical traditionalist in a fast paced world. The RCA's approach is founded on the premise that art, design creative thinking, science, engineering and technology must all collaborate to solve today's global challenges.

The university employs around 1,000 professionals from around the world – professors, researchers, art and design practitioners, advisers and visiting lecturers – to teach and develop students in 30 academic programmes. RCA students are exposed to new knowledge in a way that encourages them to experiment. Working across scientific and technical canvases and beyond set boundaries, RCA students seek to solve real-world problems.

The RCA runs joint courses with Imperial College London and the Victoria & Albert Museum. InnovationRCA, the university's centre for enterprise, entrepreneurship, incubation and business support, has helped over 50 RCA business ideas become a reality that has led to the creation of over 600 UK jobs.

Alumni include David Adjaye, Christopher Bailey, Monster Chetwynd, David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Thomas Heatherwick, Lubaina Himid, Clare Waight Keller and Rose Wylie.

The RCA was named the world's leading university of art and design in the QS World Rankings 2019 for the fifth consecutive year. Additional information is available online at https://www.rca.ac.uk/.