Associate Professor Ross McLeod
Assoc Professor
Details
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College: School of Design
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Department: School of Design
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Campus: City Campus Australia
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ross.mcleod@rmit.edu.au
Open to
- Masters Research or PhD student supervision
About
As a designer, educator and academic I see my role as one that fosters a critical exploration of the issues informing contemporary design culture. My experiences in the fields of product design, furniture design, interior design and architecture have been instrumental in the establishment of a methodological framework for a creative practice that spans the design disciplines.
Through my work I am committed to the development and realisation of design projects, teaching practices and research activities that extend the boundaries of contemporary design and the sensibilities that surround it. This dedication to the evolution of design thinking is viewed as a school of thought that integrates the realms of the profession and the academy and which actively engages with the wider design community, both locally and internationally.
This mode of practice employs teaching, research and industry collaboration as an integrated whole, in which design research briefs are developed in consultation with external partners and investigated through postgraduate design studios. These studies are then developed into built outcomes or orchestrated as exhibitions and events. Through this engagement with industry clients, postgraduate students and the general public, new approaches to design theory and practice are developed and tested. The findings of these investigations are ultimately published through academic design journal articles, book chapters and books.
Industry partnered research projects include:
FB Ideas, Concrete Solutions - 3D printed Concrete Urban Furniture. 2024
National Geographic, 3D Printed Portal Project. 2023
McClelland Gallery, Site and Sound - Sonic Art as ecological practice. 2021
LendLease, The Exchange at Knowledge Market - Prototyping Community Engagement. 2017 - 2019
City of Casey, Touchstones - Interactive public art commission. 2017
Goulburn Murray Water, Agile Office Living Laboratory. 2016
Hangzhou International Design Week, The Hospital for Broken Things. 2015
State of Design Festival Design, Euroluce showroom – Transience of Light. 2012
Through my work I am committed to the development and realisation of design projects, teaching practices and research activities that extend the boundaries of contemporary design and the sensibilities that surround it. This dedication to the evolution of design thinking is viewed as a school of thought that integrates the realms of the profession and the academy and which actively engages with the wider design community, both locally and internationally.
This mode of practice employs teaching, research and industry collaboration as an integrated whole, in which design research briefs are developed in consultation with external partners and investigated through postgraduate design studios. These studies are then developed into built outcomes or orchestrated as exhibitions and events. Through this engagement with industry clients, postgraduate students and the general public, new approaches to design theory and practice are developed and tested. The findings of these investigations are ultimately published through academic design journal articles, book chapters and books.
Industry partnered research projects include:
FB Ideas, Concrete Solutions - 3D printed Concrete Urban Furniture. 2024
National Geographic, 3D Printed Portal Project. 2023
McClelland Gallery, Site and Sound - Sonic Art as ecological practice. 2021
LendLease, The Exchange at Knowledge Market - Prototyping Community Engagement. 2017 - 2019
City of Casey, Touchstones - Interactive public art commission. 2017
Goulburn Murray Water, Agile Office Living Laboratory. 2016
Hangzhou International Design Week, The Hospital for Broken Things. 2015
State of Design Festival Design, Euroluce showroom – Transience of Light. 2012
Academic positions
- Lead Researcher, The Exchange at Knowledge Market Research Project
- RMIT University
- DSC|School of Design
- Melbourne, Australia
- 1 Jan 2017 – 31 Dec 2018
- Program Manager, Master of Design Innovation and Technology.
- RMIT University
- DSC|School of Design
- Melbourne, Australia
- 1 Jan 2017 – Present
- Associate Professor
- RMIT University
- DSC|School of Design
- Melbourne, Australia
- 1 Jan 2005 – Present
Supervisor projects
- A Mobility of Sound Design Exploring a Listener Centred Approach to the Design of Sound
- 28 Mar 2023
- Impact of private advertising on collective and individual experience in public space.
- 11 Jun 2020
- Products of Reflection: A practice that discloses the design potential of circumstantial phenomena
- 14 Feb 2005
Teaching interests
My research and teaching practice involves an ongoing study of phenomenological and sensorial approaches to design. This practice examines the cross-modal confluence of the senses, employing the physical and psychological sciences to develop an understanding of the relationship between phenomena, human experience and behavior.
The fundamental nature of this methodology informs the design process by engaging in how the world is perceived, understood, and ultimately shaped in ways that address the human sensory apparatus and our emotive responses to designed physical encounters. This undertaking considers cultural, social, and historical contexts to construct meaningful experiences that foster a sense of belonging and connection.
The enactment of this practice involves a philosophical and technical engagement with the qualities of light, sound, materiality, geometry and spatial perception. This cross-disciplinary endeavor embraces a spectrum of design outputs, from sustainable approaches to urban and architectural space, human-centered interactive and immersive installations and the refined crafting of furniture and objects.
Concurrently, I am involved in the pedagogical development of the RMIT Master of Design Innovation and Technology (MDIT) program. The MDIT program is engaged in developing design methodologies that integrate the needs of people with the potentials that lie within technological innovation. Through the engagement of an international community of forward thinking practice based academic design researchers, the program offers a dynamic learning environment that is in a continual state of evolution.
The program offers a range of partnered design projects and skill-based elective offerings that address the following research streams:
FABRICATION - digital design, fabrication, and advanced manufacturing
INTERACTION - interactive and intelligent objects and spaces
IMMERSION - embodied, sensorial, and affective immersive environments
REGENERATION - low-carbon, circular, regenerative, and more-than-human design solutions
SOCIAL INNOVATION –strategic design approaches that enhance human well-being.
As innovation in design practice is positioned at the intersection of several disciplines, the program addresses the interplay and resolution of issues from a wide variety of professions, such as Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Industrial Design, Communication Design, Service Design, Experience Design, Animation, Interaction, Lighting, Media and Sound Design.
The fundamental nature of this methodology informs the design process by engaging in how the world is perceived, understood, and ultimately shaped in ways that address the human sensory apparatus and our emotive responses to designed physical encounters. This undertaking considers cultural, social, and historical contexts to construct meaningful experiences that foster a sense of belonging and connection.
The enactment of this practice involves a philosophical and technical engagement with the qualities of light, sound, materiality, geometry and spatial perception. This cross-disciplinary endeavor embraces a spectrum of design outputs, from sustainable approaches to urban and architectural space, human-centered interactive and immersive installations and the refined crafting of furniture and objects.
Concurrently, I am involved in the pedagogical development of the RMIT Master of Design Innovation and Technology (MDIT) program. The MDIT program is engaged in developing design methodologies that integrate the needs of people with the potentials that lie within technological innovation. Through the engagement of an international community of forward thinking practice based academic design researchers, the program offers a dynamic learning environment that is in a continual state of evolution.
The program offers a range of partnered design projects and skill-based elective offerings that address the following research streams:
FABRICATION - digital design, fabrication, and advanced manufacturing
INTERACTION - interactive and intelligent objects and spaces
IMMERSION - embodied, sensorial, and affective immersive environments
REGENERATION - low-carbon, circular, regenerative, and more-than-human design solutions
SOCIAL INNOVATION –strategic design approaches that enhance human well-being.
As innovation in design practice is positioned at the intersection of several disciplines, the program addresses the interplay and resolution of issues from a wide variety of professions, such as Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Industrial Design, Communication Design, Service Design, Experience Design, Animation, Interaction, Lighting, Media and Sound Design.
Research interests
Phenomenological and Sensory approaches to Design; Digital Modelling and Fabrication: Cross-Disciplinary Design Methodologies and Practices
PROJECTS
FB Ideas: Concrete Solutions - 3D printed Concrete Urban Furniture. 2024
National Geographic: 3D Printed Portal Project. 2023
McClelland Gallery: Site and Sound - Sonic Art as ecological practice. 2021
LendLease: The Exchange at Knowledge Market - Prototyping Community Engagement. 2017 - 2019
City of Casey: Touchstones - Interactive public art commission. 2017
Goulburn Murray Water: Agile Office Living Laboratory. 2016
AWARDS
Shortlisted: Australian Interior Design Excellence Awards, Event Design category, 2022
Project: Site and Sound - Sonic Art as ecological practice. McClelland Gallery:
Finalist: Sustainability Award, Melbourne Awards 2018.
Project: The Exchange at Knowledge Market, RMIT University and Lendlease.
Highly commended: Australian Interior Design Excellence Awards, Event Design category, 2015
Project: The Hospital for Broken Things - Hangzhou International Design Week
Shortlisted: Australian Interior Design Excellence Awards, Event Design category, 2012
Project: Transience of Light – Euroluce showroom – State of Design Festival Design
PUBLICATIONS
Books
McLeod, Ross. et al. The Exchange at Knowledge Market: An Urban Living Lab. Melbourne Books in 2019.
McLeod, Ross, ed. The Sensuous Intellect. Melbourne: RMIT Publishing, 2006.
McLeod, Ross, and Suzie Attiwill, ed. INTERsection. Melbourne: RMIT Publishing, 2002.
McLeod, Ross, ed. Interior Cities. Melbourne: RMIT Publishing, 1999
Book Chapters, Journal Articles and Conference Papers
Lacey, J. McLeod, R. Anderson, C. and Khoo, C. "The Artwork Remembers: designing a methodology for community-based urban design". In Designing Cultures of Care, Editor Laurene Vaughan; Bloomsbury, 2019
McLeod, Ross. “Spatial Translations”. International Journal of Interior Architecture + Spatial Design, Volume 5: Adaptive Interventions", 2018
Lacey, J. McLeod, R. Anderson, C. and Khoo, C. “Touchstone: a discussion of a digitally integrated artwork designed to facilitate community engagement". Responsive Cities: Active Public Space, Barcelona, 2017
McLeod, Ross. “Field Affects – Shaping Spatial Experience.” Immaterial Materialities; Interstices Conference. University of Technolgy, Sydney, 2012.
McLeod, Ross. “Transient Materiality.” Studies in Material Thinking, 2011
McLeod, Ross. “Mining the Urban Unconscious.” Occupation Conference. University Brighton, 2010.
McLeod, Ross. “Beyond a Phenomenology of Light.” Designing Designers. Milano Polytechnico / Milan Furniture Fair, 2009.
PROJECTS
FB Ideas: Concrete Solutions - 3D printed Concrete Urban Furniture. 2024
National Geographic: 3D Printed Portal Project. 2023
McClelland Gallery: Site and Sound - Sonic Art as ecological practice. 2021
LendLease: The Exchange at Knowledge Market - Prototyping Community Engagement. 2017 - 2019
City of Casey: Touchstones - Interactive public art commission. 2017
Goulburn Murray Water: Agile Office Living Laboratory. 2016
AWARDS
Shortlisted: Australian Interior Design Excellence Awards, Event Design category, 2022
Project: Site and Sound - Sonic Art as ecological practice. McClelland Gallery:
Finalist: Sustainability Award, Melbourne Awards 2018.
Project: The Exchange at Knowledge Market, RMIT University and Lendlease.
Highly commended: Australian Interior Design Excellence Awards, Event Design category, 2015
Project: The Hospital for Broken Things - Hangzhou International Design Week
Shortlisted: Australian Interior Design Excellence Awards, Event Design category, 2012
Project: Transience of Light – Euroluce showroom – State of Design Festival Design
PUBLICATIONS
Books
McLeod, Ross. et al. The Exchange at Knowledge Market: An Urban Living Lab. Melbourne Books in 2019.
McLeod, Ross, ed. The Sensuous Intellect. Melbourne: RMIT Publishing, 2006.
McLeod, Ross, and Suzie Attiwill, ed. INTERsection. Melbourne: RMIT Publishing, 2002.
McLeod, Ross, ed. Interior Cities. Melbourne: RMIT Publishing, 1999
Book Chapters, Journal Articles and Conference Papers
Lacey, J. McLeod, R. Anderson, C. and Khoo, C. "The Artwork Remembers: designing a methodology for community-based urban design". In Designing Cultures of Care, Editor Laurene Vaughan; Bloomsbury, 2019
McLeod, Ross. “Spatial Translations”. International Journal of Interior Architecture + Spatial Design, Volume 5: Adaptive Interventions", 2018
Lacey, J. McLeod, R. Anderson, C. and Khoo, C. “Touchstone: a discussion of a digitally integrated artwork designed to facilitate community engagement". Responsive Cities: Active Public Space, Barcelona, 2017
McLeod, Ross. “Field Affects – Shaping Spatial Experience.” Immaterial Materialities; Interstices Conference. University of Technolgy, Sydney, 2012.
McLeod, Ross. “Transient Materiality.” Studies in Material Thinking, 2011
McLeod, Ross. “Mining the Urban Unconscious.” Occupation Conference. University Brighton, 2010.
McLeod, Ross. “Beyond a Phenomenology of Light.” Designing Designers. Milano Polytechnico / Milan Furniture Fair, 2009.
