Andrea Siodmok

Andrea Siodmok is Dean of the School of Design, visiting Professor at Northumbria University and Governor for Glasgow School of Art. An industrial designer by training, her regenerative practice spans technology, policy, economics and futures.

An internationally renowned expert in design, innovation and policy, Andrea has been recognised as 'one of the UK's foremost design thinkers' and 'one of the world's most influential public sector innovators'. She is currently a member of the 1851 Royal Commission Committee and a member of the global 'States of Change' faculty of public innovators. In 2015 Andrea became the 10th female in its history to receive the prestigious Royal Society of Arts Bicentenary Medal for policy design. In 2016 she received an honorary doctorate in Civil Law from Northumbria University and in 2021 she received an OBE for public service in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Previously, Andrea was Chief Impact Officer at the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) where she led the 'Design for Life' 100 year strategy and impact framework. Prior to this she was Design Director at the UK's business innovation accelerator for the built environment and smart cities, the Connected Places Catapult. Andrea worked for eight years at the UK Design Council becoming their first Chief Design Officer where she co-developed the globally renowned 'Double Diamond' design methodology that has had over 50 million views on google.

Andrea gained international prominence in 2014 after founding the Cabinet Office Policy Innovation Unit in the UK Government to bring design, digital and data science skills to over 20,000 policy-makers. Here she acted as a catalyst for change, supporting over 100 high-profile policy projects working under three Prime Ministers. In this role she was also policy innovation advisor to the United Nations Under-Secretary-General in New York for two years. During this time she was invited to undertake a fellowship at the University of Cambridge as a Cambridge Science and Policy Fellow (CSaP).

As an expert in design thinking and policy innovation Andrea is regularly invited to give keynotes, run workshops, judge prizes and advise organisations and leaders around the world. Andrea has also been an advisor to the executive and board of Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency, where she led corporate digital communications as well as 'The Future is Here' exhibition at the Design Museum.

Andrea has served on numerous boards including the 'Design for the 21st Century' research board of AHRC and EPSRC and the European Union Design Leadership Board. She has also judged national and international design prizes and has been invited to give over 100 global keynotes on design and technology across five continents including a TEDx talk and public lectures.

Andrea is a sought-after public speaker and expert advisor. In the UK she has given evidence at the House of Lords, presented at No.10 Downing Street and delivered after-dinner speeches at the Law Society and the Palace of Westminster. She is published widely and has featured in the national press, media and through podcasts.

Prior to her appointment at RMIT, Andrea maintained close links with academia, through various fellowships at the University of Cambridge and Northumbria University, external examining at the Royal College of Art and peer reviewing professorial appointments at the New School. She has also designed and delivered custom executive programmes for the London School of Economics (LSE), University College London (UCL), University of Cambridge (Judge Business School), University of Oxford (SAID Business School) and Hult Business School.

Academic and research track record:

• An international track-record in research, previously RAE/REF rated with papers selected by peer review and published in multiple languages.
• 1851 Royal Commission Committee, Imperial College London (2020 - present).
• Contributor to the 'deputies' programme, Australia New Zealand School of Government, 2023.
• External Examiner, MA Service Design, Royal College of Art (2021-2023).
• PhD Examiner, Royal College of Art (2019) and University of Loughborough (2020).
• External advisor, School of Design and Management, University of Loughborough, London (2020-2022).
• Director for the UK Government's Open Innovation Team bringing academics into Government including 100+ PhD placements from leading UK Universities (2015-2020).
• International Advisory Board, Parsons, The New School, New York (2018-present).
• Professorial peer reviewer, (Parsons New School) and Readership peer reviewer (Cardiff Metropolitan University).
• Cambridge Science and Policy Fellow (CSaP) University of Cambridge (2015-17).
• Advisor to the DESIS network for Central St Martins, UAL (2011-14).
• Associate for the Creative MBA at Falmouth University (2009-10).
• External examiner at the University of Wales, Newport (2004).
• Previous full-time teaching experience to postgraduate level (1995-2002).
• Extensive experience in generating and leading £10m+ grants and funding for research projects, setting up national programmes, partnerships and delivering impact.

Industry experience:

Over three decades Andrea has worked on design, policy and innovation in various guises, including as a member of the European Union Design Leadership Board and as an expert advisor to the European Commission. As an industrial design consultant and practitioner she developed Virtual Reality worlds at BT's Adastral Park Labs, co-designed the World's smallest x-ray machine for NASA, as well as a range of medical and consumer products. Andrea was formerly Director of a strategic design consultancy with clients including Unilever, Channel 4 Television, Innovate UK and various local authorities including Lewisham and Cornwall Council. She maintains active links with design consultancy practice.

Awards:
• Order of the British Empire Medal, OBE for public service (2021).
• Finalist, Global Public Service Team of the year (2020).
• Listed as 'One of the world's most influential public sector innovators' Apolitical (2019).
• Finalist: Cabinet Office Awards (2019).
• Winner, Cabinet Office Awards, for Open Innovation Team (2017).
• Finalist: A Brilliant Civil Service Awards, Impact Category (2016).
• Royal Society of Arts Bicentenary Medal (2015).
• Winner, Cabinet Office Awards, Collaboration Category (2015).
• Finalist: Civil Service Awards, Innovation Category (2015).
• Finalist: Public Sector Innovation Awards (2013).
• LGA and Nesta's 'Creative Councils' programme (2012).
• Finalist: South West Business Awards (2012).
• Nominated for the top fifty 'Women to Watch' by the Cultural Leadership Programme by CCS and the Arts Council (2010).

National and international judging:
• Good Design Awards, Australia (2024)
• CIPD People Management Awards, Analytics Category (2021).
• Cabinet Office Awards (Chair of Judges), London (2017).
• RSA Design Directions (Chair of Judges), London (2015).
• RSA Design Directions, London (2013).
• Design Challenge, EDF Energy, Paris, France (2011).
• RSA Design Directions (Sponsor), London (2010).
• Good Design Prize Warsaw, Poland (2008).
• Design and Art Directions (D&AD) Student Prize, London (2008).
• Director of the Year Innovation Category, Director Magazine, London (2007).
• Fresh Awards (Chair of Judges), Cork, Ireland (2006).
• Future Brand Talent Award. London (2005).
• Braun prize, Kronberg, Germany (2005).
• Design Innovation in Plastics Competition, London (2003/4).
• MET Office Innovation Awards (Presenter) London (2003).
• Corus Interior Inspirations In assoc. with Blueprint Magazine, London (2002).