Tord Boontje to leave the RCA
Tord Boontje has announced that he is to leave the leave the Royal College of Art where he has been head of design products since 2009.
The RCA says it will begin ‘an international search’ to find a replacement.
Boontje, who replaced Ron Arad as head of design products, studied industrial design at the RCA between 1992-94 before setting up Studio Tord Boontje in London.
He returned to the RCA in 2000 as tutor in design products before moving to France in 2004 to set up a second studio.
Boontje says, ‘It has become increasingly difficult to combine the role with running my own design studio, engaged as we are with numerous international projects and activities. As this requires all my focus at the moment, I have decided it is time to halt my academic activities after four very successful years.’
The RCA credits Boontje with strengthening its academic reputation by raising support for research, increasing student recruitment, and the size of the department’s academic and technical teams.
Dr Paul Thompson Rector of the Royal College of Art says, ‘Tord’s tenure as Professor has been characterised by challenging and thought-provoking briefs, notably around new materials and sustainability. As a Professor, Tord has shown great sensitivity, generosity of spirit and openness towards his students.
He has grown the MA programme, engaged an interesting and diverse range of faculty and been a great colleague to work with.’
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Tord, another great loss for RCA after Ron Arad, but I’m certain the wonderful team of DP will find another brilliant leader for the department.