Sharon Baurley is Professor of Design & Materials, and Director of the Materials Science Research Centre, Royal College of Art.
In 2014 she joined the RCA , first as Head of Programme Design Products, becoming Research Professor in 2017, Chair of the Burberry Material Futures Research Group in 2018, and in 2020 took up the role of Director of the Materials Science Research Centre.
Sharon has a 16-year track record of leading UK research council-funded interdisciplinary projects totalling £10m. Her research is focused on interdisciplinary human-centred design methods to develop new ‘Product Cultures’ that de-couple the use of materials resources from human wellbeing and economic development.
Sharon has consulted for Courtaulds Textiles, Marks & Spencer, and Unilever.