Learning Conversation
An Evening with Thomas Heatherwick
Join one of the world's most prolific designers, Thomas Heatherwick in conversation with Chief Curator Johanna Agerman Ross.
What to expect
Thomas Heatherwick meets Johanna Agerman Ross to discuss the important role design plays in shaping the world around us, improving our health and wellbeing, and saving our planet.
Heatherwick’s team is currently working on over thirty projects in ten countries, including Toranomon-Azabudai, a six-hectare mixed-use development in Tokyo and the new Google headquarters in London. In this conversation, Heatherwick will reflect on the breadth of his output, his design principles, his campaign and book 'Humanise, a Maker’s Guide to Building Our World', and his critics. Drawing on thirty years of making bold structures and buildings across the globe, as well as new studies in neuroscience and cognitive psychology, Heatherwick’s manifesto brings together vivid stories and images, to summon designers and makers to put human emotion back at the heart of the design process.
Heatherwick Studio, Asabudai Hills, Kenji Masunaga
Heatherwick Studio, Little Island, Timothy Schenck
Speakers
Thomas Heatherwick
Led by human experience rather than any fixed dogma, Heatherwick's studio creates emotionally compelling places and objects with the smallest possible carbon footprint. Their varied work is characterised by its originality, inventiveness and humanity. Winner of countless international design awards, he is Honorary Fellow, RIBA; Senior Fellow, Royal College of Art; and was the youngest practitioner to be appointed a Royal Designer for Industry (2006).
Johanna Agerman Ross
Agerman Ross was appointed the Conran Foundation Chief Curator at the Design Museum in 2023. She was previously curator of twentieth century and contemporary furniture and product design at the V&A where she co-curated the new permanent gallery Design 1900-Now and launched Make Good: Rethinking Material Futures, focused on design and the climate emergency. She founded the international design journal Disegno in 2011, which she edited for five years. She is still Disegno’s director.
Booking information
Adult: £20
Concession: £16
Members*: £15
*Please note that this benefit only applies one individual cardholding Member’s ticket and not those of additional guests.
– Signed copies of the book 'Humanise, a Maker’s Guide to Building Our World' will be available for purchase as part of the event.
– This event will have British Sign Language interpretation.
– There will be a hearing loop at this event.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Visit our terms & conditions page for further information.
What's on
Background image: Heatherwick Studio, Coal Drops Yard n36, London, Hufton+Crow