2/5/2025 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Grand Peninsula D

The XR stream – Grand challenges for ocean and cities from a London perspective

Author(s)

Bjorn Sommer | Royal College of Art
Rian Stephens | Royal College of Art
Rashi Agarwala | Royal College of Art
Ayushi Saxena | Royal College of Art
Zak Berry | Royal College of Art
Elise Hodson | Royal College of Art
Carla Amaral | Royal College of Art
Christopher Ross | Royal College of Art
Alyssa Liu | Royal College of Art
Jasmine Black | Royal College of Art
Paul Anderson | Royal College of Art
Ashley Hall | Royal College of Art

Abstract

In 2024, we brought London closer to the ocean: Nearly 700 design students at the Royal College of Art were participating in the Grand Challenge 2023/24. In teams of five, the students were tasked with tackling challenges around London and the Ocean from a design perspective.

 

This involved multiple methodologies, including design engineering, speculative design, service design, materials- and fashion-related approaches. The students had one month to come up with an idea and develop a convincing proposal.

 

A selection of 50 students participated in the XR Stream of the Grand Challenge. Ten teams of five students each came up with different design solutions using the UNREAL ENGINE.

 

Here, we present a selection of those approaches, exploring how the original brief of the Grand Challenge was tackled by using XR technologies and how it inspired our students to come up with unique design propositions.