Explore our intensive on-campus masterclasses in London and flexible, expert-led online courses which can be joined globally
March 2–July 31, 2026
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2EU
United Kingdom
Elevate your professional practice with the Royal College of Art’s (RCA) new 2026 Executive Short Courses and Masterclasses.
Short courses at the RCA reflect the College’s unique studio-based learning philosophy with small class sizes, practical group work, rich interaction between students and academics and enhanced peer-to-peer networking.
Join us at the world’s leading number one university for art and design (QS World Subject Rankings 2015–25). Secure your spot now with an early bird discount.
Executive education courses
Creative Leadership: March 19–20, in person
Learn how creative leadership can unlock inclusive innovation based on over 30 years of research and practice from the RCA’s Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design (HHCD)—a global leader in inclusive design. Led by Dr Ninela Ivanova, Innovation Fellow and Dr Chris McGinley, Age & Diversity Lead.
Futures Through Design: March 25–27, in person
Discover how to use design futures methods and tools to unlock new thinking and transform strategic uncertainty into innovative opportunities for your organisation, industry sector or community. Led by RCA academic Dr Robert Philips and Jon V Willshire, founder of Smithery.
Service Design: April 16–21, online
Use the principles and tools of service design to rethink the journey your customers take and transform your customer experience, delivered live online by RCA lecturer and tutor, Dr Nicolás Rebolledo.
Design Thinking & Innovation in Practice: May 7–8, in person
Master the art of strategic innovation through design thinking in this executive masterclass led by Clara Gaggero Westaway and Adrian Westaway, renowned innovators, educators and founders of Special Projects.
Leading with a Design Mindset in a World Changed by AI: May 14–15, in person
Learn how to use a design mindset to address your strategic growth and transformation priorities while strengthening your leadership, deepening organisational resilience, and creating long-term value across people, business, and society. Led by Marty Zalewski, educator, design and business leader.
Art & Design short courses
Editorial Design: March 3–27, online
Discover an expanded view of the craft of Editorial Design in an open and experimental online environment, under the expert guidance of RCA tutors Adrian Shaughnessy and Astrid Stavro.
Art & Design Portfolio Development: March 5–27, online
Develop a distinctive art and design portfolio for progression to postgraduate study or professional practice, with world-leading mentorship from the RCA. Led by a multidisciplinary team of RCA academics, researchers, and practitioners.
Typography: June 2–26, online
Develop your typographic expertise in this open an experimental online short course environment, under the expert guidance of RCA tutor Adrian Shaughnessy.
The Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling: July 6–30, online
Unleash your imagination and master new methods of self-expression via visual storytelling, live online under the expert guidance of RCA tutor Professor Andrzej Klimowski and RCA alumnus and illustrator Miguel Angel Valdivia.
Curating Contemporary Art & Design Summer School: July 6–17, online
Centered on the question 'Why Publish?', this course examines publishing as a vital mode of contemporary curatorial practice used for archiving, activism, and collective action. Participants will explore these global approaches through a dynamic mix of analytical debate, online workshops, and practice-led group activities. Convened by Elisabeth Del Prete, with RCA academics Dr Gerrie Van Noord and Dr Laura Valles Vilchez.
Architecture Summer School: July 13–17, in Person
An intense and immersive architecture, art and design summer school focusing on observation, developing key skills and offering design studio experience and lectures. Convened by RCA academics Sabrina Morreale and Lorenzo Perri.
Contemporary Art Summer School: July 13–31, online
A practice-led introduction to the study and practice of contemporary art, structured around the development of your own self-motivated individual project, delivered live online. Led by performance artist and academic researcher Dr Despina Zacharopoulo.
