DR ROBERT PULLEY PHD (RCA), FRSA, FHEA
7 Richmond Avenue, Chichester, PO19 6BU
Email: Robert.pulley@rca.ac.uk
Mobile telephone no.: 07828 297972
Pulley completed a PhD in Innovation Design Engineering at the Royal College of Art in 2019. His research focused upon the role of creative practice in primary education. Robert is also an award-winning furniture designer-maker with extensive professional experience in higher education. He was subject leader for three dimensional design at Ravensbourne; dean of art and design at Falmouth; and principal at West Dean, a postgraduate college of the University of Sussex. Pulley is a visiting lecturer at the RCA where he teaches research students and innovation design students. In January 2020, Robert was invited to give a key address at the Indian Institute of Technology conference ‘Designing for Children’, based in Mumbai.
EDUCATION
2019 PhD (RCA) Innovation Design Engineering
1994 MBA (Open University)
1981 MDes (RCA) Furniture Design
TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATION
2016 cont. Visiting Lecturer: Royal College of Art (MRes and MA Programmes)
2013-15 Head of School: Craft and Design, UCA Farnham
2000-12 Principal, West Dean College
1994-2000 Dean of Art and Design, Falmouth College of Arts
1989-1994 Subject Leader, 3-Dimensional Design, Ravensbourne College
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND VOLUNTARY ROLES
2012 cont. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
2013 cont. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
2010 cont. Member of Advisory Board, Craft Research (since 2010)
SELECTED RESEARCH
Keynote address:
Pulley, R., Hall, A, Burkitt, E. (2020), ‘Blueprint Exchange’, Conference paper for ‘Designing for Children with focus on Play and Learn’, IDC School of Design, IITB, Mumbai
Work selected for exhibition by AHRC Design Leadership:
Pulley, R. (2019), Design Research for Change Showcase 2019, Old Truman Brewery, London E1 6DR
PhD thesis:
Pulley, R. (2019) ‘Theatre of the Imagination’ (doctoral thesis). Royal College of Art, London, UK.
Work in Progress at the Royal College of Art:
Pulley, R. (2018) ‘Theatre of the Imagination’. Royal College of Art, London, UK. [Online] Available at (password: Theatre): vimeo.com/robertpulley/theatre2018. [Accessed on 20th August 2018]
Article for ‘Does Design Care’ symposium, University of Lancaster:
Pulley, R. and Moradi, H. (2017) ‘My father was a great furniture designer.’ In: “Does Design Care?” An International Workshop of Design Thought and Action Imagination, 12 & 13 September 2017. Lancaster: Lancaster University.
Paper: ‘LearnXDesign’ at Ravensbourne College:
Pulley, R., Hall, A. and Burkitt, E. (2017) Make Your Move: Exploring a Pedagogic Toolkit for Creative Development and Global Learning in Primary Education. London: Ravensbourne Publications. [Online] Available at: http://researchonline.rca.ac.uk/2868/1/Make%20your%20Move%202017.pdf [Accessed on: 20th August 2018]
Paper: Building Community: Design Education for a Sustainable Future:
Ashley Hall, Mike Khan, Laura Ferrarello and Robert Pulley (2017). Encouraging Creative Risk to Reduce Risk to Life. International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, 7 September, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Norway [pp. 44-49]
Paper for Ministry of Design colloquium at University of the West Indies:
Pulley, R. (2015) ‘Theatre of the Imagination’: Blueprint Exchange. In: From Cottage Industry to State Enterprise [eds. Noel, L.A. and Poy, M.L.] [Volume 2, pp.205-227]
Exhibition and gallery workshop at UCA, Farnham:
Hylton, R. and Pulley, R. (2014) Theatre of the Imagination, [Online] Available from(password: Theatre): vimeo.com/robertpulley/theatre2014 [Accessed: 25th August 2018]
Article for Craft Research (Intellect Journal)
Pulley, R. (2011) ‘Feeling Good’. Craft Research 2, pp. 97-114
Collaborative paper with IITB:
Sen, A., Poovaiah, R. and Pulley, R. (2009) ‘Across the Web: The Colours of India as a cross-cultural collaborative initiative for learning’, IIT Bombay: Design Thoughts, July, pp. 8-23. Sen, A. [Online], Available: http://colorsofindia.com/ajanta/writings/solarproject-5-11-02-for.pdf [Accessed: 18th Jan 2018]
SELECTED FURNITURE AND PRODUCT DESIGN
Pulley and Pulley designers (established 1981)
Furniture and products designed and made for Conran Associates, David Davies Associates, Peter Leonard Associates, Michael Peters and Partners, The Design Council, Gordon Russell PLC, Spitting Image Studios, British Airports Authority, British Telecom, The British Council, 3M, Falmouth College of Arts, and West Dean College.
2011 West Dean College reception area and bedrooms
2008 Valet Chair designed for study bedrooms at West Dean College
1999 Furniture design for studios at Falmouth College of Arts
1996 Exhibition Design for Met Studio in Taiwan
1990 Auditorium seating system designed for Koski Solomon Architects
1989 Conference Chair designed for Gordon Russell PLC (exhibited in Cologne)
1984 Work for British Council Exhibition ‘Young British Designers’ in Vienna
1983 ‘Designers Make It’ work exhibited in the Design Council Gallery, London
1983 Pulley and Pulley: one man show at Aspects Gallery, London
1983 ‘Young British Designers’: Work selected by Bernard Gay at Camden Arts
1982 V Table selected by RCA for Printemps exhibition, Paris
1981 Design Council Award and product selection
1981 Crafts Council Award and setting-up grant
