Sophie Horrocks is an award-winning designer and researcher driven to improve human quality of life through intuitive and inclusive design of experiences and environments.
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Sophie is currently working as a designer at the Helix Centre as part of the UK Dementia Research Institute’s Care Research and Technology Centre. She is helping to facilitate a human-centred design process alongside clinical and academic research teams to help achieve the centre’s goal of developing technologies that enable people living with dementia to live safely and independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
She holds an MA/MSc in Global Innovation Design from the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London, where she graduated with Distinction.
She previously worked as Lead Designer and Researcher for the esteemed Hong Kong-based innovation design studio The Fabrick Lab. There she worked with clients such as Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Kering, Design Trust and exhibited works at Salone del Mobile and London Craft Week.
Her experience working and studying internationally across the UK, Hong Kong, Tokyo and New York, brings a global perspective to the social design challenges she addresses. Having worked on third-sector projects in each of these locations though, she balances this with a sensibility towards local culture and community.
“It’s when technology enables emotionally compelling products that ultimately enrich people’s lives that we should celebrate. The work of Sophie Horrocks demonstrates this beautifully.”
— Professor Gerry McGovern OBE, Chief Creative Officer of Jaguar Land Rover
PUBLICATIONS
2020 Designing an Inclusive Future,
ZPryme Online Article.
2019 Tactile Psychology Academic Paper,
Journal of Experimental Psychology.
2019 The Architecture of Touch,
Royal College of Art Dissertation.
AWARDS
2020 Helen Hamlyn Award for Creativity,
Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design
2020 IDA Design Award, Product Design,
Gold (Design for Society)
2020 IDA Design Award, Product Design,
Gold (Design for Social Impact)
2020 i-D & Artsthread, GDGS2020,
Design for Social Impact.
TALKS
2020 Sign Design Society,
Guest Speaker, Wayfinding Event.
2020 BioDesign Talk, Dutch Design Week,
Guest Speaker. Organised by Ceneic.
2020 Wearable Tech, Dutch Design Week,
Invited by Dutch Design Foundation.
2020 Future Human Interactions Talk,
Speaker w. Romy Snijders & Rob Pearce.
2020 Global Perspectives on Design,
Guest Speaker. Hosted by Leila Sheldrick.
EXHIBITIONS
2020 Dutch Design Week, Virtual,
Largest Design Event in Europe.
2020 London Design Festival, Virtual,
Featured Freelance Designer.
2020 No Space Gallery, Virtual,
Acousma, Group Exhibition.
2020 RCA Graduate Show, Virtual,
Master’s Graduate Show.
2020 Imperial Dyson School, Virtual,
Master’s Graduate Show.
2020 WIP Show, London, Virtual,
Royal College of Art Exhibition.
2018 Nock Art Gallery, Hong Kong,
Group Exhibition.
2017 GK Gallery, Manchester,
Solo Exhibition.
2016 Vertical Gallery, Manchester,
Commissioned Works.
2016 Business Design Centre, London,
New Designers Exhibition.
