Hello, we are the Rural Design Centre.

The Rural Design Centre is an independent, not-for-profit organisation based in North East England. Purpose driven and design led.

We bring together rural communities, businesses, researchers, and policymakers to co-design practical solutions that promote innovation, resilience, and sustainability.

Through evidence-led, people-centred projects, we help turn local challenges into opportunities - creating lasting impact for rural areas across the UK.

Our mission

Design to collaborate

Collaboration is at the core of our DNA. We believe in the power of collective wisdom, drawing from diverse stakeholders to co-create solutions that resonate with real-world needs.

Our collaborative approach transcends traditional boundaries, uniting communities, businesses, researchers, and authorities under a shared vision. In this unity, we find innovative solutions that might have been overlooked in isolation.

Design to empower

Our goals are about elevating potentials. By crafting solutions that are intuitive and efficient.

We prioritise the human experience, ensuring our projects resonate with the aspirations of the people they serve. It's not only about creating solutions or systems, but about enabling dreams, fostering talents, and catalysing growth.

Design to transform

Transformation is about envisioning better futures and making them tangible. We don't settle for the status quo; we challenge it, seeking innovative pathways to turn aspirations into realities.

We are change agents, igniting shifts in perspectives, systems, and landscapes. We look beyond superficial fixes, diving deep to address root causes and deliver lasting impacts.