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A photograph of Prof. Angus Donald Campbell smiling whilst wearing a black jacket and white shirt.

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Angus Donald Campbell

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3416-8042
20032026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

Prof. Angus Donald Campbell is a designer, educator and researcher who critically explores the power of design to creatively, collaboratively and sustainably innovate at the complex nexus of social, technological and ecological systems.

He is an Associate Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University of Technology (PolyU) School of Design and an Honorary Associate Professor in Design at UoA. He holds a Doctorate of Literature and Philosophy in Development Studies (UJ) and a Master of Technology in Industrial Design (TWR). Originally from South Africa, he worked for 18 years at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), culminating in heading the Department of Industrial Design. In 2021, he moved to Aotearoa, New Zealand, as Head of the new multidisciplinary Design Department in the Faculty of Engineering and Design at Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland (UoA).

He was a co-founder and coordinator of the Design Society Development DESIS Lab (UJ) for over 10 years. His professional design practice has included clients in South Africa, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and his work has been exhibited at New York Fashion Week and Design Indaba. He has curated multiple design exhibitions and was a Non-Executive Director of the Museum of African Design from 2015-17.

Research interests

Prof. Campbell's research focuses on creative social and technological innovation by co-designing sustainable products, services and systems with multi-stakeholder collaborators. He is particularly interested in Lay Design and the role of technology in extending human capabilities. He has undertaken interdisciplinary design research projects focused on: Creativity and Innovation (Social Innovation and Lay Design); Local Futures (Local Making, Appropriate Technology, Urban and Rural Community Development, Urban Agriculture and Food Systems); Medical Device Design; and Pluriversal Design (Development, the Global South, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Decolonisation). He has been funded for teaching and research by organisations including the European Commission, Leverhulme Trust, Research England, DAAD and the National Research Foundation (SA).

For more information and to see his work, please visit: www.angusdonaldcampbell.com

Teaching

Prof. Campbell's undergraduate teaching is within the new Service Design program of the BA(Hons) in Design. He currently coordinates and teaches SD4307 Co-creation and Project Proposal Writing a core Service Design subject, and coordinates SD4463 Sustainable Product Design an elective offered to Product Design, Service Design, Social Design and Engineering students.

His postgraduate teaching in the MDes includes coordinating and teaching Research and SD5009 Academic Writing, and supervising students in SD5539 ISD Capstone Research Project.

He also mentors candidates in the Doctorate of Design (DDes) and supervises candidates in the PhD in Design.

 

Education/Academic qualification

Magister Technologiae, Technikon Witwatersrand

Doctor Litterarum et Philosophiae, University of Johannesburg

External positions

Member of Editorial Board & Associate Editor, Design and Culture: The Journal of the Design Studies Forum

1 Oct 2025 → …

Founding Organising Committee, Food Design Studio, Design Research Society (DRS)

2 Jun 2025 → …

Honorary Associate Professor in Design, The University of Auckland

27 Feb 2025 → …

Head of Department & Senior Lecturer (Above the Bar), Design, The University of Auckland

3 May 2021 → 16 Feb 2025

Head of Department, Industrial Design, University of Johannesburg

1 Jul 2016 → 31 Mar 2021

Senior Lecturer, Department of Industrial Design, University of Johannesburg

1 Mar 2010 → 31 Mar 2021

Lecturer, Department of Industrial Design, Technikon Witwatersrand

1 Sept 2003 → 31 Dec 2008

Keywords

  • NC Drawing Design Illustration
  • Service Design
  • Product Design
  • Design for Sustainability
  • Co-Design
  • Innovation
  • H Social Sciences (General)
  • Development Studies
  • S Agriculture (General)
  • Urban Agriculture
  • Food Design
  • TS Manufactures
  • Appropriate TechnologyLocal Making
  • Medical Device Design
  • BH Aesthetics
  • Lay Design
  • B Philosophy (General)
  • Philosophy of Technology
  • TT Handicrafts Arts and crafts
  • Local Making
  • T201 Patents. Trademarks
  • Industrial Design
  • L Education (General)
  • Design Education

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  2. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  3. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  4. SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    SDG 5 Gender Equality
  5. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  6. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  7. SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
    SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  8. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  9. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  10. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  11. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  12. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land
  13. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  14. SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
    SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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  • 14 Conference article published in proceeding or book
  • 8 Chapter in an edited book (as author)
  • 8 Journal article
  • 6 Patents granted
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View all 38 research outputs
  • 1 Organizer / committee member
  • 1 Review of books, other publications, or software