Rachel Cooper is Professor of Design at the University of Lancaster, where she is Director of Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts and Imagination@Lancaster. Her research interests cover design management; design policy; new product development; design in the built environment; design against crime and socially responsible design. She has authored several books in the field including The Design Experience (2003) and is currently commissioning editor for an Ashgate series on Socially Responsible Design. She has undertaken research for the Home Office, DTI, the Design Council and leading UK companies and currently leads ‘Vivacity 2020’ Sustainable Urban Design for the 24 Hour City, a £3m EPSRC funded project over five years looking at Manchester, London and Sheffield. Professor Cooper is President of the European Academy of Design, and Editor of The Design Journal.