Richard Perez

Richard Perez is the Founding Director of the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking (d-school) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), a unique institution in Africa that focuses on design thinking as a tool for innovation and strategic leadership. The d-school is affiliated with the renowned d-schools at Stanford University and the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam, Germany, making it the only African school officially linked to these prestigious institutions.1 2 4

Education and Background

Richard holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from UCT, a Master’s in Innovation Design Engineering from the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London, and an Executive MBA from UCT's Graduate School of Business. His research during his MBA focused on the interplay between constraints and creativity.1 2 6

Professional Experience

Prior to establishing the d-school, Richard spent a decade as a partner and director at an award-winning product design agency in Cape Town, where he specialized in developing consumer products and conducting user-centered research for various clients. He has also served as an external examiner for UCT’s engineering design course and has lectured on architectural theory.1 4

In addition to his role at the d-school, Richard is involved with several organizations:

He is a board member of the Montebello Design Centre and the SAP Africa Academic Board.
He previously directed initiatives for the World Design Capital 2014, focusing on embedding design-led thinking within public sector organizations in Cape Town.4 7

Current Focus

At the d-school, Richard emphasizes teaching design thinking methodologies that foster creativity and problem-solving skills among students. The school aims to integrate local African narratives into its curriculum while promoting collaboration between students and industry partners. Under his leadership, the d-school has become a hub for innovation, influencing both private and public sectors across Africa.2 5 8

Richard Perez's work exemplifies a commitment to leveraging design as a transformative tool for societal change, particularly within emerging markets.3 7