Hello!
I’m Rhea Thomas, a transdisciplinary designer and social innovator passionate about tackling complex problems and creating holistic solutions that instigate transformative change at a systemic level. I merge design, technology, and behavioral sciences, grounded in a human-centered and planet-centric ethos. I care deeply about leading with optimism, compassion, and curiosity. These core values enable me to design ecosystems, strategies, and products to re-imagine a better future.
My advocacy for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) is deeply ingrained in my work, and I am honored to have been recognized as a Goalkeeper by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for my contributions towards the 2030 agenda. I hold a joint MA/MSc in Global Innovation Design from the Royal College of Art & Imperial College London.
You can get in touch with me via e-mail at trheathomas@gmail.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.
HONORS:
World Design Organization, Young Designers Circle
Contributor from 2023 – 2025
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeeper 2030
Nominated in Sept 2022 during UN Global Goals Week, New York
The Art Foundation Futures Award 2024
Regenerative Design Fellow
EDUCATION:
2021 - 2023 (MSc) Master of Science, Global Innovation Design
Imperial College London (MA) Master of Art, Global Innovation Design
Royal College of Art (Ranked #1 Art and Design University worldwide) + Pratt Institute, New York | Exchange Semester; Aug - Dec 2022 + Keio University Graduate school of Media Design, Japan | Exchange Semester; April - July 2022
2014 - 2018 (BDes) Bachelor of Design, Industrial Product Design MAEERs MIT Institute of Design, Pune
WORK EXPERIENCE:
LearnEd (Edtech Venture) Venture Designer & Strategist Sept 2020 – Aug 2021
Design4India, An Initiative by NASSCOM & Facebook Product Experience Designer July 2018 – April 2020 Product Designer Dec 2016 – Feb 2017
Abbraccio ( Fashion x ClimateTech Venture) Venture Designer Jan – June 2018
TALKS & WORKSHOPS:
London Design Festival 2023 Women in Design engineering | Panelist London, 16th July 2023
Royal College of Art Made in London | Workshop Facilitator London, June 2023
World Bank Youth Summit 2023
Local solutions driving global impact | Lightning Talk Washington DC, 25th – 26th May 2023
United Nations 2022 SDG Media Summit | Youth Delegate New York, 9th Sept 2022 Global Climate & SDG Synergy Conference | Youth Delegate Tokyo, 20th – 21st July 2022
Youth SDG Summit for the UN SDGs Changing the world with one Idea | Panelist Online, 22nd Sept 2021
Ideas to Action: Design Thinking | Workshop Facilitator Online, Feb 2021 Designing education for the post pandemic world | Talk Online, Feb 2021
AWARDS:
2024 The Art Foundation Futures Award - Regenerative Design Fellow Seasprout, Nominee - Green Concept Award
2023 Seasprout, GUCCI x Arts Thread Global Design Graduate Show Shortlist Little Chronicles, WeInnovate - Imperial Enterprise Lab (top 25 startup - 6 month entrepreneurial competition) Design for Good Certification
2022 Decibel, Winning Team - RCA Grand Challenge in partnership with Logitech and Oculus Calm Quilt, Semi-finalist - Mayor's entrepreneur Recipient of the JASSO Scholarship, Keio University Graduate School of Media Design
2020
LearnEd, Winning Team - SwissNex NexHack Edtech hackathon
EXHIBITIONS:
Seasprout was exhibited at: London Design Festival 14th – 22nd Sept 2023 RCA2023, Truman Brewery London 13th – 16th July 2023 Summer Show, Imperial College London 27th June – 2nd July 2023
Shrimpak was exhibited at: Spring Show, Imperial College London 16th – 19th Feb 2023 Open Studios: Work in Progress Show, Royal College of Art 3rd – 4th Feb 2023
Aria was exhibited at: Spring Show, Imperial College London 25th Feb – 2nd Mar 2022
If you're intrigued by my work, have questions, or just want to catch up over a coffee, I’m all ears. Together, let's make magic happen and bring ideas to life! ✨