Design Against Crime Research Centre

Adam Thorpe, Reader, Socially Responsive Design (0.6) in the School of Graphic and Industrial Design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design where he has worked since 2003; He is also Director of DAC's Bikeoff initiative as well as Associate Director Design Against Crime Research Centre. Adam co founded the design label Vexed Generation in 1993 and continues to direct and manage (with Joe Hunter) Vexed Design, and take designs to market.

His research activities with the DAC Research Centre are practice-led and design focused. He has applied research findings to create numerous anti crime products, most recent designs include a range of anti theft bike parking stands delivered in 2007.

Adam is interested in socially responsive design that embraces innovation and communication, and has contributed to the development of research methodologies that seek to maximise stakeholder value - through application of DAC principles. Also research dissemination strategies that utilise market intervention to promote best DAC practice via product benchmarking. A notable output of this market interventionist approach, developed with Lorraine Gamman, is the Karrysafe range of bags and accessories (www.karrysafe.com) that has been distributed internationally, exhibited at numerous international design events, and received extensive international media coverage valued at £870,000 (Design Council estimate). His work has attracted research funding from the Design Council, the British Transport Police, Transport for London (TfL) and Camden Council; more significantly in 2007 from the Arts Humanities Research Council (AHRC) / Engineering Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) "Design for the 21st Century" forum.

Adam Thorpe is co-founder and design partner of Vexed Generation Clothing Ltd. (est 1996), Karrysafe Ltd. (est. 2002), and Broke Bitter & Twisted (est 2002), companies he continues to co direct and design for. He is currently developing a new range of urban mobility clothing (2007) and has previously collaborated with Puma International AG on a range of global Urban Mobility clothing and accessories, which include co-designs of the Puma "anti theft" Bike, (2005).

Adam has consulted to fashion and accessory companies in the UK, Europe and USA on design and concept. He has also developed fabric innovations, with mills in the UK and Asia, which have been applied to Vexed garments. A specialisation in corporate social responsibility within the textile and clothing sector has been gained through research contracts with De La Rue Brand Protection Division and training with Just Solutions Network, which continue to inform his development of socially responsive design within DAC.

Adam can be contacted on: adam@vexed.co.uk