Des is the Academic Lead for Architectural Studies and a Principal Lecturer in Architecture. Des worked as lead architect for a number of international award winning architectural practices prior to working in academia, most recently as the Project Architect for the Olympic Village Scheme for London 2012 at Glenn Howells Architects, and at Zaha Hadid Architects for the Glasgow Transport Museum. Des’s research examines the link between practice and education. He is director of Design Research North (DRN), a HEIF funded architectural office within the Institute. DRN is an architectural consultancy under the umbrella of the Institute of Architecture at UCLan. Working on live projects with real clients the practice draws on the talent and expertise of staff members, Undergraduate and Postgraduate students within the School of Architecture as well as other disciplines and support facilities from within the university and beyond. DRN is currently working with Age UK on a KTP to imagine the future of the charity shop on the High Street and leading the design and construction of a ‘Makerspace’ at the Harris Museum. He has published two books - ‘UEM’ which reimagines the future of a sustainably eco-centric City, and ‘Datascape’ – a collaborative research document which records the activities and exchanges of a City. His work, and those of his students has been exhibited nationally, including two of his postgraduate (MArch) students, shortlisted for the Internationally recognised President Medals awards.