About
University Design Forum is an independent organisation founded to promote high quality and sustainable design in University campuses, buildings and facilities, in the knowledge that this enhances teaching, learning, research and public engagement. We are celebrating our 30th Anniversary in 2025/26.
We organise tours, workshops and debates across the UK, including an overseas study tour and an Annual conference. Our aim is to promote design excellence in the sector and we do this by commissioning research, hosting exhibitions and making films. We are also building a body of case studies and building data sheets as a point of reference for those interested in designing or developing University Projects.
University Design Forum has evolved since its inception as one of the RIBA Client forums in the early 1990's: known then as the Higher Education Design Quality Forum. In 2016 we converted to a registered and charitable company with the support of its 48 founder members, and in 2022 changed our name to the University Design Forum. We are keen to expand our membership, reach and knowledge base which is currently drawn from over 200 organisations including 60 universities, with an expanding international interest through both our conference and international tours.
The forum strives to maintain a balance of representation from higher education (both academics and estates professionals) and from architecture, design, engineering and construction. We are also actively partnering with other interested parties such as; Education Estates, YouthSight, the Association of University Directors of Estates and Scottish Association of Directors of Estates in our research programme.
In 2019 as part of our contribution to design excellence we set upon a design research initiative with UK schools of architecture to create a Student Prize that complements our other research initiatives with our This annual travelling programme showcases thought provoking content from current students at our annual conference.
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Join Us
Members of University Design Forum are valued for their professional expertise and contribution to the development of an understanding of design and its impact on higher education. The core criteria for membership of the forum is that members should either be active in higher education or engaged in providing professional services to higher education relating to the built environment. The role of members requires a regular contribution to the aims and objectives of the forum including supporting and contributing to the orchestration of events or publications. It is intended to maintain a 50/50 balance of equal member numbers from academia with consultants and companies.
Membership Benefits:
- Priority access to free events
- Annual conferences and seminars will be charged at a discounted rate
- Opportunity to join one of the Forum's international study tours
- Members can access member-only website resources including extended case studies, building data sheets, research papers and international tour content
- An organisational colleague may represent named members who cannot attend events where appropriate.
I would like to apply for membership of the University Design Forum. →
