Kasper de Graaf

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT KASPER DE GRAAF

I have worked on innovation in cities and organisations for over thirty years, delivering infrastructure, technology and co-design projects in cities including London, Istanbul, Vancouver, Glasgow, Manchester, Nairobi, Kitwe, Shenzhen, Plymouth, Wrexham, Bradford, Salford and Southampton.Projects include:• Pathways2Resilience (Horizon Europe), Plymouth, Jan 2026-Jun 2027• i-PLACE 25, MediaCity, Salford, Nov 2025• Culture, Place and Development (co-editor with Prof. Shirley Congdon) Key Cities Innovation Network, May 2025• On the waterfront: why our ports and coastal communities hold the key to a more connected and prosperous Britain. Key Cities, Mar 2025• Social Care: Views from the Front Line, Key Cities, Feb 2025• Civic Partners in Net Zero (co-editor with Prof. Maria Hinfelaar), Key Cities Innovation Network, Apr 2024• Better by design, World Design Weeks, Feb 2024• Skills for cities, skills for life, Key Cities, Oct 2023• Culture and Place in Britain, Key Cities and Arts Council England, Feb 2023• Cities Driving Recovery & Growth, Key Cities APPG, 2021• Doing Zero, Manchester-Nairobi creative commission for COP26• Hybrid Space, 2NQ, 2021• GM Independent Prosperity Review (editing and creative direction) 2019, 2020, 2022• Finsbury Park: People + Heritage (Heritage Lottery Fund), 20••••21• Liveable Cities Conference, Manchester, 2019, conference director• Creating a Manchester Design Manifesto (with Lou Cordwell), 2018, Manchester City Council and Design Manchester• South Bank IQ, 2018, LSBU• The Great Debate at Design Manchester 20••••21• World Widows Report (editor), 2016, The Loomba Foundation• Design Manchester \'Document\' magazine, editor 20••••19• Design Manchester festival 20••••22• VITAL-IoT (EU FP7): Internet of Things for civic use, London, Istanbul, Galway 20••••16• UK Border environments: implementing new design at ports and airports, 20••••09 (Home Office)• Institute of Urban Information, Trustee, 20••••09• Legible London: a wayfinding study, Central London Partnership / TfL 2005• Science Museum, London: spatial information design• Birmingham: multicultural wayfinding at Children’s Hospital• Coventry: signs and digital channel at Warwick Arts CentrePreviously writer/editor for Guardian, BBC, Smash Hits and New Sounds New Styles, author of pop culture biographies, before developing Assorted Images with Malcolm Garrett. Collaborated with Steven Appleby, Brian Wood, Simone Lia and Paul McCartney to develop books, animations and films. Member BAFTA & Society of Authors, Fellow RSA.