The new Dyson Chair of Design Engineering will support Britain’s next generation of design engineers. It will provide the latest industry relevant insight for students, helping them to develop ideas and technology, to ultimately commercialize and export them.

Gareth Jones, previously the Product Development Director at Dyson, has been appointed to the role. He will integrate design engineering, entrepreneurship and innovation into the undergraduate engineering course. Working closely with Dyson will enable Gareth to teach a similar approach to how engineers at Dyson develop new and exciting ideas.

James Dyson said: “I want the world’s best ideas to originate here in Britain and Bath is one of our most successful engineering universities. Gareth knows what it takes to turn an engineering concept into a technology that can be exported worldwide. As the Dyson Chair of Design Engineering, he will provide invaluable first-hand experience of inventing.”

In addition to his eight years’ industry experience at Dyson, Gareth has previously held Visiting Professorships at the Royal College of Art, Imperial College and our University, funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Alongside the professorship he will continue working in industry, running his own design consultancy in Bath, FreshWorks Ltd.

Commenting, Gareth Jones said: “Design is embedded as a core theme running through the four years of Bath’s Mechanical Engineering undergraduate programmes. I look forward to helping develop a new generation of design engineers, bringing to bear my creativity, technical and industry experience.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell said: “We are delighted that the James Dyson Foundation has strengthened its ties with our University. This appointment will further enhance our already highly-rated Mechanical Engineering degree course, voted top for student satisfaction in the UK for the last two years.”

Professor Gary Hawley, Dean of our Faculty of Engineering and Design, commented: “Gareth is an exciting addition to the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He will strengthen our already successful design teaching activities by bringing practice-based experience, guiding students through the design process to delivering products to the marketplace.”