Meet Department 22

London-based Department 22 offers consultancy and training for innovation and circular economy, transforming global challenges into exciting new business opportunities through design-thinking. Department 22 uses a unique problems-as-opportunities approach to create tailor-made packages to help you uncover innovative pathways to sustainable systems. Using our extensive network of creative professionals, you will work with the brightest talent and some of the leading experts in design for the circular economy. Our offer ranges all the way from bite-size talks that will inspire and influence your team, to full creative transformation of your products, systems and services.

The Team

​Clare Brass is a designer and trainer with product design background and expertise in using societal and environmental issues as drivers for innovation. She set up SustainRCA, a trans-disciplinary training unit whose aim is to embed sustainability across the Royal College of Art. Through this role she worked with a variety of commercial clients to develop circular economy solutions to global challenges using design thinking. Along the work at Department 22, Clare teaches and coaches at various design and business schools, and works with commercial organisations, turning design and circular economy thinking into strategy and ideas.
​Dejan Mitrovic is a creative entrepreneur with a focus on design, new technology and creative education. Royal College of Art (RCA) and Imperial College graduate with MA/MSc in Innovation Design Engineering. He has lived in 5 countries and speaks 6 languages. Dejan lectures about design, enterprise and sustainability at the RCA, Imperial College and City University (Cass Business School) in London. He founded Kidesign – a design studio that specialises in creative games and toys for children. Past experience includes Design of a DIY chair for African rural schools; visual installations in the London Olympic Park; exhibiting and running programmes at the V&A museum; architectural photography for Wallpaper* City Guides and was awarded “Young Creative of the Year in Serbia”.
​​​Thomas Leech has over a decade of experience working across the design industry, from commercial white goods to luxury fashion; he brings a unique creative approach to problem solving and user centered design. He returned to education in 2014 with a simple ambition: to learn more about how we can help make better things. He won the Ellen MacArthur scholarship in 2015 that enabled him to explore a new narrative for how designers can bring about positive change. Having recently graduated with an MA from the Royal College of Art, he emerges with a renewed interest in design and sustainability and a fresh expertise in circular economy thinking.
Gabriela Bolboceanu
marketing coordinator
Malav Sanghavi
​digital UX engineering
Bobby Petersen
product design
Theresa Simon
Press and media
Jeremy Hulse
​Engineering design

Mission + Vision + Values

Our vision is to create a world with resilient food systems that have no waste, restore the environment and keep people healthy.
Our current linear economic system is destroying ecosystems, decimating biodiversity and ultimately ruining our health. We started Department 22 to create new circular ways to drive the wheels of business, through redesigning products, systems and services. Using our expertise in design thinking, sustainability and innovation, we enable businesses and emerging innovators to transition to a regenerative future that is better for people, business and planet.
Change is difficult - for businesses, as well as for their customers. We believe that people will only adopt new processes and behaviour if it is easier to use, more enjoyable, and provides better value. This is reflected in the way we work. We are a purpose-driven team with a dynamic, responsive and fun approach. Our goal is to demystify the circular economy and uncover new avenues to generate profit.

Our Partners

Department 22 works with Berlin-based Journey 2 Creation, combining our circular-economy expertise with their digital and business innovation consulting. J2C uses design thinking, innovation, agile methods and digital technology to take companies on transformational journeys to become entrepreneurial organisations.
www.j2c.de
Venturethree is a world-leading brand company. Through their work, they aim to 'spark progress' and shape the future - of London with Pocket and Innovate Finance, of money with TransferWise and of media and entertainment with Sky, Now TV, King, Penguin Random House and Hearst. 
www.venturethree.com
Quadrangle is a customer consultancy. They help clients put customers at the heart of their strategy, combining research with consultancy and making customers heroes.  They use quantitative and qualitative methods to help clients attract and develop customers, build better brands, design and optimise experiences and track performance.​
www.quadrangle.com
Kidesign is a creative studio specialising in educational games, toys and activities for children. Their products include den-building toy monsters, a 3D printing city-design project for schools and workshops at all major UK museums. Kidesign's mission is to inspire the next generation of creatives and upskill them to make the world a better place.
www.kidesign.org

Who we've worked with


​Come for tea
Department 22 @ Food Exchange, New Covent Garden Market
SW8 5EL, London