Adira Andlay

Research & Design Officer

adira.andlay@dartington.org.uk | LinkedIn

By centring lived experience through arts-based and participatory approaches, Adira supports the design of more inclusive services, strategies, and policies.

Adira joined Dartington Service Design Lab in July 2026 and brings a multidisciplinary background in design research, social innovation and visual communication. She specialises in service design, community engagement and co-design, working with teams across Dartington to understand needs, generate insights and shape better outcomes. Her work spans systems thinking, service evaluation, qualitative research, and the design and facilitation of participatory workshops.

Prior to this, Adira led mixed-methods research and innovation projects at The Young Foundation using participatory and community-led approaches. She holds an MA/MSc in Global Innovation Design from the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London. Her design practice spans early years education and social impact, where she has developed evidence-informed research, tools and systems that enable meaningful youth participation and drive sustainable change.

Drawing on experience from India, Japan, Singapore and the UK, Adira brings a cross-cultural perspective to her work. She began her career at the Nature Conservation Foundation in India and has since led design research projects with organisations including Nesta, Art Fund, the University of Cambridge and the Greater London Authority’s Culture and Community Spaces at Risk team.

Alongside her research and design practice, Adira serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Community Development Journal and is a member of its Editorial Board.