West Dean KLC School of Design is pleased to announce the appointment of two new senior roles to its academic and strategic team, reinforcing the School’s commitment to innovation, industry excellence, and future focused design education. 

Antony Greaves has been appointed to the newly created role of Associate Director and Professor Ian de Vere as Deputy Head of the KLC School of Design. 

Antony Greaves, Associate Director, joins West Dean from BIMM University, where he has led campuses in Birmingham, Manchester and London over the past nine years. Bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in higher education and the creative arts, Antony is excited by the opportunity to lead the highly regarded West Dean KLC School of Design into its next chapter: 

“The success of KLC alumni showcases the exceptional, industry-focused education delivered by our passionate and dedicated London team over the past 44 years. Building on this strong foundation, we have a powerful opportunity to harness the unique advantages of our central London campus, its talent, industry connections, and creative environment, to establish West Dean KLC as a leading force in Design education.” 

Originally trained as a musician and producer, Antony has worked with internationally renowned artists including Coldplay, U2, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and Amy Winehouse, before dedicating his career to supporting and developing the next generation of creative professionals. He is deeply committed to helping individuals build sustainable and fulfilling careers doing what they love. 

Working collaboratively across West Dean, Antony will help strengthen connections between the London and Sussex campuses, fostering one united team with a shared ambition to establish KLC School of Design as West Dean’s flagship London campus, renowned for excellence and innovation in Design education. Antony will join West Dean London on 22nd June 2026. 

Professor Ian de Vere joins West Dean as Deputy Head of the KLC School of Design. Ian brings substantial senior academic and professional experience in design education, including Head of the University of Lincoln’s School of Design and Head of Design at Brunel University London. He has also held senior design leadership roles internationally, including Professor of Design and Associate Dean, Industrial Design, at RMIT University’s School of Design. 

Ian is an award-winning industrial designer with extensive experience across product development, socially responsive design, design education and industry-facing creative practice. His expertise is strongly aligned with the needs of KLC School of Design and will provide discipline-specific academic leadership. He will work closely with the Associate Director, West Dean London. 

Reflecting on his new role, Professor de Vere said “I am delighted to join West Dean, an institution renowned for its commitment to excellence in practice-based education. This role presents a unique opportunity to help shape the future of KLC School of Design and West Dean's presence in London. 

I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues, industry partners and students to enhance the School’s curriculum and deliver outstanding learning experiences.” 

Ian will join West Dean London on 6 July 2026. 

As the School continues to evolve, these appointments mark an important step in strengthening its academic leadership, expanding its influence across the design sector, strengthening links with industry partners and ensuring continued success for both students.