Robert Harland, a Reader in Urban Graphic Heritage at Loughborough University, investigates urban heritage through the lens of graphic design. He has led significant projects on graphic heritage with partners such as the Nelson Mandela Foundation, UNESCO-UK, and various UNESCO Creative Cities, gaining extensive experience in research collaboration across the UK, Brazil, China, South Africa, and Australia. His recent work includes the ‘Named after Nelson: Learning from Places Named after Nelson Mandela through Graphic Heritage’ project in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Centre for Memory. Since 2022, Rob has co-led The Impact Hub, part of the Healthy and Innovative Loughborough Town Deal, following his role as a co-founder of the Leicester Urban Observatory. In 2017 he established the Graphic Design Research Unit, fostering international research collaborations. His contributions have earned recognition, including the SIDA Foundation and David Roche Foundation Fellowship (2023) and the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for International Partnerships (2024).