Richard van der Laken (b. 1970) is a Dutch graphic designer, creative director, and entrepreneur whose work is dedicated to exploring the social impact of design.

Together with Pepijn Zurburg, he founded the design agency Designpolitie, the collective Gorilla, and the platform What Design Can Do (WDCD), through which they have collaborated with partners such as Rabobank and Artis Zoo. Their projects are part of the permanent collections of the Design Museum London and MoMA New York. Through What Design Can Do, Richard has developed international programs and initiatives that use design as a tool to address social and environmental challenges. Under his leadership, WDCD has grown into an innovative social entrepreneurship startup, organizing international design events in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. These initiatives demonstrate how design can be a driver of real social and ecological change.

Over the course of his career, Richard has received numerous awards and nominations, including D&AD, the Design Museum’s Design of the Year, ADCN (Art Directors Club Netherlands), the Dutch Design Awards, the European Design Awards, and more. He is also an internationally recognized thought leader on the role of design in addressing today’s global challenges, frequently delivering keynote lectures and presentations, and publishing articles and essays in leading platforms and media worldwide. Under his direction, a number of books on design and its impact have been published. And when not in the studio, he can often be found on stage at festivals, conferences, and universities around the globe, sharing his vision of the role and power of design.