HJ REPORTS: DYSON RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CAMPUS

HJ spent two days with the engineers and scientists to hear about the latest in #dysonbeauty

In 2022, Dyson committed half a billion GBP to expand its research and technology development across its beauty portfolio, with plans to launch 20 new products in the next four years. On 22-23 January, HJ arrived in Malmesbury for an exclusive peek behind the curtain at the technology campuses (spanning over 700 acres!) to find out why developing technology for all hair types remains a crucial focus point for the research and development teams.

Trade press and hair stylists from around the world were welcomed by Kathleen Pierce, President, Dyson Beauty, for a welcome dinner in the Lightning Cafeteria, set underneath an impressive BAC Lightning F.1A aircraft. All of this setting the scene for the long-awaited reveal of the Dyson Supersonic r™ Professional hair dryer – the brand’s lightest, smallest and most precise styling tool. Since 2017, Dyson has surveyed and interviewed nearly 700 stylists 1 to understand their environment, habits and needs, and these insights informed the dryer; designed to provide professionals with an agile and adaptive tool that responds to real world demands.

On day two we were treated to an extensive laboratory tour at the Malmesbury campus (the home of Dyson's Research, Design and Development teams) where we were introduced to the Dyson engineers, Styling Ambassadors and Visionaries who have all played an important part in the development of the dryer. Ambassadors were on hand to demonstrate the possibilities of the latest technology before we were joined by Sir James Dyson himself, who sat down for a Q&A session and shared the brand’s commitment to the beauty market: “We wanted to study hair science properly and bring this technology to market to improve styling; to do it quicker, to make it quieter, lighter and more effective.”

Finally, guests were welcomed to the Hullavington Research, Design and Development campus. Located on an abandoned airfrield, we were only the second group since the campus opened in 2018 to be granted access to witness the CMF (colour, materials and finish) and model making spaces, where Dyson’s latest creation came to life. Engineers also shared the creative processes and innovation behind their unique colour swatches. The collaboration and ‘permission to fail in order to succeed’ message is felt across campuses and departments, where imagination is celebrated and a dedication to innovation rings true. We can’t wait to see what’s to come.