The courses, named Biomimetic Design, will derive inspiration from nature and deliver a developing and investigative approach to design to instill a resilient and regenerative approach across the full spectrum of architecture, design, and fine art.

The courses are a response to the environmental and climate challenges we face today. According to the United Nations 2018 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects, the percentage of the worlds’ population living in urban areas is expected to increase from 55% today to 68% by 2050. This rapid change, to an urban-based civilisation, demands greater synergies and dependencies between our urban and rural environments. The Biomimetic course will map an approach to design which harnesses nature to help deliver urban growth that is truly sustainable: restorative and regenerative.

Over the next year, the GSA will develop an initial set of optional postgraduate courses. These will sit within the existing academic programme and draw across multiple disciplines from the design industry. Content will build on the Eden Project’s existing relationship with GSA artists and the designers-in-residence at The Eden Project in Cornwall.

The Eden Project will also be developing research residences at GSA’s Highlands and Islands campus on the Altyre Estate near Forres, north east of Inverness. The new Biomimetic Design course will launch in September 2022 and continue to build on a spectrum of courses and partnerships across the art, design and architecture industries.

The launch of the new design course was hosted at The Glasgow Art Club on November 4 led by Professor Penny Macbeth the GSA director, with presentations from two recent GSA graduates Kialy Tihngang and Rachel Hetherington. Following this, a panel discussion moderated by Alan Moore of Beautiful Business brought together Professor Penny Macbeth with Sir Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project, Andrew Whalley, chairman of Grimshaw, and Anna Gordon, GSA head of silversmithing and jewellery.

Professor Penny Macbeth said: “This is an incredible opportunity for The Glasgow School of Art to partner with the Eden Project and Grimshaw in what is a groundbreaking collaboration between world class organisations, directly engaging Glasgow School of Art’s international community of students and academics.”

Andrew Whalley said: “We are now at a critical moment in time, where the way we shape our relationship with our planet over the next decade will decide our future for generations to come. The Biomimetics Design will demonstrate how we can come together to harness our opportunities: bringing design, technology and the natural worlds closer, as well bringing greater collaboration across our design industries.”

Sir Tim Smit added: “Much has been written about being inspired by nature yet it is important to realise that in order to be able to be inspired you need to closely observe how it really is, not romantically assume you’ve understood some lazy symmetry and that will suffice. Science is confirming that human wellbeing is closely allied to our feeling at one with nature, in it and surrounded by materials and patterning inspired from it. Eden is getting involved because we believe the architect, designer, engineer and artist are fundamental in creating contentment and happiness for their

fellow citizens and one hundred years from now we hope they will say of this period that it has the hallmarks of a movement inspired by the nature and a boldness of vision with beauty at its muscular heart… We are proud to be joined at the hip with long time collaborators Grimshaw and The Glasgow School of Art and also with insightful curation from Alan Moore and the School for Beautiful Business – believing, as we all do, that business needs the injection of beauty in all forms, in order to be…good!”