MA Biodesign at Central Saint Martins
The MA Biodesign course at Central Saint Martins enables students to learn about emerging biodesign principles, which redefine the use of waste and materials.
This course is now closed
MA Biodesign explores bio-informed design strategies as a driver for sustainable innovation. You will articulate alternative and new innovative design propositions for the emerging bio-circular economy. Through this work, you will redefine the use of energy, water, air, waste and materials.
Biodesign is an emerging discipline. Despite a growing number of publications and exhibitions, there is no universal definition of biodesign.
Other terminologies exist, such as biophilic design, bio-integrated design, biomimetic design and bio-informed design. While they vary in definition, they all relate to a similar principle: that we can learn from nature to create more sustainable ways of living.
MA Biodesign at Central Saint Martins specifically understands biodesign as a means to incorporate the inherent life-conducive principles of biological living systems into design processes to aid in the transition into a more holistic, sustainable future.
The course will introduce designers from multidisciplinary design backgrounds to whole system thinking, biomimicry principles, biological systems, bio-computational design, and digital and bio-fabrication techniques.
You will apply these principles to designing new sustainable materials, products, services, systems and architectural propositions. There is a strong emphasis on ethical issues and on learning through making.
Theoretical, global cultural and socio-environmental contexts will inform the development of your personal biodesign agenda.
School: Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London (UAL)
Course: MA Biodesign
Type: Postgraduate
Location: London, UK
Course dates: starts September 2025, with a duration of two years (60 weeks) extended full-time
Application deadline: 26 March 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
What will I learn during this course?
– Cross-disciplinary design approach to biodesign
– Bio-ethics
– Whole systems thinking
– Lab experimental work
– Living systems integration
– Synthetic biology and genetic engineering
– Data acquisition and visualisation
– Bio-craft, biofabrication and biocomputation design techniques
– Regenerative design and circular design
– Ecological literacy
What are the requirements?
– An honours degree in a relevant design subject area, for example, product design, architecture, textiles, fashion, science communication, building sciences, environmental science, ecology, 3D, media studies, graphic communication, gaming, data visualisation, robotics
– Alternatively, an equivalent EU/international qualification
– At least one year of professional experience
– English language requirements: IELTS level 6.5 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking
What facilities and resources are available?
– Term-time access to a range of open technical facilities, including the Loan Store, Digital Fabrication Bureau, Digital Labs, Digital Print, Paint/Surface, Photography Studios, 3D Capture Lab and Casting
– Term-time access to specialist facilities including Digital Make, 3D Make (Model Making), Physical Computing Lab, Media Studios (Video and Sound, Animation), Grow Lab, Surface Design Lab, Print and Dye
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