The MA Biodesign course at Central Saint Martins enables students to learn about emerging biodesign principles, which redefine the use of waste and materials.

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)

Find out more about the course and apply ›

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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