​Applications deadline (extended)

Midnight (BST), 5 April 2023

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Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and supported by the Design Council and Craft Council, the BID project aims to extend the toolkit of professional designers by introducing new bio-informed design skills, that could enhance the efficiency, longevity and recovery of resources used in their practice.

WHO IS THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR?

Makers and designers with professional experience in any material-based design discipline (examples include but are not limited to: product, footwear, jewellery and architectural design). All designer makers must have access to their own making facilities.

WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

The BID team is looking for participants to engage in the online BID Course, develop a bio-inspired design proposal and to create innovative, biologically informed prototypes that will act as demonstrators in future iterations of the BID project.

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STAGE 1 

BID Application: March 2023

Designers must fill in the short application form to receive access to the online BID Course. This will provide you with the basic principles of BID and guidance on how to create a design proposal, required for submission to the Maker Collaboration.

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To apply, complete the application form online. We also kindly ask that you fill in the feedback form to help us improve and provide equal opportunities (optional). 

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STAGE 2

BID Course and Proposal Preparation: May - June 2023

All applicants will receive access to the online BID course in the beginning of May. The Course is designed to guide you through the theory and practice of a Bio-Inspired design framework. It will also provide guidance on how to prepare a design proposal for submission to the Maker Collaboration. The course can be undertaken at your own pace, and it is made up of 6 sessions. The course must be completed before the Maker collaboration design proposal submission deadline - Midnight (BST) 11 June 2023.

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You must submit a design proposal to be considered for the Maker Collaboration and fee. Instructions for creating a design proposal, specifically for this collaboration, will be addressed in detail during the Course, including criteria for selection.

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Design Proposal Submission Deadline

Midnight (BST), 11 June 2023

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WHO CAN SUBMIT A DESIGN PROPOSAL

Applicants must:

• demonstrate extensive experience in their design, craft/making or industrial background in any sector.

• have high-level practical skills in any of the associated disciplines (product, footwear, jewellery, industrial, transport, architectural design or similar), and have experience in producing design artefacts professionally whether for research, exhibitions, or industry.

• have access to their own making facilities.

• provide a link to their website and/or social media

• be experienced collaborators.

• be comfortable with working remotely and attending online events.

• be resident in the UK or EU.

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We aspire to remove barriers and be open to all by strongly encouraging applications from individuals currently underrepresented in the creative and cultural sectors. This includes, but is not limited to, people of African or Caribbean heritage; Arabic heritage; Latin American heritage; East Asian, South Asian and South East Asian heritage; people from traveller communities; disabled people; LGBTQIA+ people and people from a low-income background. We also accept video/audio files as an alternative to text-based documents and applications that have been written or spoken by someone else on the applicant’s behalf.

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If you have any questions about the application process, please contact:

veronika.kapsali@fashion.arts.ac.uk

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SELECTION PANEL 

A panel of industry specialists and representatives from the Design Council and Craft Council will support Veronika Kapsali, the BID Project Lead to review design proposals and create a shortlist for the Maker Collaboration.

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STAGE 3

Shortlisting: June 2023

The selection panel will create a shortlist of applicants who will be invited to attend a one-to-one online session with the BID team to discuss their proposal. The BID team will select ten design proposals, from the shortlist, to receive funding. Applicants will be notified by the end of June.

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VOLUNTARY OPTION 

Applicants whose proposals are not selected for the Maker Collaboration will be encouraged, if they wish, to continue taking part in the BID project with the full support of the BID team, on a voluntary, no fee, flexible basis.

Individuals working on a voluntary basis will be asked to grant a licence of their digital work for UAL to use for educational, research and promotional purposes. They will be asked to sign a short letter agreement with UAL for their role in the BID project.

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STAGE 4

Maker Collaboration: July – August 2023

Successful applicants will collaborate with the BID team to complete the practice outlined in the design proposal, in return for a fee.

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Successful applicants will:

• have 6 weeks (July – August 2023) to complete the practice outlined in the design proposal; 

• during this period, attend one-to-one and group online meetings with the BID project team to discuss/share progress;

• receive a fixed fee of £1,500 (inc. VAT) to cover materials, time and any other costs related to the project and

• be required to assign all intellectual property rights in any work which they create during the Maker Collaboration to UAL. A licence will be granted back to applicants for certain purposes, details of which will be set out in UAL's terms and conditions for your participation in the project, which terms and conditions will be provided to you if you are successful

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The final design artefacts created by successful applicants will be used by UAL for education, publication, and research purposes. By submitting your application you agree that UAL shall own all physical outputs which you create during the project.

APPLICANT COMMITMENTS

All applicants will be expected to:

• actively take part and complete the Course; and

• develop a proposal that will be reviewed on a competitive basis and if selected applicants will be invited to progress to the Maker Collaboration stage.

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If selected for the Maker Collaboration:

• designer/makers will be expected to access their own facilities to implement the creative work themselves (in its entirety) within a set period;

• designer/makers will have full control over the creative process but are expected to record progress using photography and/or film;

• designer/makers will be expected to act as advocates for the BID project during active participation and when using the resources after the project completion; and

• designer/makers must create digital and physical copies of each conceptual prototype for BID that could be exhibited publicly and be used for education and research purposes.

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Funding is conditional on the relevant tax review being made by UAL and successful applicants signing up to UAL’s terms and conditions.

WHY APPLY

This is an exciting opportunity to join the BID community and engage with the team, enhance your knowledge and skills of environmentally sustainable design, receive priority access to resources, news, events and future collaborative opportunities.

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Whether engaged on a funded or voluntary basis, applicants:

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• will gain experience of working at the intersection of design, materials engineering and biology.

• will develop knowledge and skills in bio-inspired sustainable design.

• will get to apply learnings into their own future practice, teaching and/or research and positively impact the future of their discipline.

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TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION  

Please read all the supporting information on this page and watch the application guidance video before completing the online application and feedback form by midnight (BST), 5 April 2023.

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