Birmingham Institute of Art and Design



The Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) is the largest British university art & design teaching and research centre outside London. It is part of Birmingham City University (formerly Birmingham Polytechnic and the University of Central England in Birmingham).

The main BIAD campus and library is located at Gosta Green, just north of Birmingham city centre, and about three-quarters of a mile from either Birmingham New Street railway station or the Custard Factory quarter.

There are also smaller centres at: Bournville (foundation awards & evening classes) in the suburbs south of the city centre; Margaret Street (Fine Art) in the city centre next to Birmingham Central Library and Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery; and Vittoria Street (Jewellery) in the city's Jewellery Quarter. The International Project Space at Bournville hosts international art exhibitions and residencies. BIAD at Gosta Green is home to User-lab, a research and design laboratory specialising in user-centred design.

The Sunday Times University Guide 2004 stated: "Rated excellent (5) Art and Design". Birmingham City University states that: "BIAD received an excellent Quality Assurance score of 22/24 for Art and Design" from the QAA.

BIAD dates back, in various incarnations, to the year 1843. It reached its full maturity from the 1890s, as the Birmingham Municipal School of Art at Margaret Street, under the leadership of Edward R. Taylor. BIAD's Archives holds extensive records on the history of art & design in Birmingham, and 20 similar collections have also been deposited with the archives.

Notable graduates

 * Patrick le Quément - Chief of Design, Renault
 * Vivien Hoffpauir - Founder and Lead Designer of Vivcore