Collaborate with us:
At the Glasgow School of Art, Knowledge Exchange is about bringing people together to share ideas, spark creativity and make things happen. By connecting our world-leading creative expertise with the skills and ambitions of local businesses, we create partnerships that are meaningful, mutually beneficial and capable of real impact. These collaborations give us the chance to learn from one another, explore new perspectives and grow stronger together.
We believe creativity has the power to shape Scotland’s future economy. That’s why we’re building an entrepreneurial culture rooted in collaboration and open to unexpected partnerships. By weaving together diverse voices and approaches, the GSA is helping to create a model for innovation that can be shared across Scotland by supporting growth, opportunity and the next generation of creative ventures.
Business CollaboratIONS:
We have partnered with The Moray Chamber of Commerce to bring the celebration of 25 years of the Chamber to life in an impactful visual experience that reflects on the past and looks to the future. Through this collaboration, we brought in our incredible cinematic storyteller, Perry Jonsson, into film and craft a piece that would speak to the monumental work that has been done through the Chamber of Commerce.
Collaborations like these are chances to show off the quality of media that can be produced through our partnerships and the outcomes of creativity in business, through unexpected lenses.
Our partnership with Skyeskyns shows how spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration can bring together different kinds of expertise. Rooted in both craft and innovation, Skyeskyns and the GSA each contribute a unique story. Together, themes of sustainability, materiality and partnership shape the design process. By combining Skyeskyns’ generational heritage skills with the GSA’s creation and sharing of new knowledge, the collaboration generates original and exciting outcomes.
Through this partnership, we are exchanging knowledge, techniques and craft to create meaningful results. Texture meets shape, and tradition meets design, in the project Tenter, a line of products designed by the GSA and crafted by Skyeskyns. Honouring both stories, the collection reflects how unexpected connections can lead to innovative products and a fresh vision of collaboration.
The Glasgow School of Art Future Skills programme is collaborating with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) on an exciting new project made possible through the Moray Growth Deal and DHI’s Rural Centre of Excellence. Together, we are developing a self-paced course for health and social care professionals in Moray, introducing creativity and design thinking into everyday practice. Rooted in the design process, the course will guide participants in applying creative methods to real-world challenges and building design literacy, even for those without a formal design background. The course is currently in development and is set to launch this autumn, marking a new step in bringing creative approaches to healthcare innovation.
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Innovation Vouchers offer a practical way for businesses to collaborate with the GSA through our Knowledge Exchange programme. By connecting companies with our creative expertise, specialist facilities and technical support, these funded opportunities enable partners to explore ideas, test concepts and develop new products or experiences. Working with the GSA through an Innovation Voucher provides access to tailored guidance, hands-on prototyping, and the chance to combine industry knowledge with our research and design capabilities.
For example, the GSA collaborated with c-monsta, a start-up founded by surf-enthusiast Mark Yeadon, to develop an innovative wetsuit-drying hanger, optimised for manufacturability using CAD, 3D-printing and workshop facilities. A follow-on student placement refined the design and provided valuable industry experience. Similarly, the GSA partnered with SENSEcity to create an augmented-reality travel guide that brings archive images and stories to life across Glasgow, leading to their first commercial guidebook and app, later expanded through tourism funding. Both projects demonstrate how Innovation Vouchers can spark creative, impactful collaborations through the GSA’s Knowledge Exchange programme.
The GSA welcomed the Scottish Prison Service to our Highlands and Islands campus for a transformative retreat focused on regenerative leadership. The group explored innovative, human-centred approaches to leadership, moving beyond traditional methods. Set against the inspiring backdrop of the Altyre Estate, participants engaged in open-minded, creative dialogue, embracing new ways to cultivate sustainable leadership practices within the SPS. Retreats like this offer a unique way for organisations to work with the GSA, combining creativity, reflection and collaboration to develop practical solutions and lasting impact.
Company Retreats:
Hosted in the breathtaking landscapes of the GSA's Highlands & Islands campus, our bespoke residential invites mid-level to senior management groups to explore the cutting edge of regenerative leadership and creative thinking.
Tailored specifically to your organisation's unique needs, this residential course cultivates innovative mindsets, fosters collaboration, and equips participants with the skills to lead with purpose in an evolving world. Drawing on the creative heritage of Glasgow School of Art, this experience goes beyond the ordinary, offering fresh perspectives and practical strategies to inspire future-facing leaders. Join us for a deep dive into leadership reimagined, where nature, creativity, and strategy converge to shape the leaders of tomorrow.
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workshops:
We believe learning should be as dynamic and original as the people in the room. Our bespoke workshops bring the spirit of creative exploration into your workplace, combining hands-on practice with fresh perspectives to unlock new ways of thinking. Each session is shaped to your context, whether sparking conversation in a large gathering, energising a team, or guiding an interactive event. If you have a specific challenge or ambition in mind, we will work with you to collaborate on a workshop that meets your needs and works within the context of your business.
From reimagining hybrid work to fostering wellbeing, navigating transformation, and cultivating creative leadership, our workshops blend imagination with practical insight. We approach every topic through an art school lens, encouraging curiosity, experimentation, and the confidence to see beyond the obvious. We design every experience to sharpen problem-solving, nurture collaboration, and spark the inventive thinking essential for the future of work. It is about more than learning. It is about shaping the culture you want to see.
RURAL LAB:
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) Rural Lab is a new, interdisciplinary research centre designed to explore the intersections of research, innovation, education and enterprise within rural contexts. Based at The Glasgow School of Art Highlands & Islands campus in Forres, and building on a twenty-year foundation, Rural Lab engages in research that explores sustainable economies, cultural heritage, and place-driven innovation.
Through cross-disciplinary collaboration and partnerships, Rural Lab encourages new ways of thinking about the potential for sustainability in rural spaces. It is a tangible demonstration of the GSA’s continued commitment to research excellence and the role of design, creativity, and innovation as drivers of economic and cultural transformation.
The GSA aims to strengthen Scotland’s Craft sector – a vital, 80% women-led industry that contributes an estimated £70 million every year for the Scottish economy, yet remains undervalued as an industrial sector. Recruitment for the seven-year PhD programme of doctoral study and enterprise training will start in January 2026, with the first cohort beginning in September 2026.
