Tom Inns

He studied engineering at the University of Bristol, and then design at the Royal College of Art and then at Imperial College London.[2]

Inns has a consultancy called Coflink Ltd.[2]

Inns was a Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee.[3]

He replaced Seona Reid as Director of Glasgow School of Art in 2013.[3] Inns said of the appointment:[4]

The School has its own very particular history and provenance, a very distinctive portfolio of activity and all set within a dynamic, spirited city. The role of Director will be highly challenging, but enormously rewarding. I am excited by the opportunity to lead Scotland’s only specialist higher education institution for the visual creative disciplines, build on its current international reputation and unlock its future potential.

During Inns time as a Director, the iconic Mackintosh building of the School of Art suffered two fires. The first was in 2014, the second in 2018. Shortly after the second fire, Inns stood down from the role. He said:[5]

Since the fire in June, just months before the building was to be handed back to GSA, we've worked tirelessly to stabilise the building as quickly as possible to minimise disruption to our local community, and to reopen our own campus for the new academic year.

I have led GSA through the challenges of fire recovery twice and a restoration of the Mackintosh Building, whilst simultaneously extending GSA's global reputation, delivering growth, opening up opportunities for disadvantaged students and transforming other parts of GSA's estate.

It is now time for a new director to work with the Board to deliver the future vision for GSA.

He was replaced by Irene McAra-McWilliam.

He is now a visiting professor at Department of Design, Manufacturing & Engineering Management at the University of Strathclyde.[6]

He is the author of a series of books on Designing for the 21st Century.[7]