Oliver Needham

Background

About Oliver Needham

I'm Olly, a multidisciplinary designer, researcher, maker and grower who obtained my Bachelors degree in Industrial Design from the University of Leeds, before working in the design industry for a deacde. I am an alumni of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Economy course and ran a sustainability team at a leading design consultancy Kinneir Dufort in the UK. I have worked on a variety of design and innovation projects, as well as gaining experience in natural material building design and construction. In 2024, I graduated from the Master of Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities from The Institute of Advanced Architecture Catalonia, which culminated in the design and construction of a fully-functional, advanced engineered timber structure. I have rejoined IaaC to work as an Architectural Researcher at Valldaura Labs whilst co-running the zero agriculture course and managing the intensive organic gardens at Valldaura labs. A fellow, judge and collaborator with the RSA, an alumnus of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Economy programme, a climate intrepreneur and volunteer with the Design Declares! movement, design for people and planet is centra to my work.