James Bond car designer given honorary degree by Scots university

Jun 15 2012

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A MAN who designed a car driven by James Bond has been given an honorary doctorate from the art school he studied at.

Ian Callum, from Dumfries, designed the Aston Martin Vanquish which was driven by Pierce Brosnan as the 007 agent in Die Another Day.

He is now a design director with Jaguar and says he is getting ready to launch the F-Type, the company's first two-seater convertible for about 50 years.

Mr Callum was selected for the Glasgow School of Art honour for creating "cars that motorists across the world dream of driving" and for his commitment to design education.

He graduated from the school's industrial design course in 1977.

Now based in Warwick, the 57-year-old said he is "deeply honoured" to be chosen to receive the degree.

"To get the honorary doctorate is fantastic," he said.

"It is an honour of course but especially from Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow University because I came here as a student and I love the place. So it feels terrific. I'm very happy."

On designing a Bond car, Mr Callum said: "I designed the Aston Martin Vanquish and ultimately it became part of the James Bond scene. He used it in one of his films and it was a great thrill to see it there. It kind of just reinforced the car's glamour and it was very thrilling indeed.

"I was at the opening of the film as well so it all felt very special. To see something you've designed and worked on not just as a car but something that's a focal point of the film industry is extremely exciting."

Mr Callum said he felt privileged to be working with Jaguar on the F-Type.

"Really it's the first two-seater sports car we've designed since the E-Type, so it's a hugely significant car for the Jaguar brand and we're all very excited about it. It's going to be a terrific car and I'm very honoured to be part of the the whole history of that car and the making."

Professor Seona Reid, Glasgow School of Art director, said: "Ian Callum is at the top of the game in automotive design and a great champion of design education. As a graduate in industrial design, the pre-cursor of our current product design engineering course, he is a great inspiration to our students."

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