5 August 2025  

No Comply: Appointed Makers for 2025 SAY Award Design Commission

No Comply: Appointed Makers for 2025 SAY Award Design Commission

Images free to use: No Comply showing their creative process

As part of the Scottish Album of the Award’s (SAY) host city partnership with Dundee, local maker, No Comply, have been selected to create the bespoke prizes for the bands and artists being recognised at the SAY Award Ceremony which takes place at Caird Hall on Thursday 6 November.

Every year, the SAY Award Design Commission appoints an artist, designer or maker to create unique prizes, responding to the theme of sustainable design & highlighting the enduring links between music and design in Scotland. Applicants are asked to demonstrate how they will place sustainability at the forefront of the design and manufacture process. Previous  commissions have included jesmonite arches, sand-cast recycled glass sculptures, and vibrant vases made from community gathered plastic waste. 

This year, the commission received 20 expressions of interest from applicants living or working within a DD postcode. Makers were encouraged to take inspiration from the city of Dundee and the wider region. No Comply particularly impressed the commission panel with their inventive way of embedding sustainability at the core of their practice – with all of their creations made primarily from donated skateboard decks and hardwood offcuts. Their work is a dual celebration of Dundee’s skate culture , and thriving live music scene. Cat Loots and Andy Donaldson of No Comply design bespoke homeware and jewellery from their workshop based in Dundee. The pieces they make are crafted from broken, disused skateboards – donated from skaters and skate shops across the UK – and locally sourced reclaimed hardwood. 

Each piece carries its own story, inspired by skateboarding culture and a commitment to sustainable design. The aim is to ensure the skateboards generate more memories and enjoyment in a whole new form. 

No Comply are calling for local donations of broken boards and old skate decks which they can recycle and utilise as materials in the creation of these awards, to donate please direct message No Comply on their social channels.

 

Cat Loots from No Comply said,

”We’re delighted to be commissioned to design this year’s SAY Award prizes. Music and skateboarding share a sense of expression, rhythm and individuality, and we’re excited to channel that into the award designs. We’ll be using broken skateboards donated by skaters in the Dundee area, along with locally sourced reclaimed hardwood as the base materials. Every board carries signs of its past life – from scrapes and pressure cracks to layers of worn colour – and because no two are the same, each award will be unique.”

 

Hilary Goodfellow, SAY Award Design Commission & Event Manager said,

“Dundee is UNESCO City of Design, and this was evident in the quality and variety of applications received. From sculpture to streetwear, we saw remarkable creativity across the board, and we’d like to thank all who applied. Choosing just one maker wasn’t easy, but No Comply stood out. They transform old skateboard decks into beautiful new objects to be treasured – each one unique with a story woven through every curve and surface. It’s inventive, meaningful, and perfectly in tune with Dundee’s creative spirit. There’s always been a shared rhythm between music and skate culture, and we can’t wait to see that connection revealed at the Ceremony this November.”

 

Lizzie Day, Project Coordinator at UNESCO City of Design Dundee said,

“It’s brilliant to have No Comply as this year’s SAY Award Design Commission recipients. Their work centres on sustainability, a vital focus for the awards, whilst celebrating local skate culture. At UNESCO City of Design Dundee, we believe in the power of design and the essential place of designers in the life of the city. We’re so excited to see such a pioneering design duo celebrate Scotland’s thriving music scene through this commission. Congratulations Cat and Andy!”

 

Anna Day, Head of Cultural Services and Libraries at Leisure & Culture Dundee said,

 “As a Creative City, Dundee is a true hub of creativity. We are delighted about the variety of applications to the design commission opportunity, showcasing the impact of The SAY Award across sectors. We’re excited to unveil the final awards and welcome the Scottish music community this November at the iconic Caird Hall.” 

 

The SAY Award is a Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) production. The SAY Award 2025 is delivered in partnership with Creative Scotland, Leisure & Culture Dundee, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council, UNESCO City of Design Dundee, Seabass Vinyl, PPL, HMV, FOPP, Help Musicians, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative, Youth Music, 71 Brewing, Bon Accord, Apex Hotels, Malmaison and Music Declares Emergency.

Don’t miss The SAY Award 2025 news – follow the award on social media across Instagram @sayaward, Facebook @SAYaward , TikTok @thesayaward and X @SAYaward.

Ends

For media enquiries email kevin.mcginley@leisureandculturedundee.com

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NO COMPLY
nocomplydesign.com / nocomplydesign@hotmail.com 
@nocomply.design on Instagram and Facebook

29 July 2025  

Nominees Announced for Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents

Nominees Announced for Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents 2025

The Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents (SDAY) is back for its 6th year, this time celebrating the theme of “Shaping The Future Together”. These awards are open to designers (aged 35 and under) from across the UNESCO Design Cities Network. Dundee is proud to nominate an exciting selection of young professionals and students for the awards; you can check out our nominations below:

Nominated Young Professionals:

Nominated Students:

We wish all our nominees the best with their submissions!

In addition, we’re excited to announce that Dundee-based designer Linsey McIntosh has been asked to join the judging panel for this prize. Previous international judges invited to join the panel have included Russell Kennedy (Australia), Melike Taşcıoğlu Vaughan (Turkey), and Ian Lambert (USA) amongst others. You can view the full 2025 judging panel on sday.design

Linsey McIntosh is a designer, educator, facilitator and researcher with a passion for spaces, places, people and communities.

Originally from Glasgow, Linsey graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) at the University of Dundee with a BDes (Hons) in Interior & Environmental Design in 2005. Following this, she worked in industry as an interior designer an award-winning architecture and interior design practice. In 2011, she was awarded an MDes (Distinction) after undertaking the DJCAD Master of Design programme, where she focused on service design approaches.

Since 2011, she has held a position as Lecturer in Interior & Environmental Design within Design & Making at DJCAD (Top 10 in UK for Art & Design, Complete University Guide 2024).

Photography by Grant Anderson.

You can view a selection of the nominated projects below:

For press enquiries, please contact Project Coordinator Lizzie Day on elizabeth.day@leisureandculturedundee.com

Image credits:

  1. A Little World of Ants (2024) by Cara Rooney
  2. She Town (2025) by Jo-AMI & Ruadhan Scanlan, photography by Alex James
  3. EH9 Annfield (2024) by Camillo Atlas, photography by Cameron Todd
  4. nothing matters (2025) by Ayla Ahmed
  5. The Light Reading Collection by Cathal Gibson
  6. A Kaleidoscopic Symphony (Interior) by Dylan Baliski
  7. Echoes in Chaos (2025) by Heidi Lee
  8. REPRIEVE by Studio Reprieve (Franciszek Maj, Maya Barnes & Garbhan Donnelly)
  9. Tactile Resistance (2024) by Yimou Huang, photography by Grant Anderson (Dundee Design Festival 2024, curated by Stacey Hunter)
  10. Life reWritten by Paul Hinnrichs, Matthew Ellington, Kopanieva Alisa & Mattea Sacco
6 June 2025  

Dundee Student Wins International Tram Prize

All photography by Jérôme Abou, courtesy of Saint-Étienne Métropole.

DUNDEE STUDENT WINS TRAM PRIZE

Paul Hinnrichs, Digital Interaction Design student at the University of Dundee, wins international tram design competition in Saint-Étienne, France

In celebration of the 13th Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Étienne, the Cité du design and Saint-Étienne public transport company (STAS), launch the winning designs of the A Streetcar Named Design competition.

The two winning designs, focus on the Biennale’s theme: “Resource(s), Foreseeing the future”

The International Prize, only applicable to students studying in a fellow UNESCO Creative City, was awarded to Paul Hinnrichs, Digital Interaction Design student at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee.

Dundee student’s design win delight’s 9-year-old tram fan – The Courier UK

Paul’s design, titled Trames d’Énergie: Weaving Tomorrow’s Currents, considers the tram as a dynamic map of France’s energy ecosystem, fusing industrial heritage with 21st-century resources. Inspired by the city’s legacy as a UNESCO Creative City of Design and its historic ribbon-weaving industry, the design visualises energy production and consumption as flowing ribbons that morph into binary data streams, symbolising how physical and digital resources power modern life.

Each ribbon’s width correlates with the regional energy output, creating a “live” tapestry. As these ribbons traverse the tram, they dissolve into binary code, reflecting energy’s role in powering digital infrastructure. The palette—teal, sage, pink, orange— references nuclear, hydro, fossil fuels, and renewable energies whilst honouring Saint-Étienne’s textile past.

“I’m truly honoured to receive this award alongside my fellow winner Lilou Thieffenat and thank everyone involved in the process. It’s never too late to learn, create, and take a chance. [It’s] also a pleasure to represent Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design [University of Dundee] and UNESCO City of Design Dundee internationally!”

“I wanted the Saint-Étienne tramway to be a dynamic map of the French energy ecosystem , merging industrial heritage with 21st-century resources.”

– Paul Hinnrichs

The National Prize (for students based in France) was awarded to Lilou Thieffenat, a Master’s student in Space Design at the Annecy Alpes School of Art. Lilou’s design in entitled Urban Heat, Perceiving the City Differently.

“I wanted to put humans back at the heart of the system, to rethink the city as a living organism , crossed by flows and presences. This tramway, dressed in a thermal imprint, reveals what the eye does not see: the heat that we produce, that which unites us, and that which we seek to tame.”

– Lilou Thieffenat
(as reported by SÉM le Mag)

Each winner will receive a prize of €4,500, with their designs running permanently on the rails of Saint-Étienne. Launched in late May 2025, Paul and Lilou’s designs join 6 further Biennale trams produced for previous iterations of the competition.

About the Saint-Étienne International Design Biennial

The 13th edition of the Saint-Étienne International Design Biennial opens its doors from 22 May to 6 July 2025. With Armenia as the guest country and Resource(s), Foreseeing the future as the theme, it invites everyone to come and discover bold, new projects, share enriching ideas and enjoy a rejuvenating, creative experience based around exhibitions, conferences, workshops and street festivals.

Find out more at biennale-design.com

 

About Saint-Étienne, UNESCO City of Design

In 2010 Saint-Étienne became the first French city to join the UNESCO creative cities network as city of design. Thanks to concrete initiatives such as the creation of the Cité du design and the International Design Biennial, Saint-Etienne has adopted design as an agent for urban transformation and for economic development. Relying on the creativity of its territory and the engagement of both the public and industrial sector, the city is reinventing itself, leading its numerous small and medium-sized enterprises to innovation, and improving the quality of its citizens’ urban living environment through design.

Find out more at designcities.net/city/saint-etienne

20 May 2025  

New Scheme Connects Local Businesses to UNESCO Status

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 20 May 2025

PHOTO CALL: Wednesday 21 May, 4-5pm at EH9 Annfield, 94 Annfield Road, Dundee, DD1 5JH with Design Lives Here supporters.
Please contact elizabeth.day@leisureandculturedundee.com with any questions. 

NEW SCHEME CONNECTS LOCAL BUSINESSES TO DUNDEE’S UNESCO CITY OF DESIGN STATUS 

Supporter scheme, called Design Lives Here, launched by UNESCO City of Design Dundee showcasing individuals, businesses and organisations in the city
Website link: https://cityofdesigndundee.com/design-lives-here/
Socials: @designdundee 

Design Lives Here is UNESCO City of Design Dundee’s new free supporter scheme which celebrates and showcases individuals, organisations and businesses in Dundee who champion design, work with designers and believe in the value of design. In short, this is an opportunity for workplaces to distinctly align themselves with Dundee’s UNESCO designation and show their audience that they proudly support design in the city. 

Crucially, this scheme isn’t just open to traditional design businesses, but anyone who champions design within their work. Supporters include practicing designers, those running design centred businesses, but also those who support design through the way they work – such as hiring a designer for a rebrand, using a design company for a website, commissioning a designer to produce corporate gifts, or the implementation of design-thinking methods in decision making. Some have worked with an architect to redesign their office space, and furnished interiors with the work of designers. These and much more are all working styles this scheme champions! 

 

All the Design Lives Here supporters have demonstrated a commitment to six charter principles: 

  • Practice responsible consumption and production methods 
  • Promote, champion and collaborate with local design talent 
  • Grow your knowledge and understanding of design by learning from others, locally and internationally 
  • Show a passion for design that engages people 
  • Support the local creative economy through the principles of community wealth building 
  • Raise awareness of UNESCO City of Design Dundee 

 

Design Lives here supporters include local businesses, organisations and individual designers from across Dundee including: 

  • Specialist coffee-bar EH9 Espresso, whose new store on Annfield Road was designed by local freelance creative Camillo Atlas. 
  • Cohere Spaces, owners of the Flour Mill, an exciting and dynamic coworking and serviced office space right in the heart of Dundee’s city centre. 
  • Claire Grainger of Grainger PR, a public relations specialist working with clients across the culture sector including Joanne McFadyen, founder of pop-up design market Tea Green Events. 
  • Videogames developer 532 Design who create design-led sports games for mobile and web players, specialising in crafting immersive gaming experiences. 
  • Freelance illustrator and printmaker Lauren Morsley, whose designs are stocked in stores across Scotland, England, Germany and the USA.  

 

Annie Marrs, Lead Officer at UNESCO City of Design Dundee said: “There are lots of brilliant businesses all across Dundee who are using design and working with designers every single day. This new initiative is a fantastic way to celebrate those businesses, organisations and individuals that are embracing all sorts of aspects of design.” 

 

Design Lives Here is delivered by UNESCO City of Design Dundee and part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Identity and graphic design by Stein Design. 

UNESCO City of Design Dundee is supported by a partnership between Leisure & Culture Dundee and V&A Dundee. 

END 

1 May 2025  

New Design Trails Launch, Kicking Off Dundee Month of Design

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1 May 2025

Free to use images: https://www.flickr.com/gp/182139081@N02/2xmXCgz51K

UNESCO DUNDEE LAUNCH NEW DESIGN TRAILS,
KICKING OFF DUNDEE MONTH OF DESIGN

Free maps and audio tours of Dundee, marking the 7th annual Dundee Month of Design. Now launched, available to pick up at Central Library, V&A Dundee and The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum
Website link: https://cityofdesigndundee.com/design-trails

Four brand new trails are now available to collect. The routes share some intriguing design stories of Dundee, the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of Design. With illustrations by Rhianne Connelly, local designer Luke Cassidy Greer created four colourful printed maps which encourage people to explore Dundee’s past and contemporary design legacy.

Directing visitors and residents alike to some of the city’s key design sites, the Dundee Design Trails look at the themes of:

  • Design in Dundee’s City Centre. Kicking off at V&A Dundee and Discovery Point, it takes in sights along the Waterfront and into the City Centre. Make sure you don’t miss the Charles Rennie Mackintosh inspired windows at King’s Theatre, the secret submarine bobbing in the Tay, and Dundee’s “cathedral of science”!
  • Dundee’s Post-war Architecture, with stops in Lochee and the West End. Designer Luke Cassidy Greer is passionate about sharing his love of post-war architecture, something Dundee is packed full of! Often overlooked, these designs fill our city streets, ranging from residential homes to major cultural venues. Make sure you don’t miss Dundee’s first skyscraper, Tower Building, and amazing modernist gems on Lochee High Street including the old Woolworths and Lochee’s local fishmongers!
  • The Architecture of Dundee’s Textile Mills, with stops in Stobswell and Hawkhill takes you through some of the city’s key industrial areas. Be sure you don’t miss stops at Verdant Works, Dundee’s beautifully refurbished industrial heritage museum, Eagle Jute Mills, the only mill constructed between the world wars, and Arthurstone Library, built on land purchased from mill magnates the Baxters.
  • Dundee’s Innovation and Technology, with stops in the West End and City Centre. Bringing us right up to present day Dundee, this trail includes stops that tell the story of Dundee’s pioneering inventions. Don’t miss DC Thomson, home to the world’s longest running comic Magazine (The Beano) and 134 Nethergate (now Wee Mexico), the first office of Grand Theft Auto creators DMA Design!

Dundee Design Trails are accompanied by four corresponding audio guides with expanded facts and information, available via UNESCO City of Design Dundee’s website.

The team behind UNESCO City of Design Dundee and local producer Becca Clark were keen to ensure that audiences could enjoy the trails in multiple ways. By creating an accompanying audio guide for each trail, people can join in and learn about our city’s design stories.

The trails have been developed with many talented designers, writers, researchers and producers from across Dundee:

  • Graphic design and photography by Luke Cassidy Greer of Yalla Riso, a sustainably focused Dundee-based printers and graphic design studio founded by Greer.
  • Illustrations by Rhianne Connelly, a Dundee-based graphic designer and printmaker who is drawn to bold patterns, playful typography and print design.
  • Audio guides by Becca Clark of dundee radio club; a community radio station created by Clark and collaborator Su Shaw as a space for sonic exploration.
  • ‘If These Wa’s Cuid Talk – A History of Dundee’s Surviving Jute & Flax Mills’ by Alison Carrie was a major source for the project.
  • Additional research support from Dundee City Archives and Local History at Central Library.

Annie Marrs, Lead Officer at UNESCO City of Design Dundee said: “Dundee Design Trails are a great way to share our design stories with visitors to the city, communicating the many reasons why Dundee is the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design. These trails are full of well-loved design facts as well as highlighting some hidden gems. We’re really excited that these trails feature places across the city including Bonar Hall, Lochee High Street, King’s Theatre, and Baxter Park amongst many other amazing locations.”

Councillor Steven Rome, convener of Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure, said: “This is a great initiative to encourage people to get out and see Dundee’s rich history of design and the way it has left its mark on the city.”

Council spokesperson for Culture, Sport and History Councillor Lynne Short added: “Over time, design is one of the threads that have been woven together to make Dundee such a unique place. I am delighted that these maps will allow people to explore that story for themselves.”

‘Dundee Design Trails’ are launched as part of the annual month-long celebration of Dundee’s UNESCO designation, Dundee Month of Design.

Further Dundee Month of Design events include exhibitions, workshops and drop-ins from Dundee Contemporary Arts, Double Doors Studio, V&A Dundee, Volk Gallery and more! Abertay University’s Digital Graduate Show and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design’s Undergraduate Degree Show also feature in the month’s programme.

For more information, visit: cityofdesigndundee.com/dundee-month-of-design
@designdundee / @dundeemonthofdesign

Dundee Design Trails is delivered by UNESCO City of Design Dundee and part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

UNESCO City of Design Dundee is supported through a partnership between Leisure & Culture Dundee and V&A Dundee.

END

22 November 2024  

Designer Christmas Trees return for a third year

Designer Christmas Trees return for a third year

IMAGES: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBSTVf

In cities all around the world, festive tree displays are a highlight of the season. Beautiful and inspiring trees are created by designers who combine festive traditions and contemporary design.

Dundee’s Designer Christmas Trees celebrate our UNESCO City of Design status, presenting designs developed locally. Part of Dundee’s Festive Celebrations, in partnership with Dundee City Council, 13 designs have been commissioned through the project since its start in 2022. All elements of the final trees (and their decorations!) must be made from 100% reused or recycled materials and utilise multiples of an object or material. This year’s brand-new designs are:

‘Silent night, holy bike’ by designer Camillo Atlas with pupils from Braeview Academy and Craigie High School
A Dundee Christmas Tree made from broken bike parts – welded together by 14 high school students under the direction of Camillo Atlas, a multidisciplinary freelance designer and maker based in Dundee. He works on projects that range from interiors to product design, usually involving the use of waste materials.
Camillo ran 12 metalwork and welding sessions at Braeview Academy and Craigie High School teaching pupils the basics of MIG welding and power tools, helping the students build confidence around practical skills.
Featured bike parts were collected by Dundee Cycle Hub and Angus Cycle Hub in Arbroath and Forfar.

‘A Fast Fashion Christmas’ by Ruby Coyne of fashion label Dreamland
Created using thrown away textiles and fast fashion garments, Dreamland’s Christmas Tree highlights just how wasteful and impactful the fast fashion industry is. By taking these pieces of clothing and deconstructing them, the Tree shows the issue of fast fashion consumption and manufacturing; it literally is a throw away trend with a monumental impact on our beautiful planet.
Founded by designer Ruby Coyne, Dreamland Clothing is a youthful, nostalgic, and energetic fashion label based in Dundee. The label draws inspiration from
1980s culture and is at the forefront of digital print, with wearable silhouettes that capture a one-of-a-kind aesthetic.

‘Adrift’ by maker and lighting designer Steve Page
Using material found along the Dundee shoreline, Adrift shows the juxtaposition of natural maritime materials with the litter we produce. It highlights the increasing plastic pollution of our seas and repurposes this as decoration for the tree.
2024 marks 200 years of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI). This Tree thanks our own volunteers at Broughty Ferry Lifeboat Station who continue to be ready to respond to calls without pause throughout the festive period.
Steve Page is a Dundonian designer with a keen interest in science and nature. He works with a variety of materials including steel, light and timber, to create thought provoking pieces that educate, entertain and add value to our world.

‘Cone home for Christmas’ by Jolene Guthrie of contemporary knitwear brand Jo-AMI
A waste product of the knitting process, vibrant, multicoloured plastic spools have been stacked together to create Jo-AMI’s Christmas Tree. These plastic cones open up a conversation around sustainability in knitwear production asking how we can ensure all waste and biproducts are used. Jo-AMI is currently researching multiple uses for waste spools, including the creation of bespoke buttons to be used on her upcoming designs. The hard plastic contrasts the soft yarn usually seen in knit design.
Established in 2019 by designer Jolene Guthrie, Jo-AMI aims to promote the iconic Scottish knitwear industry, by creating garments and accessories that are cool, comfy and considered. Designs retain key Scottish nostalgic traits but are developed into stylish pieces for a modern-day customer.

Returning designs from 2022 and 2023 are:
‘Spiral Tree’ (2022) by Helm Young Team Young people aged 16-18 from local charity Helm designed and built this tree with support from the charities technical team, using old pallets to create an impactful giant spiral.

‘Retro Celebrations’ (2022) by Billy Hutchison Made from hundreds of aluminium juice cans, the shiny design references vintage Christmas Trees from the 1960s.

‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ (2022) by Caishnah Nevans Constructed from vinyl records, this design celebrates the importance of music throughout the festive season.

‘The Absentree’ (2023) by Lyle McCance This build shows the silhouette a tree, and brings to light issues around deforestation here and abroad.

‘The Material Christmas’ (2023) by Lee Johnstone and Aymeric Renoud Constructed from air vents and lumber scraps, this tree asks us to consider waste’s potential.

‘The Exploding Tree’ (2023) by Suzanne Scott and Louise Forbes Made with leftover materials, this tree is adorned with stars, robins, hearts and toadstools (often said to be the inspiration behind Christmas colours). It also wiggles softly in the wind!

‘Make Trees Trees Again!’ (2023) by Blair McCafferty Made entirely from skateboards, this tree uses broken boards from the local skateboarding community.

Since 2014, Dundee has been the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design. This global designation as a Creative City acknowledges Dundee’s rich design heritage, its thriving contemporary design sector and a city committed to using design to solve problems and make Dundee a better place to live.

cityofdesigndundee.com
@designdundee / Instagram & Facebook

For media enquiries, please contact elizabeth.day@vandadundee.org

Dundee’s Designer Christmas Tree project is supported by Dundee City Council and delivered by UNESCO City of Design Dundee. UNESCO City of Design Dundee is hosted by V&A Dundee and supported by city partners: Abertay University, Creative Dundee, Dundee City Council, Leisure & Culture Dundee, University of Dundee and V&A Dundee.

13 June 2024  

FRAMEWORK: Open Call

FRAMEWORK: Open Call

Dundee Design Festival (DDF) is excited to announce an open call to participate in FRAMEWORK. This group exhibition will showcase Scotland based contemporary designers and makers, considering the myriad of ways design intertwines and overlaps with other artforms and industries. 

We are looking for contemporary design works for a group show that conveys the quality, ambition and breadth of the contemporary Scottish design sector.  We want to present recent work that brings together a range of innovative and creative ideas and methodologies. 

Selected designers will receive:

  • A participation fee of £50-£100.
  • For those that experience barriers to participation, access costs are available. These include but are not limited to: caring responsibilities, accessibility, and travel.

About Dundee Design Festival
Dundee Design Festival (DDF) is a 7-day celebration of contemporary design all under one roof. With over 100 participating designers, a variety of exhibitions, installations and a host of interactive events and activities; this will be Scotland’s biggest design event.

It will strengthen the profile of local, national and international design, designers and their methods, and widen the understanding of design and its contribution to our society and culture.

This year’s theme is MULTIPLICITY. The venue is at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc from 23-29th September 2024 where we’re inviting audiences to experience the multiplicity of ways that design shapes our world. Sustainability is at the heart of the festival. We are on track to be one of the world’s most sustainable design festivals with a commitment to use less than 30% virgin materials in the production of the event – further details can be found here.

As the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design, the festival positions Dundee and Scotland as an important centre for design and creativity which is diverse, collaborative and rooted in experimentation and innovation.

Dundee Design Festival is a UNESCO City of Design Dundee project delivered through Dundee Partnership and hosted by V&A Dundee.

 

Eligibility Criteria
FRAMEWORK is a group exhibition showcasing existing works from contemporary designers based in Scotland. The display will run throughout the festival at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, from Monday 23 September to Sunday 29 September 2024. 

This is not a commissioning opportunity, nor a trade show; FRAMEWORK is an exhibition. If you’d like to make your work available for purchase, we can signpost this to visitors, however transactions will not be processed by DDF (they should take place independently between purchasers and individual designers). Each work will be selected by the DDF team (further details below). 

Said works will be displayed utilising donated industrial materials in line with the festival’s sustainability commitment, and will be installed by the DDF technical team, under the direction of festival curator Dr Stacey Hunter. Selected designers are not required to be onsite during install. DDF reserves the right to display selected works in our preferred manner. 

Sustainability is at the heart of the festival. We are on track to be one of the world’s most sustainable design festivals with a commitment to use less than 30% virgin materials in the production of the event – further details can be found here. It is important that featured FRAMEWORK designers also consider sustainability through their work.

FRAMEWORK is an object based exhibition, however we welcome submissions from those working in alternative ways (digitally or virtually for example). For these types of applicants, proposed display methods should be considered and noted when applying.

 

How to Apply
To submit for FRAMEWORK, please complete the online application form. 

Dundee Design Festival is funded by Creative Scotland. With this in mind, we are requesting all applicants fill in an anonymous Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form. You can complete the form here or via the link in the online application form.

Supporting imagery should be submitted via the online application form when prompted; up to 8 images can be uploaded. Videos are also accepted as supporting imagery; a maximum of 3 hyperlinks can be copied into the online application form when prompted. Submissions without supporting imagery will not be accepted.

Please note, any applications received after the deadline of Midnight, Sunday 7 July 2024 will not be considered. 

We’re committed to an inclusive and accessible application process. If you would prefer to submit audio responses rather than written responses for the longer-form questions, please get in touch so we can make suitable accommodations. If you have any other questions about the application process, please email dundeedesignfestival@vandadundee.org 

For anyone who cannot access the online application form, a downloadable version is available here. This should be completed and returned, alongside supporting imagery, to dundeedesignfestival@vandadundee.org using the subject line ‘FRAMEWORK Application’.

 

Technical Requirements to Note

  • Supporting images should be jpeg format at 300dpi; one side should ideally measure a minimum of 1000px.
  • Please pay close attention to the naming conventions for all files you upload (all file names must start with your name).
  • Once you hit the submit button, the files will be uploaded. This might take some time (depending on your internet connection and size of files). Do not navigate away or shut the page down. After submission, check that you received an automated thank you email.
  • To avoid any accidental losses, we recommend you write your answers separately and copy/paste them into the required fields.

 

Selection Process
Submissions will be reviewed by our Dundee Design Festival team the week commencing Monday 8 July 2024. The team will select designers on the basis of their eligibility and the individual quality of their submissions, as well as with a view to forming a cohesive collective presentation. All accepted applicants will be contacted the week commencing Monday 15 July 2024.

 

FAQ

  • Is it okay if my work has been exhibited previously?
    Totally fine with us! However, if your work has been displayed within the last 3 years, we’d love to hear when and where it was shown. You can include a wee note about this in your application, within the ‘Description of Work’ question. This will not affect your final word count.
  • My work doesn’t have a strong sustainability focus, does this mean I’m not eligible?
    We’d love to hear about how you consider the issue of sustainability – even if the submitted work doesn’t focus on it as a theme. Does sustainability interest you? Is it something that affects how you work – or think about a project? We’d love to know!
  • I’d like to propose a new piece of work I’ve not yet made, is this eligible?
    FRAMEWORK is not a commissioning opportunity. With this in mind, only existing works are eligible for submission.
  • Can I submit work as part of a collective or organisation rather than as an individual designer?
    Of course! We welcome submissions from all types of working styles and environments (including collectives, studios, agencies etc) however we request that one person acts as the main contact throughout the application process.
  • I have multiple pieces of work I’d like to submit – can I apply more than once?
    We recommend you submit just once, even if you have multiple pieces you’d like to share with us. Please focus your application on one work only. If you feel strongly about sharing additional works, please note this in the ‘Any Questions?’ answer box on the online application form. Please note, only one work* per designer will be featured.
  • I’m sure I had a question, I just can’t quite remember it right now!
    No problem at all! You can send us any enquiries at dundeedesignfestival@vandadundee.org. We aim to reply within 5 working days, however this can be longer during busy periods.

*For smaller scale works, such as jewellery, a set of pieces could be considered as one work.

13 June 2024  

Programme Announcement: Dundee Design Festival

Media Release: EMBARGOED UNTIL 08:00 on Thursday 13 June

FOR ALL PRESS ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:
Owen O’Leary, Oh Really PR owen@ohreally.co.uk
FREE-TO-USE IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE
FEATURED IMAGES CREDIT: GRANT ANDERSON

Media Release:

First events announced for Dundee Design Festival 2024 as 100 day countdown begins

  • Scotland’s national festival of design announces new commissions which see Timorous Beasties, Donna Wilson, Gabriella Marcella and Alicia Storie create interactive installations transforming an area of the former factory space at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc
  • Running from 23 – 29 September 2024 the free festival aims to be the world’s most sustainable design festival showcasing the work of over 100 designers through a host of exhibitions workshops talks and events
  • Dundee Design Festival celebrates Dundee’s 10th anniversary of UNESCO City of Design Status by launching an open call inviting Scotland’s design talent to showcase their work

Marking 100 days until the opening of Scotland’s national celebration of contemporary design, Dundee Design Festival has announced the first elements of its week-long programme running from 23 – 29 September. This year’s theme is MULTIPLICITY celebrating the multiplicity of ways that design shapes our world. Powered by clean and renewable energy, the festival’s ambition is to be one of the world’s most sustainable design events.

 

The 10,000 sq metre former factory space at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc will host 100 designers in a variety of exhibitions, workshops, talks and events. As part of the programme the festival will host bespoke large scale design installations by four of Scotland’s most innovative design studios.

 

MATERIALISE will invite visitors to step into the worlds of Donna Wilson, Timorous Beasties, Gabriella Marcella and AdesignStorie and experience the power of colour, pattern, tactility and movement in a series of specially designed environments each with a completely unique atmosphere. Using sustainable methods, each installation constructs a unique story about design from a tactile forest of knitted trees, to the latest innovations in bio-materials. The  installations will be accompanied by a range of participatory activities and workshops suitable for a variety of ages.

Timorous Beasties are a surreal and provocative design studio creating a diverse range of products, collaborations and unique design projects internationally. Their installation offers a unique insight into their archives and contemporary designs spanning 30 years. Using wallpaper and textiles the studio will demonstrate their diverse range of patterns, ranging from design that echoes a golden age of copperplate engraving, to examples of a distinctly edgy nature where elegant transgressions are displayed with chic irreverence.

Donna Wilson has designed a woolly wonderland featuring a tactile forest of knitted trees, mushrooms and flowers. These whimsical creations are bursting with character and joy. The forest is also the home of a mysterious creature with an ever-growing rainbow mane of long hair. Visitors can help to knit the creature’s hair into a never ending scarf at the Knit Shop pop-up and see a range of Donna’s eponymous knitwear, creatures, cushions, ceramics, fine art, furniture and more.

Gabriella Marcella’s installation Challenging Uniformity allows visitors to experience how uniforms can be transformed into canvases for creativity, celebrating the dynamic interplay between conformity and individuality. Gabriella employs design to demonstrate creative expression, improvisation, activism, and customisation. Visitors are invited to engage with the interplay between conformity and personal expression, exploring how individuals navigate and negotiate their identities within the constraints of a uniform.

AdesignStorie Tiny House collaboration photo by Megan Redden Photography

Alicia Storey of AdesignStorie has created the House of Wellbeing, a climate conscious tiny house installation that encourages the exploration of healthy materials. The house is designed to nurture physical, mental, and environmental wellness. Alicia has designed a bespoke materials library showcasing innovative and sustainable products for interiors and a complementary garden lounge offering a sensory calming experience for visitors to enjoy alongside a range of biophilic workshops and activities.

 

MATERIALISE is just one of the programme elements announced at this stage which include;

 

Exhibitions:

HYPER LOCAL, a hyper-local insight into design culture from ten cities and three continents. HYPER LOCAL marks the 10th anniversary of Dundee’s designation as a UNESCO City of Design.  The exhibition presents  over 60 objects or ideas that illustrate a wide variety of design cultures from across the global creative cities network. The diverse display honours and celebrates the UNESCO values of international collaboration, friendship and peace. Participating design cities include: Cebu, Bilbao, Dundee, Detroit, Graz, Kortrijk, Nagoya, Queretaro and Wuhan.

 

FRAMEWORK features contemporary design selected from across Scotland through an open call. Illustrating the myriad ways that design overlaps and intersects with other artforms and industries, FRAMEWORK acts as a unique snapshot of contemporary design.

 

Emerging Design x Real World Projects is an exhibition of graphic design resulting from close partnership working with Duncan & Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD).  14 students contributed visual concepts for DDF festival signage and marketing with the winner receiving £2000 and a work placement with the festival team. To celebrate the graphic designers of tomorrow and to mark the partnership with DJCAD, the competition entries will be exhibited in a display of highly distinctive and expressive concepts for Scotland’s design festival.

 

Events & Activities:

THE WORLD IS BEAUTIFUL AGAIN hosted in partnership with Abertay University, this special interactive event explores whether AI-generated images could be seen as expressions of possibility or spaces that prompt us to question ourselves and our environment. During the event designers Sebastian Schmieg and Lina Schwarzenberg will receive images from the audience and will start “repairing the world” with AI.

Design as a Language – a panel discussion with Gabriella Bennett. “Design is the ultimate expression of culture” says Gabriella Bennett. The award winning writer and journalist will explore the way that design is encoded by different cultures internationally with a special line-up of guests, including designers Jennifer Gray and Adam Johnston and writer and journalist Eilidh Akilade.

The full Dundee Design Festival 2024 programme will be announced in mid July with further exhibitions, workshops, events and talks all sharing a unique insight into Scotland’s creative design sector and exploring sustainable approaches, fresh ideas and fun activities.

Dundee Design Festival 2024 is supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Dundee City Council and the Northwood Trust.

 

Speaking as the 100 day festival countdown begins Dundee Design Festival Creative Director Stacey Hunter said:
“Our exciting exhibition programme brings over 100 designers from every design category together under one roof and is brought to life by demonstrations, workshops and talks. So we’re delighted to be able to share details of part of the festival programme at this early stage. The generosity and ambition of the immersive installations planned by Gabriella Marcella, Alicia Storie of AdesignStorie, Donna Wilson and Timorous Beasties perfectly reflect the festival’s values of being playful, fresh and accessible with sustainability at its heart. By choosing MULTIPLICITY as this year’s theme I want to share and celebrate the multiplicity of ways that design shapes our world. From the potential of A.I. to platforming emerging design talent and hosting panels discussions, talks and workshops Dundee Design Festival 2024 invites visitors to engage with designs in so many ways.

One of the questions we asked ourselves: What are our leading designers, makers and thinkers currently developing? And where is design headed in the future? So we have launched an open call to Scotland’s designers for a new exhibition FRAMEWORK featuring contemporary design selected from across the country. This diverse exhibition celebrates 10 years of Dundee’s designation as the UK’s only design city with a multiplicity of ideas and objects for you to enjoy and be inspired by.

As preparations for the festival continue I look forward to sharing the full programme of events including some very special design commissions. Join us in September for a unique insight into Scotland’s creative design sector and explore sustainable approaches, fresh ideas and fun activities.

Designer Donna Wilson said:
“The Dundee Design Festival is a unique opportunity for us to tell the story of what we do at a local and international level, in the city in which we exist. It’s so important for the next generation that we encourage and nurture creativity and we show people what’s possible, and what can be done in Scotland, and in Dundee!

The aim for our festival installation is to communicate our design practice in a playful way to show we are accessible, fun and sustainable. We want to tell the story of our production line and the Knitshop in a simple, whimsical way which invites the public to interact with the installation by having a part in knitting a long continuous scarf.

The Knitshop was set up in 2019 in Dundee and is an independent knit factory bridging the gap between design, industry and education.  As well as manufacturing knitwear and accessories, its purpose is to share skills, encourage innovation, and to invest in the regeneration of the Scottish textile industry.”

Designer Alicia Storieof AdesignStorie said:
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Dundee Design Festival visitors to AdesignStorie’s House of Wellbeing, a tiny house concept showcasing the material of the future.  From mushroom mycelium to hemp textiles, we’ll be welcoming visitors to take a tour of the compact tiny house layout, pull up a chair at the dining table to join an eco home design workshop and rest in the sensory garden lounge.

This tiny house space is designed for the wellness of both people and the planet. Our aim is for guests to leave feeling nourished and recharged having experienced firsthand the benefits of nature-inspired design for wellness.”

Clive Gillman, Director of Creative Industries at Creative Scotland said:
“The Dundee Design Festival has grown to be a smart and engaging response to Dundee’s status as UNESCO City of Design highlighting the remarkable success of Scotland’s design community, which brings a turnover of over £3.4 billion and nearly 4,000 creative businesses.

“However, the Festival has always showcased Scottish design as more than just an economic success story.  It demonstrates design as a way to solve challenges, a way to express who we are, and most importantly, a way to think about who we might be.

“This year’s edition is shaping up to be an exciting and highly relevant event, building on a rich legacy of activity over the past decade and signalling a strong vision for the future of design in Scotland.”

 

Listings Information

Dundee Design Festival 2024

23 – 29 September

Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, Baldovie Rd, Dundee DD4 8UQ

Full programme of free events and exhibitions announced in July 2024. dundeedesignfestival.com

For further information and updates about the festival go to dundeedesignfestival.com @dnd_designfest

For further information, interview and image requests please contact Owen O’Leary,  on 07815992658 or email owen@owenoleary.com

View and download hi res images here: https://app.box.com/s/us896ri0v8dtg7hysxcxs5dft2m8gmjm

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Notes for Editors

About Dr Stacey Hunter

Stacey Hunter curates, writes and produces within a contemporary design context; her collaborative exhibitions and projects are known and appreciated for their unconventional approach and broad appeal. She is committed to the development of design culture in Scotland and enlivening design and craft discourses. Stacey founded Local Heroes to present the work of outstanding designers working in Scotland and collaborates with a diverse range of organisations from airports and cultural hubs to hotels, hospitals and design-led businesses. 

Her PhD was awarded by The University of Edinburgh’s Architecture School in 2015. In 2017 V&A Dundee named her a Design Champion; in 2018 she won Creative Edinburgh’s Leadership Award and in 2019 she was selected by Cove Park; Arts Initiative Tokyo and Creative Residency Arita to visit Japan for two months as design curator in residence. Later that year she was a designer in residence at The Suttie Art Space in Aberdeen. During lockdown Hunter was a curator in virtual-residence at Edinburgh’s Design Informatics / Inspace Gallery. In 2021 she produced the critically acclaimed The Future of Home exhibition in Brompton Design District as part of London Design Festival. In 2022 Craft Scotland commissioned Hunter to produce ‘Sustaining Curatorial Careers’ a research report exploring the key role curators play in sustaining and innovating Scotland’s ecosystem for contemporary craft. In 2023 Hunter launched PROCESS, a professional development programme for a cohort of five designers. www.localheroes.design www.staceyhunter.com

Stacey is on twitter @stacey_hunter_edi and instagram @stacey_hunter_edi

Local Heroes is on twitter @LocalHeroesScot and instagram @localheroesdesign

 

About UNESCO City of Design Dundee 

Dundee Design Festival 2024 will be delivered by UNESCO City of Design Dundee. UNESCO City of Design Dundee is delivered through the Dundee Partnership and hosted by V&A Dundee. Core project partners are Abertay University, Creative Dundee, Dundee City Council, Leisure & Culture Dundee, The University of Dundee and V&A Dundee. 

Dundee was designated a UNESCO Creative City in 2014. As the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of Design, Dundee upholds the values of UNESCO and publicly champions our city’s commitment to placing design at the heart of our local development plans and to global cooperation working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Dundee’s title recognises the small yet dynamic city with a strong cultural identity and a history of design, innovation and creativity. The city has time and time again focused on design and creativity to build sustainable economic growth. From the jute industry of the 19th & 20th Century through to post-war electrical and mechanical engineering, the city’s design story includes household favourites the Beano and the Dandy, marmalade and Grand Theft Auto. 

Today, Dundee is home to a cutting edge life sciences sector, a dynamic digital media industry, world-renowned higher education institutions and a vibrant creative industries sector. Dundee is a city which is bold, ambitious and committed to using design to help solve the challenges we face – locally and globally. 

Currently there are 49 UNESCO Cities of Design, including Bangkok, Bilbao, Detroit, Graz, Helsinki, Kobe, Mexico City, Montreal,Singapore, Seoul and Wuhan.

UNESCO City of Design Dundee: https://cityofdesigndundee.com/  

@designdundee  

UNESCO Cities of Design Network: https://www.designcities.net/

 

About Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc

MSIP is a dynamic and creative home for innovators, manufacturers and skills leaders who are actively working towards reducing carbon emissions and fostering a cleaner, more sustainable future. They offer space to manufacture and scale up; business, skills and innovation support; and access to green energy from sustainable sources. 

A joint venture with 3 partners: Michelin, Dundee City Council, and Scottish Enterprise. Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) was created to generate economic growth in Scotland and support a fair and just transition to a net zero economy. The 32-hectare site offers excellent physical and digital connectivity, and dynamic space for all sizes of businesses to locate.

Hosting Dundee Design Festival as a venue partner is the organisation’s latest commitment to working in partnership to highlight Dundee as a centre for design and innovation. 

https://www.msipdundee.com/ 

 

About UNESCO Creative Cities 

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. It is a global network of cities working towards the joint mission of placing creativity and cultural industries at the core of their urban development to make their cities safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable. 

There are 7 Creative City categories: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music and 13 UNESCO Creative Cities. Their work supports local communities and creates international opportunities, bringing an estimated £2.6 million in economic value to the UK. Recent research by the UK National Commission for UNESCO shows UNESCO projects can help build a greener, more equal and more peaceful world, while also creating financial value.

The cities form part of a larger global network made up of 350 member cities spanning seven artforms, with the city of Edinburgh, UK being the founding member of the Network.

Creative Cities work to strengthen the creation, production, distribution, and enjoyment of cultural goods and services at the local level, to promote creativity and creative expression especially among vulnerable groups, including women and young people, to enhance access to and participation in cultural life as well as enjoyment of cultural goods, and to strengthen the integration of cultural and creative industries and cultural tourism in local development plans.

UNESCO Creative Cities Network: https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/home 

UK National Commission for UNESCO: www.unesco.org.uk