21.11.2011
The Scottish Parliament has brought together new graduates from Scotland’s four renowned art schools to create an exhibition – called ‘Design & Democracy’ – to showcase how inspired design can be both life-enhancing and creative.
"The range of the projects on display will be of immense interest to the Parliament’s visitors and Members alike."
- Presiding Officer, Tricia Marwick MSPThe exhibition is the first to combine works from all four of Scotland’s art schools:
- Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
- Edinburgh College of Art
- Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen
- The Glasgow School of Art.
The exhibition will be housed within the Parliament’s Main Hall from the end of November 2011 to March 2012. It is the longest running exhibition ever to be held at the Parliament and is supported by Creative Scotland.
Presiding Officer, Tricia Marwick MSP said: “This exhibition demonstrates the vibrancy of Scotland’s creative education sector and there can be nowhere more fitting to showcase their talents than here at our Parliament.
"The range of the projects on display will be of immense interest to the Parliament’s visitors and Members alike.
“Scotland’s art colleges have a strong international reputation and this can only have been enhanced by the quality of the work on show here.
“We are delighted that all four art colleges responded so eagerly to the suggestion to create this exhibition. It comprehensively captures Scottish innovation on a theme that fits perfectly with the ideals at the heart of our Parliament.”
The exhibits range from photographic presentations, to model storefronts, innovative graphic design and products designed for specific use. Among these are edible food packaging, a ‘toolkit’ to help people suffering from depression, a study of Nepalese widows, and fashions that reference styles from more than 100 years ago.
The exhibition is grouped across a number of themes that include:
- designing for sustainability
- designing for health and well-being
- the impact of good visual communication.
Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland, said: “Creative Scotland’s role is to support and promote the country’s talent, as well as raising awareness of the value that creativity brings to our daily lives.
"This exhibition is a fantastic example of the quality of ideas and skills emerging from art schools around Scotland and will raise awareness of the potential that design plays in improving the way we live.”
The designers are:
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
- Barbara Beek – Textile Design
- Karen MacPherson – Interior and Environmental Design
- Michail Vanis – Digital Interaction Design
- Rebecca Veal – Interior and Environmental Design
Edinburgh College of Art
- Felix Chabluk Smith - Fashion
- Mark Kobine – Product Design
- Emma R. Lally – Graphic Design
Gray’s School of Art
- Kevin Cameron – Visual Communication
- Natalia Lozano – Product Design
- Simone Russell – Visual Communication
- Sarah Struthers – Fashion Design
The Glasgow School of Art
- James Edwin Bettney - Photography
- Jamina Davidson – Interior Design
- Sarah Amy Fishlock – Photography
- Benjamin Pawle – Product Design