Dundee Design Festival 2024 2021 2019 2017 2016

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Louise

Dundee Design Festival is currently on till 29th September, Dundee Design Festival is a UNESCO City of Design Dundee project, curated by Stacey Hunter held at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, open 10am – 6pm daily. More info on it here

2024 Highlights for me

A flavour of things I spotted on my first visit to this years festival…. plenty more to see.

Design is everywhere, it covers so many aspects of our lives that we don’t think about. I look fondly back at each of the festivals, each different in many ways!

2016 Highlights for me

Display by Old School Fabricators and Branding by Lyall Bruce, Kerrie Aldo patchwork coat, colourful film on the windows, getting some Tekels bank notes out of the machine by Martin Baillie, hands on workshops and the industrial building. The theme of the festival was ‘Place. Work. Folk. Design.’ through which the festival explored the potential of design to connect communities and improve everyday
lives. You can read the report here.

I was commissioned to create a series of surface patterns that piece together the stories of contemporary Dundee design. I wanted to capture a breadth of design that included healthcare, security, safety, fashion, entertainment and education, jewellery everything we use and experience. One of the pieces I created was called Building Support chosen not only as it represents a building designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry but because I believe it evidences how good design changes peoples’ lives providing a place of calm, support, nurture and tranquility created within a purposeful space. Externally, I enjoy the shape and movement of the roof which I feel echoes the local landscape.

Within the image the patterns are more than decoration, for instance the colourful pattern is cancer cells, the teacups and books to show support and lavender to give a sense of calm, the sky is a positive sunny yellow patten to show the positivity of space and support.

Hands of X Different materials used on the hands of X project, that investigates prosthetic hands, identity, fashion, and ownership. Hands of X was led by Professor Graham Pullin and Andrew Cook of Dundee University.

Building Safety, Warp and Weft, Showing woven, printed and technical textiles with link to the bullet proof vest on display by Jack Ellis body armour showing how technical textiles can protect and Cally Bookers hand woven textile inspired by the river Tay linking to data in the cities population. Fashion Textiles, Showing some of the tools of fashion textiles including pattern cutting, tailors chalk and fabric.

Tools of the Trade Range of tools used by designers from the Wacom pad, ruler, scissors, tailors chalk. Precious Tools of jewellers and sample rings with a bio-morph from Islay Spalding. Stomach Showing the advances in healthcare with the sonic pill (sonopill). Creating Worlds eeGeo 3d mapping, showing how design is used to help us around with also road signs and imaginary worlds of Glitchspace.

Building New Worlds A combination of the future of V&A Dundee coming to the waterfront with imaginary worlds from Glitchspace through gaming. (at this time the V&A dundee wasn’t open yet). I love the texture and stripes of the architecture of V&A Dundee, designed by Kengo Kuma and the inspiration of the cliffs along the coast. Under one roof West Ward Works, Dundee Design Festival, showcasing the range of things on display through the use of pattern. This was one of my favourite pieces now with UNESCO City of Design Dundee.

Loved West Ward Works and brining the building alive and linking to the print history using CMYK palette.

I remember this commission well, the momentum and excitement to be part of it and I had one month to do all the research, samples, to produce the final hand screen printed pieces for install.

2017 Highlights from this year included

Sion Parkinson curator the 2017 Dundee Design Festival. The festival’s theme was “Factory Floor”, which was inspired by the festival’s location in a former print factory. I loved the playful feel of this exhibition from the branding to Print City, featuring oversized screen printed assembled cardboard shapes. I enjoyed taking part in a Make / Share to talk about my work process. You can read more about the festival here.

2019 Highlight from this year included

Curated by Agency of None transforming the Keiller Centre into exhibition spaces. A nice bit of nostalgia using the Keiller Centre with fun activities and good graphics to play with. More about this festival here.

2021 Highlights from this year included

Curated by Agency of None, the festival’s theme was Every Where Design, which explored the unusual and hidden design that can be found all around us. Loved the fun characterful repurposed materials and seeing the pigeon palace transformed into a bright space and engaging with the local community to accessories their clothes. More about this festival here.

Looking forward to seeing what happens in the years to come. Dundee is the only UNESCO City of Design here in the UK.

THANK YOU for reading my blog. If you’re interested in my mission to transform spaces and support positive wellbeing by playfully applying colour and pattern to help connect people to place and the work I do on a range of public art commissions for hospitals, cultural venues and public spaces. You can see more about some of my projects here.

How to transform the streets to bring more joy!

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Louise

I believe colour and pattern can make a positive impact in the world! The right colour can uplift mood helping people to feel more positive. Pattern and imagery can help connect people to places and add meaning to placemaking.

Joyous Ground Graphics

Cobalt Collective, commission by V&A Dundee. Photo Credit Louise Kirby

One way to add more colour into the public realm is through adding ground graphics and colourful crossings transforming dreary tarmac streets into colourful ones! Look how joyful these are! Cobalt Collective in collaboration with with some community groups decorated the plaza around the V&A Dundee to create this colourful positive artwork.

Plaza by Cobalt Collective outside V&A Dundee. Photo credit Cobalt Collective

Examples of colourful ground graphics from around the UK

Camille Walala, 2016, London, commissioned by the Transport for London’s Future Streets Incubator Fund.
Photo by Better Bankside

“The aim of the Colourful Crossings commission is to explore how everyday infrastructures in the city, such as pedestrian crossings, are perceived and can be transformed,” said Better Bankside.

Stobswell Colourful Crossing 2021, Dundee by Louise Kirby, UNESCO City of Design Dundee funded by Sustrans Scotland.

I (Louise Kirby) created this design inspired by the local area taking elements from the historic architectural details, green spaces and public art after consultation with locals wanting more colour into the grey streets. You can see more about it and a blog about the whole process here

Eley Kishimoto, 2016, Brixton, London. Photo from Brixton Buzz

I’ve always loved this graphic iconic print design by Eley Kishimoto. It’s got great movement with the use of strong graphics in the positive and negative space. It looks great on the streets of Brixton, also in the variations of colours.

Graphic design by Callum Laird, Union Street, Dundee, UNESCO City of Design Dundee funded by Sustrans Scotland.
Photo credit David P Scott

It brings great joy to walk up and down through the colour of Union Street, Dundee to and from the V&A Dundee. I love the limited colour palette and bold graphics. Nice to see local businesses making use of the street, it reminds me of cafe culture on holiday! I look forward to seeing what happens next in this project to create a more permanent enhancement. I am really inspired by Dundee City Councils vision.

Craigie Compass by Bigg Design and Fun Makes Good, 2022, funded by Sustrans Scotland.
Photo by Bigg Design

Hamish from Bigg Design and Eleanor from Fun Makes Good created these cool ground murals called the ‘Craigie Compas’ to help with wayfinding in Perth, Scotland. Great to see the ground graphics used to help wayfinding, brighten up the area and the addition of fun signage giving it a 3d feel. You can read about it here

Practical Considerations

On ground graphics we have a limited colour palette. By using different colour combinations we can get varied results. There are options from the material used to apply the designs depending on if it’s a temporary or longer term installation and what the purpose of the area is used for. When designing a ground graphic in the public realm consideration and consultation needs to be in place for accessibility for all users’ needs.

They are a great way to inject a bit of fun, playfulness and joy!

Dundee cake inspired design in Puebla Mexico for UNESCO City of Design Dundee, designed by Louise Kirby.
Photo credit UNESCO city of Design Dundee

An example of taking a bit of Dundee to the other side of the world in Puebla,Mexico, representing UNESCO City of Design Dundee. You can read more about this project where students from Puebla painted my design and used design to highlight a safety issue on the roads you can read more about it here

I have a vision of the world full of colourful creative interventions to bring more joy to the spaces we play, live, work and travel through. My aim is to uplift and connect people and highlight the positives by creating artworks that capture a sense of place which creates a sense of belonging. I love to do this with my use of playfully applying colour and pattern.

I am ready to take on new design challenges and if you have a project, collaboration or commission in mind please get in touch hello@louisekirby.com or you can check some samples on my website to give you a flavour of previous projects.

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Rediscover Dundee Delights

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Louise

It’s great to see places starting to open up here in Dundee, we are so lucky to have so many cultural buildings and events on our doorstep. Here is my round up of some of my favourite places if you fancy getting out and about and rediscovering the city again. *I’ve popped links to all the places so you can check for any bookings or restrictions.

15^th August – It’s great that Dundee’s Farmers Market is set to start back up monthly, you can pick up local produce from breads, jams to veggies.

20^th August – The McManus Galleries is favourite building of mine, stashed full of interesting objects. I love the Stephen Bird ceramic piece it’s worth stopping and having a closer look at it. The David Batchelor sculpture brings a smile to my face with the brightly coloured bottles too. It’s great to see my Dundee Delights illustrated products available to buy again from their shop.

27^th August – V&A Dundee I’m so looking forward to seeing the Mary Quant exhibition – as you know I love colour and pattern and my background is in printed textiles! Can’t believe I’ve not been in the building since March, normally I would be in regularly delivering workshops for schools and families.

4^th September – Dundee Contemporary Arts It’ll be nice to see Arty the penguin again at Jute Café Bar, I’m sure Arty has been a good guard while the building has been closed. I’ve always loved the DCA for their cinema, beer garden on a sunny day and picking up cool cards and gifts from the shop. You will be able to pick up my Dundee Delights greetings cards, magnets and tea towels here . The galleries will be opening the following week.

Places already open include: Dundee Transport Museum good for a bit of nostalgia. Camperdown Zoo somewhere I like to take my son (and I like it too), check the website to book a slot. Verdant Works is a great space, remember to look up at the cool rafters. And if you like boats and history visit RRS Discovery or HMS Unicorn . You can also check out www.Dundee.com for more things happening.

If you would like to see the full Dundee Delights collections inspired by Dundee landmarks and foods you can see them here with free postage on all orders. You’ll also spot some new prints inspired by the wildflower growing during lockdown.

Thanks for reading!

Wasps Open Studios Dundee

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Louise

If you want to feel inspired come along to Wasps Open Studios in Dundee on the 26th & 27th October, home of the artists and designer of Dundee. It’s a sneak peek into the studios were you will see a real variety of creative practices.

I will have my full range of illustrated products called Dundee Delights plus one-off prints, new Christmas card designs and of course a bargain box. If you’ve never been to my studio before you’ll see my love of pattern and it’s a bit chaotic! My Dundee Delights collection is highlighting the great things here in Dundee, everything from the V&A Dundee to Dundee Cakes.

Come along and see designers, makers and artists in their own creative spaces, where you will have a chance to enjoy a chat and even the chance to purchase some items right from where its made!

You’ll find a wide variety of work including textiles, fashion, illustration, printmaking, jewellery, drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics.

Also, a great way to find out more about our exciting range of events, workshops, and learning opportunities! more info on the Facebook event page

X Marks the Spot for Dundee Delights

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Louise

TREASURE HUNT
On Tuesday 3rd April, I will be leaving visual clues on my social media, for people to find my Dundee Delights greetings cards around the city, if you would like to take part keep an eye on my Instagram, Twitter or my business Facebook page. I would love to see where my cards end up and who finds them, so please let me know via social media or drop me an email hello@louisekirby.com

Kirbyrecipes
Kirbyrecipes
LouiseKirbyDesign

Louise Kirby Dundee Delights greetings cards celebrate some of the delicious delicacies and iconic places in and around Dundee. Her designs have a fresh approach to the city whilst retaining the hand drawn qualities. The new collection will include Dundee Marmalade, The Wellgate Clock, V&A Dundee from the Tay Bridge, Magdalen Green Bandstand and Sunny Dundee image. Previous designs include Broughty Ferry Beach + Castle, The Dundee Penguins, Dundee cakes, Frank Gehry’s Maggies Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts and The McManus. This collection is in the World Favourite Colour of Marrs Green and sunshine yellow to capture the positive direction the city is heading.

Peek at the V&A Dundee Hoarding

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Louise

Just back back from my holiday so I missed the reveal of the winner of the V&A Dundee Hoarding Design, I was itching to find out as I was in competition against them for the tender. I drove past to get a peek. Here’s a few snapshots.

Well done to comic illustrator Will Morris and graphic designer David Mackenzie for their ‘adventures in design’ comic idea. I may not have won but I see it as a positive experience being able to showcase my work to both V&A Dundee and V&A London panel.

I was delighted to be put forward by a panel, as one of ten designers chosen to tender to design the V&A Dundee hoardings.

With a clear brief, prestigious project, large scale, Dundee links and tight deadline it really got my creative juices flowing. Continue reading →

Vision for V&A Dundee

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Louise

I’ve created some Patterned Artworks for my vision of what Dundee will look like when the V&A Dundee is built on the River Tay. In my illustration I really wanted to capture the creativity going on in Dundee using my signature style. Using pattern as a metaphor to show the energy and creativity that weaves, blends and merges together with all the different creative people, cultural organisations and events happening in Dundee.

My Patterned Artworks have a natural flow that echo natures organic ability to sit in harmony to its surroundings and I see the V&A Dundee fitting into Dundees’ changing landscape very well.

This image is digitally printed on wool to create a wall hanging. The Patterned Artworks could be printed on a multitude of products from tea towels, ceramics, cushions, scarves, prints, mugs, notepads… the list is endless! I would love to be commissioned to create Patterned Artworks for the V&A Dundee.

My wall hanging will be on show at the Wasps Artists Open Weekend on the 19th & 20th October outside my studio on level 4, studio 404. You can find out more about the Open Studio weekend on my previous blog.

Louise Kirby

creative process and projects of Louise Kirby

Tag Archives: V&A Dundee