Scottish Designers to Look Out For

Scotland boasts a rich history of producing some famous names whose inventions have become commonplace in the typical household.

Developments continue to look bright in Scotland, particularly with regards to the interior design scene, as discovered by Glasgow fitted kitchen specialist, DM Design, when profiling Scottish designers to look out for:

Mairi Helena

Edinburgh based Mairi Helena’s high-end luxury home accessories designs draw inspiration from a photographic portfolio of Scotland, featuring a unique fine art feel with their abstract pattern designs.

Speaking about her work, Mairi said: “With both my parents being textile designers, I was brought up with an appreciation of design. Previously with the vibrant, earthy colours of the Scottish Borders landscape where I grew up, then seaward by the rustic, weathered, coastal fringe of Fife and now the bustling, pulsating Edinburgh sensations, I love fusing textiles, textures and photography to create fashionable prints.”

Angus Ross

Based in Aberfeldy, award-winning designer Angus Ross seeks to create items that celebrate the traditional craft skills that go into fine furniture making. The Unstable Stool is arguably one of his most iconic pieces, featuring a single length of ash or oak steamed and bent round a former so as to create an incredibly strong and effective rocker.

Jennifer Gray

Edinburgh based graduate from The Glasgow School of Art and Royal College of Art, Jennifer Gray, makes use of traditional hand-carving methods which are enhanced by looking into emerging digital technologies to create an outstanding collection of jewellery pieces and objects that are perfect for the home.

Commenting on how she approaches her work, Jennifer explained: “I am interested in identifying then reinterpreting place, time and individual personalities. Re-told stories juxtapose historical and modern themes from an alternative perspective through objects, jewellery and the way these works are experienced by others.”

Johanna Basford

Textile Design graduate (Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design) Johanna Basford started her own studio where she hand-printed wallpaper and a small selection of home accessories. Today the illustrator and ink evangelist’s illustrations feature everywhere, from tattoos to beer labels and colouring books…and wallpaper, of course.

Eliza Kesuma

Jarkarta-born Eliza Kesuma has lived and worked in Scotland for more than ten years and is now the creative engine driving Moody Monday – a screenprinting studio specialising in bespoke prints for wall coverings, fabric and interior accessories. Prior to setting up Moody Monday in 2011, Eliza studied for a Textiles & Design degree at the Heriot Watt School of Textiles and Design, going on to work at a number of UK studios.

Silvia Perez & Rose Black

Silvia Perez & Rose Black operate 10kH Ten Thousand Hours, a Glasgow based upholstery business which allows the duo to learn new skills and be creative as they restore furniture through upholstery procedures. Perez and Black met back at the City of Glasgow College, during their studies of Furniture Restoration.

In their personal statement on Craft Scotland, the pair stated: “We are committed to sourcing and using unique and beautiful textiles, exploring mixtures of textures and colours and maintaining a high quality, hand crafted service.”

With the Scottish design scene looking as bright as it does and so many options to choose from, the typical fitted kitchen Glasgow interior designers and homeowners will want to go for can make for a true expression of their unique style.