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V&A DUNDEE
PASS THE BATON As Arusa Qureshi discovers, a new generation of designers have taken on the Scottish Design Relay in the run up to the museum’s grand opening
Last year, V&A Dundee kicked off the Scottish Design Relay, a national project inspired by a selection of objects visitors will see when the new museum opens in September. Over a period of eight months, teams of young people from six areas around Scotland were tasked with taking inspiration from their design heritage, working with local designers to develop and create prototype designs for display in the museum.
The i rst team, employees from Michelin’s Dundee factory, were asked to develop a design related to travel and exploration, using the Dundee-built RRS Discovery as a starting point. With Dundee-based designer Kevin Fox on hand to help, the team created a polar bear alarm system to protect explorers from deadly attacks.
The relay’s second leg took place in Orkney where participants studied an Orkney chair designed by David Kirkness. In Caithness, a detailed model of the Dounreay Fast Reactor was used as inspiration, while in Shetland, it was a Fair Isle jumper worn for goli ng by General Sir Walter Kirke, and in Govan, a ‘Clutha’ vase designed by Christopher Dresser. Finally, in Aberdeen the focus was on an enamelled plaque from the V&A’s collection by Aberdonian James Cromar Watt.
‘The Scottish Design Relay highlights just how special and varied this collection will be and, even more excitingly, has the potential to inspire a new generation of designers,’ explains Philip Long, director of V&A Dundee. ‘The new prototypes produced by the young people will be displayed in the museum, providing a great opportunity for everyone who visits V&A Dundee to see the vibrancy of Scotland’s design future.’
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Clockwise (left to right): V&A Dundee; cliffs inspiration image; view from water; Kengo Kuma sketch of V&A Dundee; V&A Dundee main hall
bodies and private donors that have been thrilled by what has already been accomplished with this extraordinary building, the local reception has also been hugely positive from the beginning. ‘We’ve held a few public consultations through the planning process and pretty much everyone was supportive and happy about the council’s decision to allow this important project in Dundee,’ notes Mucciola. ‘Every time I come to Dundee, taxi drivers or people in the hotels are so supportive and always ask me about the progress of the project. It’s very nice to be working in such a positive environment.’
Though the construction of the building was completed in January, work will continue inside as exhibitions are installed in the galleries, and critical pieces, like Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s conserved Oak Room, are moved into place. But with just a few months to go until visitors will be welcomed in to Scotland’s i rst design museum, Kengo Kuma & Associates, along with Mucciola and the whole design team involved, are hopeful that both locals and tourists will soon see the building as a key feature of Dundee. ‘I hope that people really see this building as part of their city and part of the public space of the city both externally and internally, and that it can become a part of their everyday life. I think we designed the building in a way that the exhibitions and learning centre will of course play a central role, but that the rest of the building and the main hall especially, will be there for people just to relax and have a coffee. I hope that people will use it as a nice space and as a building that is theirs to enjoy.’