North-east art students have had their locally inspired work displayed at the new multi-million pound V&A design museum in Dundee.
Robert Gordon University’s Gray’s School of Art and North East Scotland College (NESCol) collaborated to design a prototype inspired by the city’s traditional paper industry, which is now on show at the £80 million Tayside attraction.
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The team of 16 students was representing the region as part of the Scottish Design Relay, a national project which aims to encourage a new generation of designers.
A sculptural paper installation comprising of 20 unique cylinders, paying homage to the huge “dandy rolls” which are found in paper mills and are used to impress watermarks during the manufacturing process, was the basis of their design.
Each cylinder was crafted to display different decoration and patterns, reflecting the shapes and colours seen in the mill.
Inspiration also came from studying an intricate enamel plaque made by Aberdonian architect and jeweller James Cromar Watt in around 1900, which will now go on permanent display at the V&A.
Daniel Sutherland, from Gray’s, said: “The opportunity for our students to exhibit at the V&A – the most important thing to happen in the Scottish creative scene for decades – has been absolutely fantastic.”
Janice Scott, curriculum manager for art and design, textiles and photography at NESCol, added: “We visited Arjo Wiggins paper mill where the ‘dandy rolls’ were the inspiration for structure and texture.
“Students then attended classes at both campuses, where they took part in paper surface decoration and digital and laser cutting demonstrations.
“In mixed groups we designed and made paper ‘dandy rolls’ using surface and digital techniques.”
The team worked with Naomi Mcintosh, an Aberdeenshire-based jeweller, and V&A Dundee’s Leanne Fischler, to create the exhibit.
The prototype is on display within the Michelin Design Gallery, alongside other projects created as part of the relay.
