TallShips Makers Program
Client: Aberdeen Art Gallery
Services: Product Design, Design for Manufacture, prototyping, production
Impact:
Brief: Funded Makers Program to coincide with the Tallships coming to Aberdeen. Design and produce a product range in relation to the Tall Ships Races (maritime history and environmental awareness).
The Carlin Collection: A Celebration of Aberdeen’s Maritime Heritage
When the Tall Ships Makers Programme invited five designers to respond to Aberdeen’s rich shipbuilding legacy, I knew it was an opportunity to push my practice into new waters. As a product designer, I’ve always been drawn to projects that balance tradition and innovation - and this one was no exception.
Inspired by the Tea Clippers
Aberdeen has been my home for over a decade, and its industrial heritage has shaped the way I think about design. I was immediately drawn to the city’s shipbuilding past, in particular the great tea clippers of the 19th century. These vessels weren’t just fast - they were masterpieces of engineering and craftsmanship, racing across oceans to bring the first tea harvests from China to London.
Of them all, the Thermopylae, built in Aberdeen in 1868, stood out. Still the fastest sail ship ever built, its towering sails and composite wood-and-metal construction embodied both beauty and experimentation. That spirit of risk-taking and innovation became the driving force behind my project.
Designing the Carlin Collection
The goal was clear: to design a furniture collection that would echo the elegance, speed and wonder of the clippers, while celebrating the craft and industries of the North East. This was the goal:
- Celebrate local industries
- Showcase craftsmanship
- Be a statement
- Create a sense of wonder
- Testament to the region’s heritage
- Celebrate sustainable design practices
- Innovative materials
To achieve this, I collaborated with Highland Heritage Woods, who supplied locally sourced elm from Seaton Park, and Reekie Steeltec, who provided the steel frames (laser cut, folded and powder coated). All CNC machining was carried out on campus at Robert Gordon University, further rooting the project in the region.
Blending Tradition and Technology
My practice has always lived at the intersection of analogue and digital making. For this project, I leaned heavily into my full toolset:
- Gravity Sketch (VR) to explore 100’s of designs at 1:1 scale
- 3D printing countless iterations at 1:4 scale
- Full-scale prototypes to refine comfort and functionality
Just as the Thermopylae was once considered “experimental,” I embraced that label - using the process to test boundaries and celebrate what happens when tradition meets technology.
More Than Furniture
The result is the Carlin Collection: a series of statement pieces that carry the spirit of Aberdeen’s shipbuilding past into contemporary design.
For me, the project has been a reminder that growth happens in moments of uncertainty. By stepping into discomfort - whether in material choices, digital tools, or collaboration - we open up space for innovation.
Looking Ahead
The Tall Ships Makers Programme has provided me with the opportunity to explore furniture, develop strong industry connections and create bespoke pieces that take their inspiration from local heritage.
If you are interested in working on a range of furniture together – please reach out.