If you imagine Scotland as only a land of Macbeth and ancient castles, it’s time to update that picture. Scotland is celebrating its Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, a nationwide program of events running throughout the year that highlights contemporary creativity alongside historic achievements. Cities and towns across the country are hosting exhibitions, talks and hands-on activities that showcase Scotland’s design excellence and creative industries.
One focal point is Dundee in eastern Scotland, which has been recognized as the first UNESCO City of Design in the United Kingdom. The Festival of Architecture (March 1–Oct. 30) brings together architects, designers and the public with exhibitions and events organized around architecture’s role in shaping communities. The festival is led by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and stages activities across multiple locations.
Complementing the architecture program, Craft Scotland presents Meet Your Maker (April 1–Dec. 1), a series of public demonstrations and maker-led sessions where designers and craft practitioners reveal their processes and invite conversation. These events are intended to make craft and design more accessible and to celebrate the skills behind contemporary Scottish creativity.
Much of the year’s activity is embodied in the legacy of Glasgow native Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868–1928). An architect, designer and artist, Mackintosh is regarded as a central figure in the Arts and Crafts movement and a major influence on the Glasgow Style. In Glasgow, visitors can explore his work at The Glasgow School of Art, often cited as one of his masterpieces. A wide-ranging collection of works by Mackintosh and his partner Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh is on display at The Hunterian Art Gallery and within the reconstructed Mackintosh House, offering insight into their collaborative design approach.
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum also features permanent displays that document the Glasgow Style and the cultural forces that shaped it, contextualizing Mackintosh’s contributions alongside other influential figures. For a more intimate encounter with his applied design, The Willow Tea Rooms preserves Mackintosh’s integrated interior concepts. Commissioned in partnership with tearoom proprietor Kate Cranston, Mackintosh’s design for the Willow included the building layout, furniture, cutlery and even staff uniforms. The Tea Rooms’ Room de Luxe—with its purple paneling, silver chairs inset with purple glass and leaded mirror windows—has been carefully conserved so visitors can experience the atmosphere Mackintosh created.
Together, these sites and events offer a refreshed view of Scotland: a place where historic richness and contemporary innovation intersect, and where design—from architecture to craft—plays a vital role in cultural life.