We are really pleased to have Mackinnon Scott as part of our Edinburgh team at Kettle Collective. Mac graduated from Edinburgh Napier University in 2021, he is now our Junior Graphic Designer.
He tells us a little bit about himself along with some of his previous work.
KC: Did you always want to do Graphic Design?
MS: I had always loved to draw when I was younger albeit not very well, and I remember stumbling across Photoshop speed art videos on YouTube and being fascinated with the process of designing something from scratch using tools available onscreen. I’ve always found great pleasure in seeing my work evolve from a rough initial sketch to a beautifully crafted idea instilled with meaning. However, it wasn’t until my time at high school that I first learned what this skill was called. I had a great Graphic Communication teacher, Ms Thomas, who was brutally honest but always pushed her students to do the best they could. Through her encouragement and teachings I fell in love with design.
KC: What do you enjoy most about being part of the Kettle Collective team?
MS: Before joining Kettle, I didn’t know a lot about architecture and whilst I have only been part of the team for two months, I have learned a lot during this time and continue to learn every day. The team has been so friendly and helpful, if I’m ever unsure of something or need some clarification someone is always happy to answer any questions I may have. The work the team does is nothing short of incredible and working alongside such a diverse team of talented creatives presents many opportunities to learn. There is a great sense of collaboration, and everyone trusts each other to work towards a shared goal.
KC: What has been a positive outcome or accomplishment this year?
MS: After graduating last year during the pandemic and at a time where there was a lot of uncertainty concerning future job prospects, I can undoubtedly say that I am most proud of gaining the position of Junior Graphic Designer at Kettle Collective. The last two years have been especially challenging for everyone and since graduating from home last year I’ve encountered several obstacles and setbacks - one which really knocked my confidence earlier this year. I’m thankful for the support and encouragement of my friends and family which helped me stay motivated and for the opportunity to join such an amazing team.
KC: Are you reading any interesting books at the moment?
MS: It’s been a while since I last sat down and enjoyed reading a novel, something that I need to make a habit of doing more often. The last book I read was ‘Private’ by James Patterson, which follows the story of a former Marine pilot who runs his own private investigation company. I’ve always been a fan of mystery thrillers and it was recommended to me by a family member. It’s a good read with a lot of suspense and twists, I actually used the story as inspiration for a university project where I was tasked with turning a chosen book into a title sequence for a true crime documentary. This was a project that I had a lot of fun with and was my first introduction to Adobe After Effects and the 12 principles of animation. Although it’s been a while since I picked up a good novel, I think that editorial sites like ‘It’s Nice That’ and ‘Creative Review’ are amazing platforms for spotlighting creative talent. As a designer, I think it’s important to embrace new ideas and stay up to date with design trends. The design landscape is constantly evolving, and I find that platforms like these often provide some of the best insight and inspiration.
National Galleries Scotland by Mac Scott
As part of a university project, I was tasked with rebranding one of Scotland’s most prestigious institutions. A flexible identity system was created to show that the three individual galleries are all part of the same organization. An umbrella mark was created alongside three site specific marks.
The Logos draw inspiration from the distinct and easily recognisable neoclassical buildings the Galleries are located in. The sharp geometric shapes are a reflection of both the prominent architecture and the original frame logo - maintaining existing brand equity. The additional marks were created to represent the individual sites. These marks being an extension of the parent NGS logo, an appropriate colour was applied to each site-specific mark to help convey a sense of individuality and personality.
This project required extensive research and iteration to discover the true voice and personality of the organization. This included field research; conducting site interviews with staff and visitors. Through official documentation and self-directed research, I established their aims, values, vision and purpose. Invaluable resources which helped determine the personality of the brand"
See above for some previous work from Mac Scott and let us know what you think on twitter or LinkedIn using the hashtag #KCtalent
For a look at more detailed CVs from our team, please visit our team page