Picnics: perfectly portable design

Local Heroes returns to V&A Dundee with more joyful design commissions as part of Daytrippers! The project supports designers by commissioning limited edition, collectable design products

Feature by Stacey Hunter | 11 Aug 2022
  • Playtime Blanket by Canba Studio

This year, the Daytrippers! collection launched with four furoshikis and one very special picnic blanket by Aberdeen’s Camban Studio. The studio is led by designer Fiona Hall who is increasingly known for her commitment to sustainability and circularity. She explains, “These have become strong values within my work practice and I strongly feel the links between my craft, personal social and environmental wellbeing, and equality.”

Hall has designed Playtime, a large picnic blanket in organic Panama cotton with a water resistant backing and handmade leather strap by Fernweh. Every item in the Daytrippers! collection is designed to be the perfect souvenir to remember a great day out and also a high quality item to treasure for a lifetime. Playtime is inspired by childhood picnics in village parks, playing picnic games and making daisy chains. Hall founded Camban Studio in 2018, and focuses predominantly on hand stitch, printed textiles, and print design from her base at Deemouth Artist Studios.

“I enjoy working with the colours and textures of our local ecology and natural environments of Aberdeenshire. I examine methods to translate natural forms into designs, using the local plant life as both material and inspiration for Eco-Printing, Mono-Printing, Block-Printing, Screen-Printing, Digital Print and hand stitch and embroidery. I also work with local natural dyes and have knowledge of various dyeing techniques.

“2021 saw the launch of my range of online courses for the general public to pass on my hand stitch, craft and design skills, supporting people in their creativity, and with a focus on how being in and around nature, linked with craft, can improve feelings of wellbeing.”

A picnic blanket had been on Hall’s wish list of products to make, so the invitation to create a bespoke design for V&A Dundee came at the right time.

“I love a good picnic, so it’s been a dream commission!" she says. "It was lovely to reminisce about picnics I’ve had to create the print design. It was also great to work with the wider project team and collaborate with other makers and designers on the creation of the perfect finishing touches on the finished item. I hope this picnic blanket will be a backdrop for many more memorable picnics!”

Special events

This year Local Heroes and V&A Dundee have organised a variety of in-person and online events where audiences can come along to see the collection, enjoy a summery cocktail with Heather Street Food and even have their nails painted in Daytrippers colours. The listings are online at V&A Dundee under What’s On and these include a talk with Fiona Hall and her recent collaborator Laura Sheriffs of Fernweh plus a discussion about manufacturing in Scotland with Kalopsia Collective and CAT Digital.

Check the Local Heroes instagram feed for updated dates and times for events and talks.


@cambanstudio
@fernwehuk
@localheroesdesign
@vadundee
@kalopsiac
@catdigital