Mackintosh at the Willow

Design of world-class exhibition and visitor centre for Mackintosh at the Willow, spanning two floors and adjoining the original Willow Tea Rooms. Our work included exhibition space planning, 3D design, research, copywriting, graphic design, digital interactives and digital design.

The interpretive exhibition and visitor attraction tell the story of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his most loyal patron, Miss Catherine Cranston, set against the context of late Victorian and Edwardian Glasgow. The displays are designed to engage a wide-range of visitors from local people to specialist interest visitors, from school groups and families to international audiences. 

A range of engaging interpretive media is used to tell the story of Mackintosh and Miss Cranston. Highlights include a large wall of digital ‘dinner plates’ containing film and animated imagery which sets the scene for the city at the turn of the 20th century and the display of the beautiful doors from the Salon de Luxe, the glittering jewel at the heart of the building. 

A specially-commissioned film explores Mackintosh’s design of The Willow, bringing to life his original drawings for the building. Digital drawing boards allow visitors to zoom in on the detail of Mackintosh’s drawings.