‘Students want to stay here now rather than disappear to London’: how design transformed the city of Dundee

Dundee was once best known for its industry: whaling and shipbuilding in the 19th century, then its celebrated “three Js” – jute, jam and journalism. In recent years, Dundee has developed another reputation: as an arts and culture hub, and the UK’s first and only Unesco-designated “design city”.

On Friday, at a former Michelin factory in the north-east of the city, the finishing touches were being put in place for the fifth Dundee design festival, which opens on Monday. The festival, held every two years, showcases work by more than 180 designers across disciplines including textiles, homeware and more.