Richard Clifford – Making and learning

MAKLab offers people from all backgrounds easy access to digital design and making technologies, in a bid to give people new skills and self-confidence.

Founder Richard Clifford studied Architecture in Glasgow and Zurich, and held roles at two major Scottish architectural practices, before setting out on a mission to “to allow people to access the latest disruptive technologies”.

MAKLab is based in Glasgow with emerging locations across Scotland. The organisation now offers “teaching workshops, community outreach programmes, professional development and accredited learning” across Scotland.

Richard is particularly interested in creating “a network of spaces that trade skills and resources with each other”. “Whether you need access to specialised equipment, or need to experiment with new materials,” he adds, “there aren’t many processes that we can’t help with.”

In the future he hopes to expand the reach of MAKLab across Scotland, delivering more projects and creating more spaces for people to come and learn how to design and make – and make a difference.

When MAKLab was established in 2012, Richard “wanted to explore the possibilities of using design and production as a tool for learning, engaging people from all walks of life” as well as encouraging people with no experience of design to develop new skills.

“I felt I had learned a lot of skills to share with others, and wanted to create a vehicle to allow others to do the same,” he adds.

Design, for Richard, is an essential part of creating “a fairer, democratic society”.

The confidence that comes from attending MAKLab sessions, learning new skills and seeing how anyone can influence the world around them is integral to this process.

“Design enables individuals to influence the products, services and environments they interact with on a daily basis,” he says. “Through good design, focused on people, we can change our own futures.”

MAKLab is a fundamentally generous, selfless organisation. “Our role is to support the access to tools, resources and design for others,” Richard notes, “so we are proud of every project and the positive impact each of these projects has on the lives of those we work with.”

He also believes that the creation of V&A Dundee is a key part of this broader change in Scotland.

“V&A Dundee will provide an excellent showcase for high quality design in Scotland,” Richard says. “The team have already demonstrated a strong commitment to showcasing the local, national and international designers emanating from Scotland.

“I believe that through partnership working, V&A Dundee will be an enormous asset, driving forward the design economy for Dundee and Scotland whilst showcasing our breadth of design talent to the world.”

It is for Richard’s commitment to improving people’s lives through design – and giving access to the latest digital technologies, and the training to use them – that we are proud to include him as a V&A Dundee Design Champion.

For more information, please visit the MAKLab website.

The V&A Dundee Design Champions are inspirational designers creating high-quality work and helping to enhance people’s lives, or champions of the power of design to improve the world.

We will announce 50 Design Champions in the run-up to the museum opening on Saturday 15 September 2018.

#VADchampions

V&A Dundee’s Design Champions project is working with Dezeen as its media partner.

Dezeen is the world’s most popular and influential architecture and design magazine, with an audience of 2.5 million unique visitors each month.