Iona is a rising star of a designer, working across architecture, interiors, sculptural ceramics and illustration. She grew-up between Moray and the Isle of Lewis, and cites the Western Isles as being of foundational influence to her creative practice. A recent graduate of the Bartlett School of Architecture in London, Iona has developed a multidisciplinary approach to materiality inspired by place. “My approach is shaped by time spent hiking and camping along the remote, Atlantic-facing beaches of the Outer Hebrides,” Iona says. “My father and his passion for beachcombing have trained my eye in the art of observing and seeing beauty and potential of what has washed ashore.”

What does Scottishness mean to you?

My version of Scotland and sense of home is dictated by colour. Colours dictated by seasons, and frequent changes in weather. The shores are ever changing, however the distinct colour palette of the Outer Hebrides is what I miss so much when I have been away for too long.

What value does craft have in daily life?

I see craft as a centre point of community—where knowledge, and skills are shared. Connecting with makers around me inspires growth and exploration across disciplines. For me, craft is not only about making, but about learning together, sustaining traditions, and shaping more meaningful ways of living. We should all live with craft in some form or another. I draw almost everyday too, and to me this is a very important form of craft.