At the edge of Aberdeen Harbour lies Footdee — or Fittie — a planned 19th-century fishing village whose unique squares and close-knit community tell a story shaped by the sea. Working with Open Road and the Fittie Community Development Trust, we set out to capture the heritage, identity and evolving character of the village through a community-driven exhibition.

We began by gathering oral histories, photographs, and memories from residents. This participatory approach placed local voices at the centre of the project, ensuring that the exhibition reflected lived experience as much as archival record. The themes of past, present and possibility emerged directly from conversations with the people of Fittie, who were invited to imagine both what the village has been and what it could become.

Graphics were developed to echo the textures and colours of harbour life, while the layout of the exhibition encouraged exploration — much like wandering through the squares of the village itself. The balance of professional design and community input gave the exhibition an authenticity rooted in Fittie’s identity. 

The resulting exhibition transformed the community hall into a space of reflection and celebration. Visitors encountered stories of fishing families, shifts in harbour industry, and the resilience of the village community. Alongside these histories, the exhibition invited speculation — how might Fittie adapt to change, preserve its heritage, and shape its own future?

The illustrated map and accompanying visuals have since become lasting resources for the community, supporting ongoing conversations about heritage, identity and development. By blending design with co-creation, Fittie – Past, Present, Possibility offered a platform for a community to tell its story in its own voice, while opening space for new possibilities to emerge.