Future Paisley
Exploring the future of Paisley through its past
Paisley has long been recognised for its textile heritage and cultural identity, but in recent years the town has been undergoing one of Scotland’s most ambitious regeneration programmes. Working with Renfrewshire Council and OneRen, our task was to capture this transformation in an exhibition that could speak to residents and visitors alike.
We began by exploring the layers of Paisley’s story — its industrial rise through weaving, its decline in the 20th century, and its current reinvention as a cultural hub. Workshops, archival research, and close collaboration with regeneration partners allowed us to gather narratives that connected the town’s past achievements to its present challenges and future ambitions.
We developed an exhibition design structured around three temporal anchors — Past, Present, Future. This narrative arc provided a simple yet powerful way to guide audiences through Paisley’s journey. Large-scale wall graphics and maps set the scene, while custom illustrations of key buildings were created to transform into 3D digital models through augmented reality (AR).
The design aimed to be bold, colourful and accessible. Films, interactive touchpoints, and digital layers encouraged visitors to engage actively rather than passively consume. Crucially, the exhibition was designed not just to inform but to inspire pride and confidence in Paisley’s future, showing how regeneration projects connect to the lives of people across the town.
The final installation combined traditional exhibition craft with innovative technology. Visitors could view archival images alongside interactive AR models of landmarks, experience immersive films of regeneration projects, and explore digital maps that visualised change across the town.
By blending physical and digital storytelling, Future Paisley made complex regeneration plans tangible. The exhibition became both a celebration of the town’s resilience and a call to imagine its future — ensuring the community sees itself not just as a passive recipient of change, but as an active participant in shaping what comes next.
“We are delighted to host this exhibition, which takes place at an exciting time for Paisley … The exhibition shows how the area has evolved over time, showcases the current once-in-a-generation investment, and invites visitors to consider what they want from its future.”
Iain Nicolson, Leader, Renfrewshire Council
