Staff Spotlight: Mhairi

Mhairi Naismith - Senior 3D Designer

 

How’d you get into the field? 
I studied Interior Design at Edinburgh College of Art and worked Saturdays in a kitchen design studio - which just happened to be above Studio MB’s (old) offices! While studying I was beginning to feel that design for museums and exhibitions was where I wanted to go. For my final year project, I designed a hypothetical new museum in Edinburgh and approached Craig and Charlie (Studio MB's Founding Directors) for their feedback on my work. They were kind enough to help me, and that was the introduction. I asked for an internship after graduating in 2012, and I’ve been here ever since. 

Key skills: 
Calm under pressure, a good team player and an attentive listener.

What’s the best part of your job?
Learning about the places, stories and objects involved in each project. I also love working in a team.

Favourite project:
Of course, I love them all, but I do have a particular soft spot for the Green Howards Museum which is both a past and a present job. We worked with them in 2014/15 to refurbish all but one of their galleries, and at that time I was supporting Jamie Hickson who was the Lead Designer. Studio MB are now working on the final gallery - the awesome Medal Room - which is a project I’m leading on (completing in May). It’s a great museum, the collection is incredible and the team there are fab. 

3 words to describe your role:
Coordinator / Problem-Solver / Storyteller

In your spare time:
Being in Edinburgh we are lucky to have wonderful beaches, forests, hills and lochs on our doorstep, which I try to make the most of on my weekends and evenings. I love to swim outside. I try to keep up my creative practice outside of work, by drawing, painting, sewing and general crafting. 

Most memorable museum experience:
I visited the Cite Du Vin last summer in Bordeaux which was great - complete with wine tasting at the end, what more could you ask for? 

Bonus round...

Book recommendation?
Ooh just one!? I recently read The Power and enjoyed it a lot. 

Netflix binge? 
Peep Show

Inspirational hero? 
Nan Shepherd

Dead dinner party guest? 
My mum’s dad (I never got to meet him)