Crafting Colour and Innovation Workshops: inspiring new product development by Maggie Marr
Maggie Marr discusses the success and value of the Bernat Klein Foundation Workshops. She is a founding trustee and leads on the development and management of the workshops in collaboration with textile designers, Lynsey Calder (printed), Joanne Yeadon (woven) and Maija Nygren (knitted).
“Design tries to get to the truth by the shortest route. It recognises there are many routes to it and when it gets there it does not say: ‘This is the ultimate’. It merely suggests a closer approximation than existed before the best solution to the problem in hand.”
Design Matters, Bernat Klein 1975
Bernat Klein: Crafting Colour and Innovation Workshops, 2025
As expressed by Klein, his search for the truth through design was his constant quest for new ideas. His fearless and determined approach to the design process is reflected throughout the work of the foundation. And his legacy and body of work inspires next generation practitioners and small to medium enterprises through our professionally led Bernat Klein Foundation Workshops.
Bernat Klein Tweed samples and colourways, courtesy of Heriot-Watt Archive
In 2025 with generous funding from the William Grant Foundation, our aim was inspire our workshop attendees to be bold and innovative, and explore new product development ideas and opportunities. Working with our project partners the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Live Borders, Border Textile Towerhouse (BTT) and the V&A Dundee, we launched Bernat Klein: Crafting Colour and Innovation Workshops to small and medium enterprises, and early career practitioners in Scotland. Recognising those creative industry businesses located outside of the country’s central region, we designed an accessible workshop programme that reached out to businesses and creatives on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides; Orkney Islands in the Northern Isles; Moray in the North of Scotland; the Scottish Borders where it all began for Klein in the 1950s. The final workshop took place at the V&A Dundee in October 2025.
“Historically, designers such as Bernat Klein have demonstrated the transformative potential of integrating artistic vision with industrial processes. Communicating Klein’s legacy through our practically focused workshops, enables the foundation to continue this process and enhance both creative and commercial practice and outcomes.”
Bernat Klein: Crafting Colour and Innovation Workshops included themes such as sustainability, textile manufacturing processes and their impact on the environment - as well as new areas such as regenerative fibre developments. The workshop format enabled shared discussions on waste reduction, and ideas about the promotion of responsible sourcing and environmentally conscious product lines.
“Sustainability has emerged as a defining concern for the textile sector. ”
The foundation ran six workshops, and all were very well received with places selling out quickly. In our aim to make Klein’s work accessible, we set a competitive fee of £40 with concessions, which also included materials. All workshop income is reinvested into our project funds to support the foundation’s work in inspiring new ideas and contemporary practice.
The scale of the workshop group of 12 encouraged productive knowledge exchange and networking opportunities for everyone. The workshop tutors also received an immediate response to the day, as well as follow-up comments through feedback forms. These are invaluable to the foundation in its forward planning and also in providing detailed end of project reports to funders.
“The workshop - a great concept – I loved pairing the opportunity to learn about Klein and then actually get to translate that into the creative process. I really enjoy Klein’s work and was thrilled with the opportunity to learn more, see things that I may not have learnt through previous books and exhibitions, and then engage with it through making.”
“Absolutely brilliant workshop. The content was engaging, and conversations were so good. Such a joy to spend time with the people who attended, so much learning. The practical was immersive yet simple enabling this to be done at home which is so critical as it is a fantastic way to improve. I would recommend this 100% at any stage of a creative journey.”
“I came home from the day energised and cast on a jumper using a Margaret Klein knitting pattern that I have hoarded for about forty years! And hopefully one of these days I will use my stash of fabrics! Fashions change but BK is timeless.”
The keystone of the Klein-inspired workshops is the encouragement of creative experimentation. Klein’s radical use of colour and textual layering challenged the conventions of textile design. His creative journey always involved looking at new ways to produce a product. Klein simply didn’t accept existing materials or the process as final. However, what is vitally important to show small businesses through the Bernat Klein: Crafting Colour and Innovation Workshops is that, he was also able to develop distinctive designs and products at commercial scale.
“For small textile businesses and early practitioners, the benefits of the BKF workshops extend beyond design inspiration by exploring the realms of sustainable production, branding, and market positioning.”
The foundation is actively looking for designers / makers producing new products in a variety of materials (Textiles, Glass, Ceramics, Paper). A panel of professional designers / creatives will review the product to ensure it reflects Bernat Klein’s design aesthetic and the BKF brand. Selected products will be marketed on our website shop with an agreed commission for the Bernat Klein Foundation, which in turn will continue to support creative practitioners.
The first Klein inspired products will be showcased on our website for Autumn 2026. If you are interested in a discussion with the BKF – please contact us on info@bernatkleinfoundation.org
