Featured image for Charles Rennie Mackintosh is Focused on Sustainability, Luxury and Innovation

Charles Rennie Mackintosh is Focused on Sustainability, Luxury and Innovation

by Dieline Author on 03/14/2022 | 2 Minute Read

Editorial photograph

The idea behind Make a Mark was to provide a platform for starting the conversation and sharing ideas. They wanted to form a dynamic, creative community of thinkers and rebels – all united by our love for glass, labeling and packaging, as well as the desire to create new things. They want to show the magic that happens when all parties in the chain work together.

We were asked to develop concepts around a briefing focused on one of three pillars: sustainability, luxury and innovation. Providing access to some of the industry’s latest developments allowed them to use the most up-to-date packaging technologies to bring their ideas to life, free from everyday limitations.

Editorial photograph

Denomination’s concept was inspired by a recent visit to Glasgow. As the designer of this project, and our global creative director Margaret Nolan puts it: “A visit to Glasgow left me with a deep impression of the city’s vibrancy and beauty. So, I thought: why not a tribute to Glaswegian craft, culture and design?”

Editorial photograph
Editorial photograph

As inspiration, she turned to a Scot whose artistic vision created a modern movement, Charles Rennie Mackintosh — and especially his design philosophy: “Restraint and economy of means rather than ostentatious accumulation; it is simple forms and natural materials rather than elaboration and artifice; and use of texture and light and shadow rather than pattern and ornament. This philosophy ties in perfectly with my vision of contemporary luxury packaging. I was inspired to use form and materials to create something that reflects the past, comes from the future, and feels uniquely Glaswegian.”

Editorial photograph

As a limited-release, artisanal single malt whisky distilled and blended in tiny batches by hand in Glasgow, it’s aptly named: Charles Rennie Mackintosh. For inspiration, we drew upon Mackintosh’s drawings, stained glass designs, typography and furniture. The bottle has the dramatic mouth and neck of Estal’s Tramo Alto combined with the chunky glass base of Philos Bold. The label and branding are influenced by Mackintosh’s typography, containing die-cut squares to create texture, light and movement. The neck label seal is embossed with detailing from the Glasgow School of Art’s bronze doors. The wooden stopper is detailed in copper with hints of Mackintosh’s stained glass designs. The bottle “cage” is inspired by his 1903 Willow chair, with the light from the whisky glowing through to provide a textural feel. Finally, etched into the base of the bottle is a line taken from Mackintosh’s writings.