Erin Macleod
(She/her)
I’m Erin, an emerging multidisciplinary product designer with an interest in creating meaningful, user centred experiences. Passionate about building accessible, engaging systems. I enjoy combining research, creativity, and problem solving to produce thoughtful products and services. With a strong interest in educational design, I aim to create solutions that support learning, accessibility, and positive experiences.
Ar Cànan Beò
This project addresses the misconception that Scottish Gaelic is no longer a living language, despite its ongoing revival. Many people perceive Gaelic as lacking a place in everyday life, limiting engagement and use. Ar Cànan Beò responds to this by introducing the language into a social, low pressure cafe environment. Through the project a range of interactive systems were designed to support informal learning, encourage conversation, and build confidence among users with varying levels of ability. By embedding Gaelic into familiar, community driven spaces, the project creates meaningful opportunities for connection, helping reposition the language as relevant, accessible, and actively used in daily life. It is a space where fluent speakers can feel connected to their language, while learners feel comfortable asking for help, making mistakes, and developing confidence through participation.
This project is a reminder that Gaelic is indeed our living language.
By providing the letters it creates an interactive language learning experience that is suitable for learners and fluent speakers to do alone or together. Learning new words in a hands on way helps memory. it fits into the low pressure learning style that the cafe is designed for. It can be used as a quiet personal tool or can be turned into a group activity that can bridge all levels of fluency.
In a space designed for Gaelic learners and fluent speakers it is important to think about inclusion. By having a system in place that indicates proficiency it evolves the mug into a social signal and eliminates the need for customers feeling uncomfortable and having to explain their position with the language. Based on fluency levels customers can approach each other and build relationships based on what they are looking for. Learners may approach fluent speakers to ask for guidance, fluent speakers can form friendships among themselves etc. This is in place as a community building tool.
Each table has a stack of napkins that have phonetics and Gaelic - English translations on them. This will allow learners to pronounce Gaelic words more confidently. By featuring simple greetings it lowers the social barrier in the space and creates an opportunity for starting conversations. It creates a low pressure and passive learning experience.
By labelling everyday items it subconsciously begins to build vocabulary and understanding. It fits the low pressure learning style and makes learners feel more comfortable with the language as they are able to recognise words and link them with items. It builds on language Identity and turns mundane items into cultural touch points.
Using familiar words makes customers feel comfortable in the space. It not only acts as decorative wall art but also helps shape the identity and atmosphere of the space. By using well known words it acts as an entry point for those less familiar with the language and using certain words can add to building a warm and welcoming environment.
Social media is part of the cafes promotional material. The cafes social accounts will share customers words and phrases they have created with the letter tiles. This could be viewed as the cafes digital diary . It also gives a sense of how valued each person that gets involved is. Social media is the perfect place for people to engage and join the community from a far. The cafe has QR codes within it for direct access.
The audio and translation app is designed for all learners inside And outside the cafe to easily scan words, get translations and listen to the word being spoken out loud. By having this app designed and promoted through the cafe it allows learners to check pronunciation of words they may be struggling with. This is a chance for learners To build confidence and practice speaking if they don't want to or don't have the opportunity to ask for help.
Loyalty bingo gives customers an option to participate and get involved. Its a fun and easy way to encourage customers to try new things and bring new people. It also builds a stronger business and customer relationship.
The menu layout having translations on the flip side rather than side to side puts emphasis on Gaelic and directly leads to customers engaging with the language rather than immediately defaulting to English. It creates a gentle moment for the customer to pause and notice the Gaelic words. By having the translations on separate sides it signals a subtle confidence in the language showing that it isn't dependent on English. having a simple action linked to the menu will also help with learning as it pushes users to focus more on the words they are reading.