Scotland’s design museum is celebrating its Garden Futures exhibition with a collaboration with Irregular Sleep Pattern and a floral redesign

Lead image credit: Julie Howden

V&A Dundee is laying the groundwork for its upcoming exhibition, Garden Futures: Designing with Nature, with an outdoor redesign and the launch of a new design collaboration with sleepwear and homeware brand, Irregular Sleep Pattern.

The area surrounding the iconic waterfront museum is being replanted, and Dundee City Council’s team of gardeners have already added hundreds of plants to the landscape surrounding the building. They were joined by volunteers from V&A Dundee, plus guest gardeners Jolene Crawford and Mil Stricevic – otherwise known as Irregular Sleep Pattern. They showcased their new gardening-inspired collection, exclusive to V&A Dundee, as they helped put the finishing touches to the planting.

Garden Futures: Designing with Nature opens on 17th May

It’s the first time in six years that the area directly around V&A Dundee has been refreshed and the introduction of more plants is intended to ensure a more beautiful garden all year round, welcoming visitors to the waterfront with a full, colourful and biodiverse display of greenery and flowers. 

In celebration of V&A Dundee’s upcoming Garden Futures exhibition, Jolene and Mil, the Glasgow-based designers behind Irregular Sleep Pattern, have partnered with V&A Dundee for their first-ever design collaboration. ‘Dreamstalk’ is a striking new garden-inspired print featuring on a garden apron, robe and T-shirts. The exclusive design also features on chocolate bars and notebooks.

Irregular Sleep Pattern are champions of sustainability, taking a responsible approach to the design and manufacture of their unique clothing.

Gardening robe in ‘Dreamstalk Midnight’ by Irregular Sleep Pattern

The fresh planting and design collaboration are both in preparation for V&A Dundee’s new exhibition Garden Futures: Designing with Nature, which opens on Saturday 17th May. This sumptuous, colour-filled exhibition will take visitors on an illuminating sensory journey through key moments of inspiration and innovation in gardens and garden design, from the 20th century to present day and looking to the future of gardens.

A fascinating collection of design objects, paintings, textiles, sculpture, interior design, fashion, drawings and photographs show how the enduring allure of gardens influences artists, writers and designers alike. Visitors will be able to get hands-on, creating digital designs for pollinator-rich planting, as well as experiencing the scents and sounds of nature through interactive exhibits.

Tickets can be booked online at vam.ac.uk/dundee. Members and 18s and unders go free.