Last Friday, Gab returned for its 40th edition at Barras Art & Design in Glasgow. If you’ve never been, Gab is the city’s hugely popular design and creativity event series, founded and run by the team at Jamhot.
For more than a decade, they’ve been pulling together talks from designers, illustrators, animators, and makers of all stripes, staging them in some of the most unexpected venues – from ballrooms and breweries to music halls and former churches.
It’s grassroots, not-for-profit, and run purely to give something back to the creative community. Any profit is donated to charity, which makes it feel all the more genuine in a time when many events can feel stuffy and corporate. That ethos has carried Gab through to its milestone 40th night, and it shows. Because I was right there, celebrating with them.
After spending a day exploring the city with Chloe Marie Doyle, aka The Chatty Freelancer, I rocked up to Barras Art & Design – a fitting space that’s raw, buzzing, and right at the heart of Glasgow’s creative community.
Doors opened at 7pm, but I was there a little earlier to meet the team and chat about all things Gab and what they have planned next. On finally meeting the famous Graeme McGowan, co-founder of Jamhot, I wanted to know why Glasgow is special for creatives. “It’s a super friendly crowd,” he told me with a warm smile. “There’s no competition whatsoever. Everyone knows each other, and we all look out for one another. I’m not sure if it’s like this elsewhere, but Glasgow’s creative scene has always felt like a close-knit family. It’s really something special.”
That was the impression I’d got, too. It felt hugely welcoming. After eating pizza with Graeme and learning more about his hometown, the room quickly filled with familiar faces and newcomers alike, bringing with them a quiet energy that felt both welcoming and electric. It’s the kind of event where you bump into old creative pals while also discovering someone new doing brilliant work.
Inspiring Speakers
After we’d all grabbed a pint and greeted those sat around us, we settled down for the talks. Kicking off the night was Studio Blup, with co-founder Dines taking us inside their world of boundary-pushing design. Bold and loud, unapologetically experimental, their work set the tone for an evening of inspiration.
Next up was a trio of Glasgow-based talent – Orla McAuliffe, Columba McCallum, and Lucy Stevenson – who absolutely blew us all away with their confidence and passion. The talented trio made a rallying call to the local industry, asking everyone to take a chance on a graduate or school leaver, keen to get their first foot on the ladder. It was less a talk, more a manifesto – a solid reminder that fresh voices need backing if the industry wants to thrive.
After a short break, Animade’s Ed Barrett took the stage.