Next up in my
weekly Talent Show spot is one of my contemporaries from Class of 2005 at D of
J and fellow Nesta Starter for Sixer, Lyle McCance – the man behind Board
Stupid. 

Lyle makes the
coolest contemporary furniture, beautifully designed and hand crafted used
environmentally conscious materials. Always a sucker for a story, I love the
fact that Lyle can tell you where his reclaimed materials come from, be it a
reclaimed church pew or an old lab bench from the university Chemistry
department

Usually found in
the workshop sporting a pair of yellow tinted safety goggles (which I’m
convinced must make everyone he speaks to look a tad jaundiced) Lyle works to
commission, creating designs and products specifically for clients, like Haute
Couture for wood. I believe he is currently working on a commission of epic
proportions for the newly refurbished McManus Gallery here in Dundee.

Lyle and I worked
together a couple of years ago to create this bespoke Chess Set. Every little
element down to the type of joints was so carefully considered – he has an
almost evangelical passion for detail and his work. Super inspiring.

Something else
which I find super charming: when working to commission he sometimes creates
miniature prototypes of the product to show the client; exact scaled down
replicas, sometimes with laser engrave detailing.

Be sure to check
out his website.

Next week I’ll be doing another Talent Show special, this time on the Graham Street Fashion Show.