The Macallan | Turning Student Creativity into Large-Format Reality
From acorn to glass — at architectural scale
When MLA launched a student mural design competition for The Macallan, the ambition went beyond creating a piece of artwork.
The aim was to take the winning concept and reproduce it at an exceptional scale. The finished mural would measure 14 metres wide by 2.5 metres high. It would also become a feature within the boardroom at The Macallan Estate in Speyside.
Novograf worked alongside MLA and The Macallan to help turn that creative concept into a finished installation.
The Challenge
Students from leading Scottish art and design institutions were invited to interpret The Macallan story.
The brief explored the journey from acorn to glass. It brought together forestry, coopering, vineyards, maturation, craftsmanship and The Macallan’s Speyside home.
The winning design, created by Kris Vo, combined detailed illustration with a composition designed for a large wall.
However, reproducing artwork of this complexity at architectural scale required careful preparation. Every detail needed to remain clear and consistent.
In addition, the finished graphic had to retain the character of the original artwork.
Kris and Craig reviewing large format print
The Novograf Solution
Kris visited Novograf’s production facility in East Kilbride to see her design move from screen to print.
Novograf then used specialist large-format print and finishing techniques to reproduce the artwork.
The result was a single-piece graphic measuring approximately 14 metres by 2.5 metres.
At this scale, maintaining detail was critical. Fine linework had to remain sharp, while the overall composition also needed to work across the full wall.
As a result, careful artwork preparation and production control were essential throughout the process.
Once complete, the mural was installed within The Macallan boardroom at its Aberlour estate.
The Result
The finished installation shows what large-format graphics can achieve when creative design and technical production work together.
Kris’s artwork now covers more than 35 square metres of wall space. It tells The Macallan story from acorn to glass in one continuous graphic.
Importantly, the project also created a strong link between education and industry. Kris was able to see how her original idea developed into a professionally produced installation.
For Novograf, the project demonstrates another important point: scale does not have to mean compromise.
One artwork. One large-format graphic. One statement feature.
Services Utilised
- Artwork and production development
- Large-format digital print
- Specialist print finishing
- Technical production
- Project coordination
- Installation
Product Implementation
Single-piece large-format wall graphic.
Approximate finished size: 14m wide × 2.5m high
Installed within The Macallan boardroom, Speyside
Large-Format Graphics Without Small Thinking
Large-format graphics can transform much more than a blank wall.
They can create focal points, communicate brand stories and change how a space feels.
From feature walls and murals to branded interiors and architectural graphics, Novograf can turn creative concepts into physical installations at scale.
When the idea needs to make an impact, the production capability behind it matters just as much as the design.
