Colours of Rathlin: Colour Palette

Colours of Rathlin formed part of the Pathways to Rathlin Wool engagement series during Island Insights: Rathlin Community Engagement Days, delivered through the AHRC Future Island–Island project (18–20 April). Using participatory action research methods, the event engaged residents in creative exploration and dialogue to reflect on Rathlin’s visual and cultural identity through colour.

The day began with a talk, The Importance of Colour in Design, Textiles, and Identity, introducing colour theory and the ways in which colour can express place and belonging. In preparation, a collaboration with a local crafter produced two initial palettes drawn from her photographs of Rathlin’s land and sea. These examples illustrated how colour can be extracted from imagery, translated into yarn, and applied in textile design.

During the workshop, participants identified colours of personal and collective significance, describing “Rathlin as a Pantone colour.” Each group’s selections and accompanying narratives were documented and later collated into a digital community colour palette that captures shared memories and landscape identity.

The final Colours of Rathlin palette now features in the Future Observatory: Tools for Transition exhibition at the Design Museum, London (Sept 2025–Sept 2026). It has also informed several project outputs, including the illustrated publication The Story of Rathlin Wool, and will be part of Ulster University's Textile Roof Garden.

This participatory, design-led approach demonstrates how co-creative methods can strengthen community connections and embed local knowledge within bioregional design and material research.