Airplane Mode: exploring loneliness  
14 stories, 11 countries, one experience 

A decision that she says changed her life.

This became the inspiration for her final year project, ‘Airplane Mode’ – a resource for those who wish to explore the complexities of experiencing solitude.

What began as a survey has evolved into a documentary-style book, featuring 14 fascinating and unique stories from around the world about what it means to be alone.

Yusra said: “The [survey] responses were all relatable stories about loneliness – experienced as a result of divorce, death, depression, work and pleasing others - and then of people recognising these feelings and making positive change.”

The aim of the project was to de-stigmatise loneliness and provide the tools and anecdotes for the reader to reconnect with themselves through introspect and shared experience.

Yusra used a combination of photography, typography, collaging and scanning to illustrate the book – resulting in a beautiful compilation of stories from across the globe, from North America to France, Australia to Antarctica.

“The really nice part of this project is recognising that being lonely can feel isolating but that actually everyone goes through it at some point. So you’re not really alone in an abstract way.

“I hope that message could make people speak about it more. If everybody goes through this then maybe it’s not that embarrassing, maybe we can talk about it.” 

Reshaping and reimagining Scotland
What does the future hold for our country?

Fourth year student Adam Hepburn’s project ‘Reshaping Scotland’ reimagines what the country – and in particular its coastal areas – could look like in the future.

Climate change is already causing coastal erosion and rising sea levels in Scotland, with Adam’s project taking a dark look at what this could mean for the country in 50 years time.

Featured in his project is a re-imagination of the North Coast 500 tourism route renamed the North Coast 478 due to the miles lost as a result of coastal erosion.

A luxury brochure entitled the ‘High-land Club’, gives an insight into what a super-rich, luxury, well-above sea level life could entail.

On the other hand, a home flood defences guide acts as a tongue-in-cheek pocket handbook for how people can cope and preserve their homes if extreme flooding affects their town or village.

A memorial plaque, which remembers the towns and places that Scotland could have a lost as a result of climate change, is also included in the project.

The key elements of the project stemmed from a research phase where Adam spoke with people from across the country to ascertain their own thoughts for the future and some of the key themes that’ll shape the next 50 years.

For Adam, the project was a chance for him to almost create a window into another universe alongside shining a spotlight on serious issues already affecting Scotland as a whole.

He said: “Historically in Scotland, land ownerships have dictated the population and placement of people within the country. However, moving forward, it now looks very likely that climate change will do the same.

“Coastal erosion is already happening in Scotland but it’s not something that people are talking about in the wider climate change conversation within this country. I want to draw people’s attention to this issue by imagining a future Scotland that shows the number of towns which could be lost to the sea over the near future.

“This is something we will have to deal with at some point in the future. If this project results in the penny dropping for people that this is a problem not just overseas but closer to home, then it’ll have been worth it.”