“I feel intensely proud to represent the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Edinburgh Napier in this way. I hope to fully credit the honour, supporting current and future students and by sharing the learning I have accumulated for the benefit of others.”
Jeanette MacIntyre has led the way in interior glass solutions since graduating from Edinburgh Napier in 1985 with a Diploma in Interior Design. She is now the Managing Director of Indeglas - one of the UK’s most advanced internal glass specialists.
Her interest in interior design was ignited at an Edinburgh Napier open day. As she was led round a tour of the facilities, Jeanette was captivated by the enthusiasm and pride shown by ENU staff. She went home and completed her application straight away.
One of Jeanette’s lecturers was the formidable Dr Clive Andrews (her words, not ours). He introduced the class to human-centred design and the need to understand the science behind how humans perceive and use space. Jeanette continues to be interested in the subject and her work is informed by the latest scientific research.
Ergonomics isn’t the only thing that has made a lasting impression on Jeanette. She still vividly remembers presenting to her class in her fourth year of study.
“These were group sessions where lecturers would challenge students to explain the validity and value of their work in the context of fulfilling the project brief - in front of the whole year. I can still recall, word for word, some of the exchanges. Thanks should go to the harshest critics who honed my level of preparedness for client presentations which I continue to rely on."
“I’ve never used a mackerel skin to inform my colour palette again!”
Jeanette offers her advice to anyone wanting to follow in her footsteps
“Lead, not follow, and fully appreciate that the creative skills, design disciplines and work ethic you have gained at Edinburgh Napier are recognised all over the world. Own your own space - this is your time to show us how it’s done!”
After further study, Jeanette set up an interior design consultancy business with a friend from Edinburgh Napier. For five years they carried out interior design and contract work for companies such as, Christian Salveson, The Pharmaceutical Society and McTaggart and Mickel Homes.
In 1987 Jeanette joined Nelso, part of Tarmac Construction, as Design Manager. She held this role for six years before leaving to become a founder and shareholder in interiors contracting company, Zenith Contract Interiors. She negotiated a distributor agreement with the Danish glazed screen product DEKO, and soon after the company became DEKO Scotland. The company specialised in both tested system glass applications, as well as creating bespoke engineered solutions with glass.
Jeanette completed a management buyout in 2013 and re-branded the company as Indeglas in 2017 – the name reflecting their Danish design influences. Their clients have included Shepherd and Wedderburn, Brodies LLP, St Mary’s Church in Haddington, and numerous campus buildings at the University of Edinburgh and City of Glasgow College.
Away from Indeglas, Jeanette serves as co-Vice Chair of Construction Scotland Innovation Centre. This role provides her with the opportunity to help steer the built environment sector forward, endorsing the adoption of innovative, collaborative and sustainable methodology to create infrastructure which supports human productivity and economic recovery.
Jeanette has Edinburgh Napier to thank for more than just a stellar education. She and her husband met as students and have been married for over 30 years. Founding Indeglas has been one of the highpoints of Jeanette’s career – and she did it with her family by her side.
“I celebrated the launch of Indeglas by hosting an event for customers, suppliers, staff and family at the Nautical College Glasgow, a building for which we developed and delivered the internal glass installation. The completed building was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize that year."
“Launching Indeglas in this location was an extremely pivotal point for me as my forefathers, all deep sea-faring fishermen, would have been filled with pride for the creation of such an inspiring building to support the future learning and teaching of all things maritime. Having my family there gave me the opportunity to thank them for their unwavering support without which I would be a much lesser version of me.”
Thanks to resilience planning, Jeanette and her team were able to work from home within two days of the lockdown being put in place. Not only did her working hours change, but her home life did too.
“As one of life’s eternal optimists I default to focusing on positives and simply loved the close family time lockdown brought as we worked, cooked, ate, walked and watched Netflix together.”
Jeanette admits there will always be obstacles in your way, but it depends how you look at them.
“I genuinely believe that difficulties vary depending on how you approach them. Along the way you learn to accept that to be successful it’s not essential to excel in every aspect of business. Gaining trust and respect, actively practicing life-long learning, openly learning from mistakes and recognising and acting on good advice whilst creating an environment where others share your passion, feel valued for the skills they bring and can reach their full potential, is a far better strategy for overcoming most challenges.”
The SACI Alumni Hall of Fame is yet another accomplishment in Jeanette’s career. 
A plaque will be installed at Edinburgh Napier’s Merchiston campus signifying Jeanette's inclusion in the Hall of Fame, joining the other alumni who have previously been inducted. Each plaque has an object attached which is unique to the inductee.
Understanding how to design, engineer and install glass within interior spaces to enable natural light which benefits human productivity and learning is an art – and that is why Jeanette’s plaque object is framed glass.
“Much of my career has been spent working with glass, a commodity which fascinates me as much today as it did when I grappled with the application of it in early design projects at Edinburgh Napier. I still have some of my college presentation boards….it’s been an amazing journey!!”