James McBey Trail app – Student designs unveiled at RGU

Students from Robert Gordon University (RGU) presented their final designs for the James McBey Trail mobile app: an innovative project celebrating the life and legacy of renowned artist James McBey and his deep connection to Newburgh, Aberdeenshire.

This initiative was made possible through a unique collaboration between Newburgh & Ythan Community Trust and RGU’s School of Computing, Engineering and Technology (SOCET), facilitated by DEV4 Online Ltd and Interface. 

The project gave the Trust the opportunity to work directly with SOCET students, who were tasked with designing and prototyping an app for a real-world community project.

For the Trust, this partnership provided access to fresh ideas, digital skills, and innovative thinking, helping to bring local heritage to life in a modern, accessible way while minimising risk and cost for a volunteer-run organisation. For the students, it offered invaluable experience working on a live brief, applying their technical and creative skills to a meaningful project with real community impact.

The event was made even more special by the presence of Alasdair Soussi, author of Shadows & Light: The Extraordinary Life of James McBey. For Alisdair, it was a unique experience to see how his research and storytelling have inspired a new generation of digital designers, and how the story of James McBey is being brought to life through technology for the local community and beyond.

Special thanks go to Gillian Hambley from Interface, whose introduction and support were instrumental in making this project a reality, and to Ross McLean from RGU for his guidance and support throughout the process.

This opportunity has created real momentum for the James McBey Trail project, paving the way for the next phase of development and generating exciting possibilities for building this new innovation.