Gab at 40: Why Glasgow’s much-loved creative gathering still has its spark

The ever-popular event in Scotland has just marked a milestone. Creative Boom headed north to find out why everyone keeps raving about Gab.

Last Friday, Gab returned for its 40th edition at Barras Art & Design in Glasgow. If you’ve never been, Gab is the city’s hugely popular design and creativity event series, founded and run by the team at Jamhot.

For more than a decade, they’ve been pulling together talks from designers, illustrators, animators, and makers of all stripes, staging them in some of the most unexpected venues – from ballrooms and breweries to music halls and former churches.

It’s grassroots, not-for-profit, and run purely to give something back to the creative community. Any profit is donated to charity, which makes it feel all the more genuine in a time when many events can feel stuffy and corporate. That ethos has carried Gab through to its milestone 40th night, and it shows. Because I was right there, celebrating with them.

After spending a day exploring the city with Chloe Marie Doyle, aka The Chatty Freelancer, I rocked up to Barras Art & Design – a fitting space that’s raw, buzzing, and right at the heart of Glasgow’s creative community.

Doors opened at 7pm, but I was there a little earlier to meet the team and chat about all things Gab and what they have planned next. On finally meeting the famous Graeme McGowan, co-founder of Jamhot, I wanted to know why Glasgow is special for creatives. “It’s a super friendly crowd,” he told me with a warm smile. “There’s no competition whatsoever. Everyone knows each other, and we all look out for one another. I’m not sure if it’s like this elsewhere, but Glasgow’s creative scene has always felt like a close-knit family. It’s really something special.”

That was the impression I’d got, too. It felt hugely welcoming. After eating pizza with Graeme and learning more about his hometown, the room quickly filled with familiar faces and newcomers alike, bringing with them a quiet energy that felt both welcoming and electric. It’s the kind of event where you bump into old creative pals while also discovering someone new doing brilliant work.

Inspiring Speakers

After we’d all grabbed a pint and greeted those sat around us, we settled down for the talks. Kicking off the night was Studio Blup, with co-founder Dines taking us inside their world of boundary-pushing design. Bold and loud, unapologetically experimental, their work set the tone for an evening of inspiration.

Next up was a trio of Glasgow-based talent – Orla McAuliffe, Columba McCallum, and Lucy Stevenson – who absolutely blew us all away with their confidence and passion. The talented trio made a rallying call to the local industry, asking everyone to take a chance on a graduate or school leaver, keen to get their first foot on the ladder. It was less a talk, more a manifesto – a solid reminder that fresh voices need backing if the industry wants to thrive.

After a short break, Animade‘s Ed Barrett took the stage. As co-founder of one of London’s most respected animation studios, Ed brought sharp insights into collaboration, play, and what it takes to keep a studio’s creative spark alive over the long haul. I especially loved hearing about recent projects, such as their Extra Nice work for It’s Nice That (who?), and their social campaign for LEGO, which helped bring people together. Just brilliant.

The Extras

One of Gab’s strengths has always been the way it avoids being “just talks”. This time, the evening was hosted by Lisa Henderson of Ilka Studio who did an awesome job of warming up the crowd. And then there was the band: Hugh Reed & The Velvet Underpants. If you were flagging after three talks, you weren’t anymore. The music, often hilarious and surprising, injected a proper Glasgow twist, reminding everyone that Gab is as much a celebration as it is an industry night. Giant flying boxing glove, anyone?

Photographer Eoin Carey, whom we’ve featured on Creative Boom before, was on hand to capture it all. The sense of occasion felt palpable – Gab at 40 was both a milestone and a marker of what makes Glasgow’s creative scene so special.

Why Gab Matters

Continuing my chat with Graeme McGowan, it’s clear the series was never about self-promotion. It was about community – creating space for creatives to meet, learn, and be inspired. Forty events in, that mission hasn’t changed. “It’s a lot of hard work, yes, but we love doing it. Nothing beats getting creatives in the same space.”

In a city that has given so much to Jamhot, Graeme and the team see Gab as a way of giving back. And it works. Every time you leave, you are not only inspired by the speakers but also reminded of the richness of Glasgow’s creative scene. “Why wouldn’t we want to do this?” said Graeme cheekily, gesturing to the space, while the band’s funny lead singer clambered over tables, almost knocking over pints. It was a night I’ll always remember.

The next Gab will take place on Wednesday 26 March at Barras Art & Design. If you’re curious, just go. Show up, grab a pint, and let the night unfold. I promise you’ll leave with fresh ideas, new contacts, and maybe even a story or two worth telling.