Mac Collins (b. Nottingham,1995 -) is a Nottingham -and Newcastle- based designer whose narrative-rich work draws on a range of references, from mid-century European pieces to his own Afro-Caribbean roots. Growing up in Nottingham, Collins was always drawing and filling drawers with miniature collections of rocks, magnets, and the rubber-coated metal balls salvaged from inside old computer mice. He moved on to graffiti, illustration, and live art performances as a teenager, and became interested in sculpture and three-dimensional forms while completing a one-year, multidisciplinary arts program after high school. At university, he developed the technical side of his skill set, realizing that making objects interested him just as much as designing them.

The young designer graduated from Northumbria University in 2018. In his final year of studying design, Collins began tracing his heritage, and subsequently, the Iklwa chair was created. The magnificent ultramarine throne set the tone for Collin’s future designs: imposing, perfectly crafted, and narratively rich, combing both a sense of personal history as well as evocative feelings, in reference to the name, crafted into the spear-modelled armrests (an Iklwa is a short stabbing spear innovated by the Zulu nation in the 19th century). Made as part of his graduation collection, the piece brought Collins into the spotlight. The chair won the Cræftiga prize in 2018, and the rights for the design were quickly acquired by Benchmark earning Collins credibility at a young age in the industry.

Playing again with the narrative of the well know game of dominoes, notably played by the Caribbean community in the designer's hometown of Nottingham, Collins’ most recent addition to the dominoes series, Boneyard has been produced exclusively for Side Gallery. The short armrests encourage a leant back, relaxed, confident and broad-chested posture. The chair is handcrafted in solid oak. Boneyard along with new designs by Mac Collins will be on show at Side Gallery, Barcelona in 2023. Collins is working on a number of projects and is building up to his first gallery solo show which will be presented by Side Gallery.