Sell your design products and artwork
Managed by UAL’s Careers and Employability team, we sell design products and artwork created by UAL students and graduates to the public. Items are sold through our shop in Holborn (Central London) as well as through our online shop notjustashop.arts.ac.uk
How it works
- Students and graduates from all UAL Colleges can apply to sell their work in the shop via our open calls.
- New items are chosen via selection panels, made up of not just a shop staff, students and industry contacts.
- Products are purchased wholesale, so you will be paid up-front for the stock you supply.
- Profits from the shop are reinvested back into our enterprise learning programme, which supports UAL students and graduates with their businesses.
Eligibility
In order to be stocked in not just a shop, you:
- need to be a student or graduate from any of UAL’s Colleges or Institutes
- should be studying towards or have completed a BA, MA, PHD or FdA level course
- need to be submitting your own products (i.e. products which you have designed and made yourself, or have been outsourced for manufacturing, or been commissioned by you)
- cannot be on a Student Route (Tier 4) study visa.
Careers and Employability is funded to support students up to 5 years after graduation.
We currently sell products that fall under the following categories:
- Stationery
- Accessories
- Souvenirs
- Homeware
- Artworks and prints
- Jewellery
- Gifts
- Ceramics
- Games and toys
- Small furniture items
- Beauty and wellbeing
If you are interested in selling your products or artwork in not just a shop, we strongly recommend you visit us first to see the space. Our shop staff are always happy to talk to you and can answer lots of questions you might have about our open calls process.
International students
On a Student Route (Tier 4) visa? The UK government states that you cannot be self-employed, which means we are unable to sell your work through not just a shop.
You can still engage with not just a shop by:
- applying to exhibit your artwork via the Fine art open calls section below
- entering our competitions and live briefs – most of which are open to international students
- coming to our business and freelancing events.
Product open call
Our autumn/winter open call is now closed. We will open up applications for our spring/summer open call soon. Please sign up to the Careers and Employability newsletter to be informed when future open calls go live.
Upcoming deadlines
Tuesday 10 January 2023, 10am
Tuesday 4 July 2023, 10am
How to apply
There are 2 routes to apply for our open calls, depending on what stage you are at with your business. Please read the information below and complete the route that is most relevant to you:
Route 1
Apply using this route if any of the following apply to you:
- you have not sold to retailers before via wholesale
- you don't have any current stockists
- you have never sold anything before, or are unsure how to price your work
- you have sold directly to customers (e.g. to friends and family, via social media, markets or your own website/Etsy).
Route 2
Apply using this route if you have sold to retailers before via wholesale.
This route applies to you if you have:
- existing stockist(s)
- a good understanding of your wholesale and retail pricing.
How we review submissions
Route 1
- Your work will be reviewed by a selection panel made up on UAL staff and people from industry. The panel will consider work against the criteria listed under the 'Selection criteria' section below.
- We will ask you to either deliver your products to the shop (via post or in person) by 19 July 2022 or share additional images and information with us to be submitted to the selection panel.
- We will respond to you by 5 August 2022 to let you know if you have been selected.
Route 2
- We will review your work digitally at our selection panel using your wholesale catalogue and price list.
- Your work will be reviewed by a selection panel made up on UAL staff and industry representatives. The panel will consider work against the criteria listed below.
- We will respond to you by 5 August 2022 to let you know if you have been selected.
Selection criteria
The panel will review your products against the following criteria:
- high quality/well made
- creative, unique and innovative
- commercially viable, meaning:
- wide audience appeal
- durable
- clear purpose and function
- price and scope to generate profit
- material and sustainable considerations.
Read our open calls handbook before starting your application as this will answer many of the questions you might have.
It’s important you get your prices right to ensure you attract buyers whilst also making a profit. If you’re unsure about your prices, please refer to our guide on how to cost and price your work (PDF 435KB). If you need help with pricing, make a note of this in your application and we can advise you.
Feedback
If your application is unsuccessful we will provide you with feedback on request. Please email notjustashop@arts.ac.uk to request feedback.
Application support for students
Current UAL student? Need advice on applying for our open calls? You can register for a 20-minute online one-to-one with the not just a shop team for advice on how to submit your best application.
Whether you're a new business, never sold work before or just need to chat through the form, we can help you with the application process.
We can provide advice and feedback on:
- pricing your work
- retail expectations (such as quality, function, durability, final presentation, unique selling point, packaging)
- manufacturing options (e.g. handmade, print on demand, outsourced)
- quantity of products needed for application and sale
- photography of your products
- application questions and queries
- selecting and editing your products for application
- which route you should apply to.
Email notjustashop@arts.ac.uk to request a one-to-one. The next one-to-ones will be held on 23 June 2022 and will be booked on a first come first serve basis. Priority will be given to students however you are welcome to request a one-to-one if you are a graduate.
Fine art open call
Due to shop closures in 2020/2021 caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, fine art applications are currently on-hold. We will reopen our fine art open calls as soon as we have reviewed our application process.
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Not just a shop interior
Open call handbook
Before you start your application, read about our store, what we sell and our buying policy (PDF 557KB)
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Becky Moriarty at Camberwell. Photo by Alys Tomlinson
Costing and pricing your work
Read our advice on how to cost and price your work (PDF 435KB).
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Robin wrapping paper design
Design festive gift wrap for not just a shop
Enter our latest competition and your design could be sold in not just a shop. Winners receive £150 and 10 sheets of their gift wrap design. Apply by 10am 17 October 2022.
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Mohammed Adel painting in the studio. Photo Alys Tomlinson
Support for visual artists
Artquest provides the professional information, advice and projects that visual artists need to understand the art world.
Meet the team
Natalie Stevens, not just a shop Manager
I oversee not just a shop’s retail operations including buying, visual merchandising, staffing and management of the space. I also run student engagement projects such as competitions, internships, open call applications, product commissions, external pop-up shops and special projects. Contact me at notjustashop@arts.ac.uk
Clio Delcour-Min, Retail and Student Engagement Coordinator
I’m responsible for the day-to-day running of not just a shop, including taking sales, stock control, and maintaining and updating displays. I also support student facing opportunities such as competitions, live briefs and open calls, and provide support to our current sellers. Contact me at notjustashop@arts.ac.uk
Eleanor Binns, E-commerce Coordinator
My role centres around managing our online shop. This includes adding new products, updating images, writing content and shipping orders. You’ll also find me helping out in our shop in High Holborn during the week. Contact me at notjustashop@arts.ac.uk