Competitions and live briefs

We have an annual design competition with Tate, as well as competitions to get your designs transferred onto products to be sold in-store.

These provide current students who may not have market-ready products with a chance to get their work retailed. We manage the manufacturing, packaging and marketing and you do not have to be registered as a business to apply.

Design and produce a product for a homeware collection in not just shop. 

Have you always wanted to design a product but just don’t know where to begin? Are you starting to think about ways to commercialise your designs? Or are you just curious about what it takes to get an idea to a finished product? If you’ve answered yes, this is the brief for you!

not just a shop is excited to announce our homeware product live brief. This is an opportunity for UAL students and graduates of up to 3 years who have faced barriers preventing them from creating commercial homeware products for retail. We want to work with makers with no product experience and guide them through the process from initial ideas to finished item. not just a shop will cover all production costs, provide a small bursary for participation and will be running sessions covering relevant topics to support and build confidence. We will be working with an industry specialist. Soon to be announced.

This brief will be run by Zoë Tynan-Campbell, Lecture in Professional Development, in collaboration with not just a shop and an industry partner (tbc). It will be based on and coincide with the Atterbury Flat project, also led by Zoë, based in Chelsea College of Arts.

The Atterbury flat is a 1920’s mansion block flat being reimagined as a living / live-in Archive space, showcasing the talent of past and present UAL students. Your final product will become part of the furnishings, as well as being sold in not just a shop in store and online.

This project will be 6 sessions, every Wednesday 5–7pm, starting from 29 April 2026.

Sessions

The sessions will run as follows:

• 29 April – in person.
• 6 May – online.
• 13 May – in person.
• 20 May – online.
• 27 May – in person.
• 03 June - online.
• Opportunity for one-to-ones to support with the design spec for production.

Our sessions will cover:

• best practice for working with potential clients
• market research
• understanding what makes a product commercially appealing and who your customer is
• how to develop your practice for commercial products
• production and how to work with suppliers
• pricing
• retailer expectations.

What to expect during and throughout the live brief

• A bursary of £100 for attending 2 or more sessions.
• The opportunity to design either a tea towel, a napkin or an apron.
• A safe and inclusive space for experimentation and development with minimal financial risks.
• Industry feedback on your designs.
• Practical support throughout the process up to the delivery of final products.
• Production costs of your finished product are paid for by not just a shop (including packaging).
• You will receive a number of finished products for you to keep and sell or give to friends and family.
• Professional photography of your final product.
• Products sold in store and online at notjustashop.arts.ac.uk and showcased as part of the Atterbury flat.
• Products sold in store and online at notjustashop.arts.ac.uk
• Window display to celebrate the launch of the products.

Eligibility

This project is designed to support makers with no production experience and who would not otherwise be able to create homeware products outside of the project. Not just a shop understands that there are many challenges and barriers that prevent makers from being able to explore commercial products, this is why we want to create a safe space for experimentation and development with no financial risk to the participants.

To participate, you must be:

• a current UAL student or graduate up to 3 years (up to July 2022).
• able to demonstrate enthusiasm and interest in participating in the live brief,
• able to self-identify as one or more of the following statements:
  • My parent(s) or guardian(s) have not completed a university degree.
  • I am from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background.
  • I receive the UAL Bursary.
  • I am a Care leaver or Care giver.
  • I took part in UAL's Insights programme
  • I have a disability.
  • I am neurodivergent.
  • LGBTQIA+.
  • Other (if there is a barrier that you have experienced that is not listed).

How to apply 

To apply for the opportunity, you must submit an application form by 10 am, Monday, 30 March 2026.