Students across the University of the Highlands and Islands are being invited to design a new tartan that captures the spirit, culture and identity of the region, with a cash prize of fifteen hundred pounds awaiting the winner.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has launched the challenge to mark sixty years since the founding of its predecessor, the Highlands and Islands Development Board, which first opened its doors in November nineteen sixty five.
The competition invites students to create a tartan that reflects the story of regional development over six decades and symbolises the distinct character of the communities, landscapes and traditions that shape the Highlands and Islands.
The winning design will be formally registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans and will become part of HIE’s branding, appearing in promotional material and merchandise in the years ahead.
HIE will retain the intellectual property rights to the tartan once registered.
Stuart Black, HIE chief executive, says the challenge is both a celebration of the past and a statement of confidence in the region’s creative future.
He said:
“We are delighted to be working with UHI on this initiative to mark 60 years of regional development.
“It is a great way to celebrate all that has been achieved in the region since our predecessor the Highlands and Islands Development Board was established, while promoting some of our region’s cultural significance.”
Vicki Nairn, UHI principal and vice chancellor, says the project is an ideal platform for students to demonstrate how heritage and imagination can come together.
She said:
“Creativity and innovation are at the heart of UHI, and this challenge is a fantastic opportunity for our students to showcase both.
“The UHI partnership spans regions rich in heritage and culture, and I look forward to seeing how students express that identity through their designs.”
The competition is open to all full and part time students across the UHI partnership.
Entries can be submitted individually or in groups of up to three.
The deadline for submissions is Saturday thirty one January twenty twenty six, with the winner to be announced the following month.
The challenge is expected to attract interest from students studying art, design, textiles, history, culture and a range of creative disciplines across the network, giving them a rare chance to create a piece of work that may become part of the region’s long term identity.
In inviting students to take part, HIE says the tartan should capture ideas of innovation, community, economic growth and a strong sense of place, reflecting the unique character of the Highlands and Islands over sixty years of transformation.
