Window Design Competition for UAL Graduates

Competition Description

Deadline: 10 am, 1st of September 2025

We are inviting recent UAL graduates (of up to 3 years) to submit examples of their work or portfolio, with the chance of being commissioned to design and install a window display for not just a shop (NJAS).

Based on their portfolio and supporting application, up to 3 graduates will be selected and paid £75 to create 3 display ideas and pitch these to the not just a shop team.

One idea will be chosen and the selected graduate will be commissioned to realise their design and to install an interesting and engaging window display in the central section of the street facing window of not just a shop in High Holborn. The commission fee is £600, the equivalent to 3 days of work at a day rate of £200. There will be a separate materials budget.

The display will be on during the festive period between November – December 2025, so will have a related theme creating impact and generating interest in passing traffic and encouraging customers into the store. The concept will be considerate of a number of factors including scale, materials, environmental impact, budget, timescale and installation of final design.

Applicant will research and source materials needed for install and carry out physical installation of window, which will take place on allocated day, with support from NJAS team.

Theme

‘Festive’ is the theme for this window display. Designs should avoid directly referencing the Christian festival of Christmas, and instead explore general themes of this time of year with a unique and fresh take. Think outside of reoccurring seasonal motifs or colour schemes if possible.

Eligibility

To apply you should be a recent graduate (up to 3 years, 2022 – 2025) from one of UAL’s six colleges on a  BA, MA, PHD or FdA level course.

We’re looking for graduates from disciplines including but not limited to: Graphic design, communication design, photography, painting, drawing, illustration, sculpture, animation.

Please present examples of your work/your portfolio must be well presented in one collated file (Word, PDF or JPEG that includes multiple images).

Winner's Prize

£75 x 3 grads for pitches of display idea

Commission fee if selected: £600, the equivalent of 3 days of work at a day rate of £200. There will be a separate materials budget.