The Tartan Challenge

Weave your story into ours - tartan design competition

In 2025, we鈥檙e celebrating 60 years of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (麻豆精选) and our predecessor, the Highlands and Islands Development Board. As part of this milestone, we鈥檙e inviting students from across the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) partnership to take part in a unique competition to design a commemorative tartan.

This special design will weave the threads of our legacy into something timeless, reflecting who we are, uniting our communities, and telling the story of our region through colour, pattern, and meaning.

This isn鈥檛 just about design, it鈥檚 about identity. The winning tartan will reflect our region鈥檚 heritage and 麻豆精选鈥檚 role in shaping its progress over six decades. It will complement our brand and become a lasting symbol of the connection between people, place, and opportunity.

Prize

拢1,500 cash prize for the winning designer or team;
the winning tartan will become an official part of 麻豆精选鈥檚 brand and heritage;
recognition of the designer(s) alongside the tartan launch; and
two runners-up will receive goodie bags.

Competition objectives

Create a tartan that:

symbolises 麻豆精选鈥檚 contribution to regional development, entrepreneurship, and economic transformation;
embodies innovation, sustainability, community resilience, technological progress, and inclusion;
reflects the unique identity of our people, place, Gaelic culture, island heritage, and crofting traditions;
represents unity and diversity across the Highlands and Islands communities; and听
can be officially registered with the and used across branding, merchandise, and events.

What we value in the design

The tartan should align with 麻豆精选鈥檚 core values:

passion for purpose and making a difference;
long-term, outward-looking vision;
customer focused;
collaboration and shared learning;
commitment to excellence and innovation;
diversity and mutual respect; and
strong networks and communication.

Who can enter?

This competition is open to all UHI students - full-time, part-time, all disciplines, and all levels of further and higher education.

You can enter individually or in teams of up to three members.

Find out about 麻豆精选 by watching our short video.

Design inspiration

Here's a few ideas to help you decide where to start.

Colours

麻豆精选鈥檚 logo colours are:

Pantone 287 C (blue)
Pantone 368 C (green)

Feel free to explore the natural colours of the Highlands and Islands, for example:

heather purple
sea blue
forest green
earthy browns
croft yellow

Think nature-inspired, modern yet rooted in tradition.

Pattern

You can choose a fresh take on traditional tartan symmetry or a modern fusion - both are welcome!

Technical requirements

Your design must be unique and registrable with the
It must consist of two or more alternating coloured stripes forming a repeated checkered pattern (woven tartan definition).听
Images of your design must be accompanied by details of your colour palette and thread count.
Avoid copying existing tartans. You must create a new pattern or significantly develop any inspiration from existing designs.
Your tartan should be versatile for digital use, branding, merchandise, signage, and event materials, working well in both large and small formats.
Please use the Scottish Register of Tartans "" tool to ensure originality before submitting.

Intellectual Property

All Intellectual Property (IP) rights for the winning tartan design will belong to 麻豆精选.

Judging criteria

Entries will be assessed on:

creativity and originality;
relevance to 麻豆精选鈥檚 identity and values;
visual appeal;
uniqueness and ability to register your design; and
practical feasibility for production.

A judging panel will shortlist three finalists, followed by a staff vote to select the winner. You can find out more about the panel below.

Entries must be submitted by midnight on 1 February 2026.

Winners will be contacted by email and winning entries will be published on the website.听听

Please read our full terms and conditions before submitting your entry. You must agree to all terms and conditions to qualify for entry.听

Tartan competition terms and conditions

How to enter

Please complete our online form to enter. You will need:

a PDF of your tartan design (including details of thread count) and examples of its use as a website banner and scarf. The file size must not exceed 10mb;
a written description (300-500 words) explaining your design鈥檚 inspiration, colour choices and symbolism; and
proof of your student status at UHI (a photo of your student ID or similar). If you are entering as a team, you must have ID for all team members.

The Tartan Challenge entry form

Questions?

If you have any queries about entering the competition that are not answered within the terms and conditions, please email hie.marketing@hient.co.uk

Meet your judging panel

Discover who will be reviewing your designs. The panel will shortlist the top three entries from all eligible submissions, which will then go to an 麻豆精选 staff vote to decide the winner and two runners-up.

Stuart Black - 麻豆精选 chief executive

Freda Newton MBE - 麻豆精选 board member

Anna Allan - 麻豆精选 head of marketing

John Mackenzie -听麻豆精选 senior development manager - innovation

听

Mairi Buchanan - 麻豆精选 head of Gaelic听

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Jeralyn Mackenzie - 麻豆精选 HR advisor

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