Ushaw design challenge

Overview

Rural Design Centre's design challenges focus on creating opportunities for artists, creatives, and artisan businesses to work with commissioning companies in a structured, supportive, and positive way.  

It all starts with a brief that outlines the needs of the commissioning company or sponsor. They are typically looking for creative solutions that bring an innovative offering that they would have not yet considered.  

The design challenge methodology lasts approximately six months and follows this process: 

  • Establishment of an agreed brief. 
  • Launch, registration, and briefing sessions. 
  • Three face-to-face workshops with participants following a 'discover, define, develop' framework. 
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Our offer

The Ushaw design challenge invited County Durham creative businesses to develop bespoke products and services that celebrate Ushaw College’s history and future. 

Situation: In 2008, Ushaw College celebrated its second centenary as a Catholic Seminary, but its origins go back further than its 200 years at Ushaw. In 2012 the college closed its doors for the last time and since 2016, Ushaw has opened as a key visitor destination, celebrating its Catholic and Pugin history, with many Grade I and II listed buildings, structures and grounds.  

Task: Ushaw had ambitious commercial plans. The design challenge was a way to showcase the talent, creativity, ingenuity and quality of Durham creative businesses regionally and nationally through supporting the development of innovative products, services, and experiences whilst collaborating and positively developing the experience at Ushaw for current and future visitors. Durham creative businesses were offered the opportunity to work up Ushaw-inspired ideas, with support, that could be promoted and sold for mutual benefit.  

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Action: Using the design challenge methodology, creative business owners and designer-makers were supported through the process that helps to generate, develop, and test new ideas for Ushaw-based products and services. 

Structure (2021): 

  • 8 October – design challenge launch 
  • 15 October – information day 
  • 12 November – design thinking session 
  • 19 November – rapid prototyping session 
  • 23 November – protecting your creativity session 
  • 26 November – mobile stories: a beginner’s guide to making films on your phone session  
  • Ushaw tours – throughout November for inspiration  
  • One-to-one support – throughout  

December deadline saw 23 submissions.  

Visit the Ushaw website

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Key challenges

 

  • Keeping the brief concise and clear while highlighting a reason for businesses to participate.

  • Ensuring continued creative sector engagement and retention. 

Key successes

 

  • 4 workshops. 
  • 128 creative businesses supported. 
  • 89 attendees. 
  • 23 submissions. 
  • 13 creative business working with Ushaw on retail and engagement opportunities.

Our USP

 

  • The methodology is versatile, nurturing, and intensive however RDC's design thinking team can deploy and adapt method as needed, highlighting the value of combined skills in design, coaching, and project management. 

Top tips

 

  • Buy in from main stakeholder 
  • Clear brief 
  • Structure 

Nick Devitt, at Rural Design Centre, said:

“Engagement was high from creative businesses and the workshop format worked well. 23 submission videos outlining creative concepts and ideas that Lucy and Jonathan from Ushaw could review and shortlist.” 

Find out more about Ushaw 

Film about Ushaw https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m0ISsZ3PH7OfohXzzj3nHlczl29xDFZ7/view 

 

Contact details 

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