The Tartan Challenge

This competition closed at midnight on 1 February 2026.

Competition details

In 2025, we’re celebrating 60 years of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and our predecessor, the Highlands and Islands Development Board. As part of this milestone, we invited 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’t just about design, it’s about identity. The winning tartan will reflect our region’s heritage and HIE’s 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

• £1,500 cash prize for the winning designer or team;

• the winning tartan will become an official part of HIE’s brand and heritage;

• recognition of the designer(s) alongside the tartan launch; and

• two runners-up will receive goodie bags.

Winners

Winners will be announced soon.