The Tartan Challenge

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’re 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’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.

Competition objectives

Create a tartan that:

• symbolises HIE’s 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 
• can be officially registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans and used across branding, merchandise, and events.

What we value in the design

The tartan should align with HIE’s 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.