Cosatto has teamed up with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) for the second year running in a dynamic collaboration that bridges the gap between education and industry, offering students real-world experience in designing for the nursery market.
Initially launched for final-year BA (Hons) Textiles students, the “Live Project” has quickly grown in popularity and prestige, now welcoming ambitious second-year students eager to engage with a real design brief. The five-week initiative sees students dedicating one to two days each week to developing innovative print concepts with Cosatto’s signature bold and playful style in mind.
What began as a brief to create a repeat pattern for Cosatto’s bestselling Wow 3 travel system has since evolved, giving students the creative freedom to select both the product and the style of design they wish to explore. Throughout the process, the Cosatto team visited the UCLAN campus three times: once to kick off the project and introduce the brand, again for an interim critique and feedback session, and finally for the student presentations and project wrap-up.
“It’s a massive privilege to work with such talented young designers,” says Stephen Shaw, Associate Creative Director of Cosatto. “The level of creativity, research, and vision these students bring to the table has exceeded all expectations. We leave each session feeling inspired – whether it’s from unique illustration styles, inventive trim details, or entirely new product concepts.”
The collaboration is not just about education; it’s about building the future of design at Cosatto. Each year, the brand invites a select number of students back to HQ for further development through work placements. This year, the standard was so high that seven students were offered this opportunity, more than triple the original plan.
During their week at Cosatto HQ, the seven students were fully immersed in the world of nursery product design. Working closely with the in-house creative team, they gained hands-on experience with every stage of the process – from initial concept and colour palette development to refining trims and understanding product functionality. The week offered a unique behind-the-scenes look at how Cosatto brings its products to life and gave the students the chance to contribute directly to live projects, sparking exciting ideas and new perspectives for the team.
“As the partnership has evolved, so has the potential,” Stephen added. “It’s our aim to one day launch a Cosatto travel system featuring a design created exclusively by a UCLAN student – and I believe we’re getting close to making that a reality.”
With plans to continue and expand the collaboration in future years, Cosatto is helping shape the next generation of nursery design talent – while gaining fresh insight and inspiration in return. As the partnership deepens, the streets may soon see prams brought to life by the next big names in British textile design.
For trade enquiries email steve.birds@cosatto.com or for more information go to www.cosatto.com.
