Redesigning Alice: Etsy and the British Library

Although she doesn’t look it, Alice (famed for her adventures in Wonderland) turned 150 years old this year and we’re celebrating with a design competition for Etsy sellers in the UK.

2015 marks the 150th anniversary of eternally youthful Alice! One of the British Library’s prized possessions is the original manuscript – now that they have digitised it, people around the world can enjoy ‘Alice’s Adventures Under Ground’ online. The hand drawn illustrations penned by Charles Dodgson (AKA Lewis Carroll) are a wealth of creative inspiration.

The British Library and Etsy UK are working in partnership to see how contemporary designers are inspired by the 150 year old story. Selected makers will win the chance to stock their products in the British Library Shop, coinciding with their Alice exhibition in Autumn 2015 (the flagship London building receives 1.6 million visitors per year). Already stocking a popular Alice range (including Etsy seller, Eleanor Stuart) the Shop is seeking some new, innovative designs to help bring it to life.

The British Library

CALLING ALL DESIGNER-MAKERS

We’re asking designer-makers to create gift products in response to Alice’s Adventures Under Ground by Lewis Carroll (or submit existing Alice-inspired products). Think new interpretations of the themes and characters and fresh approaches to using the existing illustrations.

There’s a humdinger of a prize up for grabs! As well as a contract with the British Library Shop, the selected designer-makers will receive hands-on professional development support from the award-winning Business & IP Centre (including business workshops and access to the Library’s business and intellectual property collections).

‘Quirky gifts for the curious and literary-minded, inspired by the British Library’s treasures and exhibitions.’ – British Library Shop mission

The selection panel will include: Sarah Hewett (Etsy UK); Frances Taylor (Marketing Manager at the British Library); retail experts, Emma Mawston (Head of Design Interiors at Liberty) and Maxine Hellenkamp (Buyer and Visual Merchandiser at the British Library); and creative entrepreneur, Michelle Mason.

See full application details and submit form below…

Eleanor Stuart

APPLICATION DETAILS

Am I eligible for the Redesigning Alice competition?
Designer-makers must:

• Design and make gift products in any craft/design discipline. These could be existing products that fit the bill or new products developed especially.
• Have an active Etsy shop (Don’t worry if you haven’t opened your shop yet! You can get 20 FREE listings when you open your shop for this opportunity. See details below…)
• Be based in the United Kingdom.
• Be over 18 years of age.
• Submit  a product design that is ‘inspired’ by the manuscript.
• Not enter an Alice-inspired product that is already stocked in the British Library Shop.
• Be careful about intellectual property issues around wider Alice in Wonderland initiatives (e.g. films) to ensure that you don’t break intellectual property regulations.  Check out the Etsy Seller Handbook for help with this.
• Be able to provide product(s) for stock in the British Library Shop no later than 1 September 2015 (sale or return), if selected.
• You must agree to Terms & Conditions and read the full Competition Brief here.

If you’re not eligible this time, never fear! We have more showcasing opportunities coming up, so watch out for open calls via the Etsy UK blog and sign up for the Etsy Success newsletter.

Deadline for applications
Applications must be received by 9am on Wednesday 29th April 2015.

I don’t have an Etsy shop yet. Can I still apply?
If you don’t currently sell on Etsy, you can open a shop and apply for this opportunity. Get started with 20 free listings! Enter the code: REDESIGNINGALICE here (new sellers only).

When will I know if I have been selected?
The successful designer-makers will be selected by a panel of Etsy and British Library staff, industry experts and creative entrepreneurs (check out the line-up above!). We regret that we will not be able to inform all applicants of our decision, but successful applicants will be notified within one month of the application deadline.

Eleanor Stuart

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit this short application form by 9am on Wednesday 29th April 2015

You can also find out about this opportunity on the British Library website.

We will be selecting based on your Etsy shop itself, so make sure everything is up to date and it’s looking great. Your photography, listing descriptions and About page are particularly important. Check our the Seller Handbook and search our archive of educational articles to help you improve your shop.

Applications close 9am on Wednesday 29th April 2015

Inspired to get making and open an Etsy shop? Get started with 20 free listings! Enter the code: REDESIGNINGALICE here (new sellers only).

Good luck!

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