Inverness College UHI Art and Design students roll up their sleeves for Ness Soaps

Layla Starling, Steven Mclean Laura Anderson, Jessica Charmley and Daniel James

Introduction to Art and Design students at Inverness College UHI are keeping their noses clean with their latest project after designing the packaging for local company, Ness Soaps, as part of their course.

The students took an enterprising approach to learning on the Introduction to Art and Design course with help from the College’s CREATE enterprise development initiative and on behalf of highly-acclaimed Ness Soaps, based at Strothers Lane, Inverness.

Working tirelessly to produce an exciting range of large prints and packaging ideas to inspire new input for Ness Soaps’ point of sale and promotion, the students put all of their hard work over the course of the year into creating innovative and intriguing designs. The work was then celebrated with an exhibition at Inverness’ Eastgate Centre this summer.

Students presented their print designs advertising the essential oils that Ness Soaps use in their products. Each design was carefully hand drawn and printed by hand. The printed designs were made into packaging concepts. 

Aiming to embed enterprise at an introductory level into the Art and Design curriculum, the course has seen students embark upon various exciting projects integrating learning with initiatives linked to enterprise and the community. The College is looking to grow its creative offering in the Highlands whilst supporting its graduates as they begin to set up business once they have completed their studies.

Lucy Morrison, Managing Director of Ness Soaps, said: “It’s good for the students to work with a real business and to get hands-on experience. The experience has been useful for us too as it has opened our eyes to creative ideas.”

Alison Woodside lecturer in Art and Design also commented: “Becoming more aware of branding early on in a student’s career will motivate and inspire them to want to delve deeper and learn more about business start-up as their education progresses.

Layla Starling, Laura Anderson and Jessica Charmley.

“The idea behind it all is to embed enterprise at an introductory level into the Art and Design curriculum. It’s all about growing our creative industries in the Highlands and supporting our graduates to set up in business when they finish their studies.”

The new Inverness College UHI Midmills Campus Students Union has also recently benefited from the Art and Design students’ efforts, after the completion of an exciting painted mural, which highlights prevalent contemporary issues within the local Inverness Community and further afield.

For further information on all courses available at Inverness College UHI please call 01463 273000 or visit www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk.