The competition was designed for students to create pieces of artwork that re-imagine and design heat pumps, whether through product design, graphic design, painting, ceramics, photography or textiles. We were looking for creative responses that create attention and interest in heat pumps by positioning the technology in a new and fresh way, highlighting their transformative potential in cutting harmful pollution from our homes.

Heat pumps are the leading low-carbon technology for replacing boilers in homes but many people in the UK have limited exposure to them and lack consumer confidence and interest in heat pumps. We need visible and public validation that heat pumps are established and proven.

The creative student competition aimed to unleash the power of creativity and imagination to change this perception and inspire both potential heat pump owners and manufacturers to look at this technology in a new light. 

The competition was open to students and recent graduates at UAL in April and closed for entries in August. We worked with members of the heat pump industry and the art world to shortlist submissions and decide on up to five winners ahead of sharing these artworks publicly, with a prize of £500 for each piece. 

We hosted a special showcase and drinks reception to celebrate the winning proposals and spark a collaborative discussion on how creative approaches can accelerate the heat pump industry's growth and play a vital role in the journey to net zero.

Our winning designs and more details on our judging panel can be found in our competition booklet below.