Redesigning Alice: Etsy and the British Library | Projects | The British Library

Redesigning Alice: Etsy and the British Library competition

Image: Eleanor Stuart’s ‘Alice and the Looking Glass’ plate

Published date:: 22 April 2015

You can read and enjoy 'Alice’s Adventures Under Ground' on our website. It’s well worth a look - the hand-drawn illustrations and beautiful handwriting of Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) are an aesthetic adventure in themselves with a wealth of creative inspiration.

We are working with Etsy UK to take a fresh look at this well-known character and see how contemporary designers are inspired by the story on Alice’s 150th birthday. A selection of these products will end up for sale in the British Library Shop. The shop already stocks a well-loved Alice range, but we’re looking for innovative designs to bring it to life in new ways. For context, our building in London welcomes over 1.6m visitors per year, many of whom visit the Shop.

Calling all designers and makers

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

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the beautiful 'Alice’s Adventures Under Ground', we’re asking designer-makers to create products in response to the manuscript (or submit their existing Alice-inspired products). A selection of these gift products will be stocked in the British Library Shop.

We’re looking for new interpretations of the themes and character and fresh approaches to using the existing illustrations.

As well as a contract with the British Library Shop, the selected designer-makers will receive hands-on professional development support from our award-winning Business & IP Centre.

The selection panel will include Sarah Hewett (Community Programmes at Etsy UK) and 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 will also join us to select the winning Alice-inspired products.

How to enter

You can find out the full details and entry form for the competition on the Etsy UK website. Applications must be received by 09.00 on Wednesday 29 April 2015.

Image: Eleanor Stuart’s ‘Alice and the Looking Glass’ plate

Competition brief

Terms and conditions