Student has design competition ‘in the bag’

A budding design student will launch a limited edition shopping bag for Liverpool Shopping Park shoppers this weekend.

Liverpool Shopping Park has worked with students from Studio@Deyes, a school for 14-19 year olds that specialises in engineering, fashion and business in Wavertree Technology Park, to design a promotional bag for life.

Rhianna Gill designed the winning entry of an intricate hand-drawn illustration of the city’s much-loved and iconic Liver bird.

The entries were judged by Liverpool Shopping Park centre manager Karen Wild and local artist Paul Curtis, who painted the shopping park’s city skyline mural. As well as seeing her design in the hands of shoppers, Rhianna will also receive £50 of shopping vouchers for Liverpool Shopping Park.

Rhianna’s winning design will now feature on 500 shopping bags for life, which will be handed out outside Liverpool Shopping Park. Students will also host printing demonstrations and fashion shows and will be on hand to talk about life at the school and its courses, along with teachers.

Karen Wild, general manager of Liverpool Shopping Park said: “Studio@Deyes is an inspiring and creative place and we’ve been very impressed by the students’ ideas and the quality of their work.

“We loved the amount of detail and care Rhianna put into her design and couldn’t think of a more fitting image for our bags as we have our very own Liver Bird here at the shopping park. We’re excited to see the bags in the hands of our shoppers.

Rhianna Gill said: “It’s really exciting to know that the judges loved my drawing and that people will be using a bag for life that I’ve designed. I’m really pleased to have won and can’t wait to spend my shopping vouchers too.”

John Parry, the head at Studio@ Deyes said: “This competition formed part of the school’s project based learning work and saw students submit designs that took inspiration from shopping, fashion, culture and the area’s local history. A huge well done to Rhianna.”