Winning submissions approached the challenge from a range of viewpoints and creative disciplines, including how to leverage mass media and advertising, redesign the heat pump outdoor unit, incorporate heat pumps into lifestyle choices such as gardening, and a card game exploring the role of heat pumps in reducing carbon emissions.

The “Hot Stuff” competition, run by the innovation charity Nesta and UAL’s Climate Emergency Network (CEN), sought to inspire creative thinking about decarbonised home heating. Heat pumps are a proven green alternative to gas boilers and other fossil fuel heating. 

The competition invited UAL students and recent graduates to use their chosen creative disciplines to create pieces of artwork that reimagine and design heat pumps. Entries were judged on their creative merit, relevance to the brief and originality by a panel of Nesta, UAL and independent judges.

The winners were selected from a pool of entries received before the 2 August 2024 deadline. The winners, each receiving a £500 cash prize, are:

Victor Hwang, MA / MEng (Dual Award) Global Collaborative Design Practice Graduate, Camberwell College of Arts

Tenley Tomlinson, BA Illustration and Visual Media Student, London College of Communication

Tireni Adeniji, BA Architecture Student, Central Saint Martins

Ozge Sahin and Nanthini Sampathkumar, MA / MEng (Dual Award) Global Collaborative Design Practice Graduates, Camberwell College of Arts

Binoy Thomas, MA User Experience Design Student, London College of Communication

Katy King, deputy director of sustainable future at Nesta, said: “With heat pumps set to become a commonplace part of our lives, there is a real need to think creatively about this technology. As more and more people get set up with green home heating, heat pump businesses will be in need of a variety of approaches to engage customers, including new branding, messaging and  designs.

“The judging panel was impressed with the creativity and ingenuity on display in the entries to this competition. In addition to sparking new creative approaches in the heat pump market, we hope that these innovative designs will help people to see heat pumps in a new light and to understand the role that they can play in decarbonising the UK.”

Kate Keara Pelen, Creative Director of the UAL Climate Emergency Network, said: 'The climate and ecological crisis demands bold and imaginative solutions.  We are so proud of our students and graduates for rising to this challenge. Their proposals are a testament to the power of creativity to help shift behaviours, mindsets and narratives. We hope that their creative responses will inspire both the public to see how heat pumps might fit into their lives and the heat pump industry to consider new approaches to design and communications.'

The winning submissions will be showcased at an event at Nesta’s offices on 24 October 2024 and shared online.