Harrogate Spring Water announces winner of international design competition with 'nod to its Victorian heritage'

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Jane, 30, will receive a £4,000 creative bursary from the brand and will see her design, which was praised for offering a "nod to the company's Victorian heritage but with a contemporary edge", printed on the label of the iconic diamond-faceted Harrogate Spring Water bottles.

The competition challenged aspiring designers from across the globe to create a limited-edition new label design, which reimagined the brand’s classic monochrome branding through the use of colour.

Creatives were asked to submit designs that showcased and celebrated the diverse culture of the Royal Albert Hall.

An expert panel of judges, including TV personality, Tom Read Wilson, and representatives from both Harrogate Spring Water and the Royal Albert Hall, nominated a shortlist of designs from the 635 submissions based on creativity, originality and understanding of the theme, before selecting Jane Houghton as their winner.

Two additional designs were also chosen as finalists - each being awarded a bursary of £1,000.

Jane’s winning design celebrated iconic architectural elements, including Harrogate Spring Water’s Royal Pump Room emblem and the Royal Albert Hall’s logo; both were used within the design in a repeated pattern.

Ms Houghton also shared that she was inspired by the subtle style of the brand’s original label.

Jane’s take on the label design also used a vibrant colour palette, reimagining the classically monochrome branding. Her use of colour enhanced the black and silver which usually features on the label with pops of orange tones, alongside bright blues and greens to create a vibrant pattern.

On winning the competition, Jane Houghton said: “I am really over the moon to have won! I plan to use the winning bursary to support my small stationery and greetings card business and will definitely spend some in the places we've all been missing - the theatres, Indie shops, restaurants and pubs that have faced a very difficult last year.

“I’ve always admired the design of the Harrogate Spring Water bottles and I am saving up the glass bottles to use as vases for our wedding – I just love the diamond-faceted design.

"Being originally from Yorkshire and having lived in London for several years, it was truly an honour to be able to create a design that fused together the love I have for my two homes.”

James Cain OBE, Managing Director of Harrogate Spring Water says, “We were overwhelmed with the number and calibre of the designs submitted. Jane’s creative fulfilled the brief exactly, and our decision was unanimous.

"Her design had the perfect balance of our two brand identities, fused together with a beautifully clever kaleidoscope pattern, which felt suitably celebratory.

"The design was both a nod to our Victorian heritage, but with a contemporary edge that looks ahead to the future. Simply put - we loved it.

“We were so pleased to be able to offer talented creatives the opportunity to have their design featured on our bottle. We understand just how important it is to support the arts and creative industries during this time, and it was an honour to be able to do so alongside our partners at the Royal Albert Hall. I really can’t wait to see the new design rolled out on the bottles later this year!”

Ms Houghton’s bespoke design will run across the brand’s 500ml still and sparkling bottles later this year and throughout 2022.

The new bottle will be available at the Royal Albert Hall and through selected Harrogate Spring Water retailers.

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