Cup design competition
A chance to get your design printed on to Circular & Co’s NOW cup, which will be available for sale at BSU outlets.
We are thrilled to open a new cup design competition to students at Bath Spa University! We welcome all current BSU students to submit a design for Circular & Co’s NOW cup, which will be available for sale at Bath Spa University’s Bath outlets.
How does it work?
Using the NOW cup design template, you can create a design you think would look great on a cup. This year’s theme is Natural Bath, and we welcome any submissions you feel capture this theme.
The winner will be chosen by a voting panel, along with two runner ups. We will then have the design printed in Full Wrap by Circular & Co on their NOW cup. Cups will be for sale in BSU’s Bath outlets at cost, meaning we will not make profit, and cups will be as low cost as possible for our students.
How to enter
Firstly, you will need to download the blank template with the cup’s shapes and dimensions. Then you can unleash your creativity and produce a unique piece of art focusing on the theme, Natural Bath.
Once you are happy with your work, you will need to upload it using the Submission Form provided. You will need to supply your BSU email address with the submission, submissions made with personal email addresses will not be considered.
You can contact the Sustainability Team for help, or to withdraw your application at any time via environment@bathspa.ac.uk.
Timeline
- Contest opens: 20 April 2026
- Submissions close: 3 May 2026 (at midnight)
- Voting takes place: 7 May 2026
- Winner announced: 11 May 2026
- Design submitted for printing: 15 May 2026
Prize
If your design is chosen by the voting panel as the winning design, you will win a £100 voucher for your choice of either Love2Shop, One4All or Amazon. You will also receive a free cup and a voucher for a hot drink.
We will have your design printed by Circular & Co and offer it to students at BSU outlets at cost (which means we will not take profit). We will share the winner on the BSU website and on out social media outlets. It's a great addition to any CV! You can see the coverage of our 2023 winner on the BSU website.
Two runners up will be chosen by the panel. Runners up will also have their design shared on the BSU website and on our social media platforms. They will also receive £25 vouchers to their choice of either Love2Shop, One4All or Amazon.
Terms and conditions
- Your design must relate to the topic Natural Bath.
- The contest is only open to current Bath Spa University students – only one application per student, using your Bath Spa email address. Submissions from personal emails will not be considered.
- Submissions must be based on the template provided and follow the specified guidelines.
- You must not include any foul/inappropriate language or imagery which may cause offence.
- By submitting your design, you are giving us the right to publish and share your work.
- Your entry must be your own design and must not infringe on any copyrights.
- All applications must be made by 23:59 on 3 May 2026. Any submissions after this time will not be considered.
- You must not include any logos or business/organisation names in your design.
- If you have any questions about the competition process, please contact the Sustainability Team via environment@bathspa.ac.uk.
- Your Bath Spa University email addresses will be collected with the submission of your design for the purpose of notifying the shortlisted candidates, winner and runners-up. Your information will be removed from the system following the announcement of the competition winner. If you have concerns regarding the use of your personal data, please contact Data Protection via data-protection@bathspa.ac.uk.
- We strongly discourage use of generative AI for this project. Unique artwork will be favoured to capture the creativity and talent of our students. We encourage use of Adobe to develop and finalise your work, however work using generative AI will have a lower chance of winning.
- You have the right to withdraw your application and personal details at any point during the competition process. To do so, please contact environment@bathspa.ac.uk.
About Circular & Co’s NOW cup
Circular & Co is a Cornwall-based company dedicated to making drinkware from waste, to prevent waste. Their products are made using a range of materials, including old chewing gum, plastic pulled from our oceans, fabric and even old disposable cups.
Circular & Co also have a “Takeback Promise”, meaning you can return broken cups, or cups at the end of their life to be developed into new products. They'll also give you a 30% discount code for preventing waste.
NOW cups are made from old disposable cups. They are doubled lined with a snap-on lid and are 100% recyclable at the end of their life. They are also BPS and Melamine free, dishwasher safe, and rather snazzy!
Voting panel
- Ripley Hill-Nixon
- Emma Jakins
- BSU Catering
- BSU Design Rep
- SU President