THE top six designs for the Scottish Government’s baby box scheme will be unveiled on Monday after more than 70 design students submitted their ideas in the hope of being picked to have their design displayed on thousands of boxes handed out to new parents from the summer.
The finalists will be announced at the University of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design by childcare and early years minister Mark McDonald. The winning designer will also receive £1000 and exclusive mentoring from leading Scottish designers Holly Fulton and Scott Jarvie.
McDonald said: “We are committed to doing all we can so that every child in Scotland gets the best possible start in life. The Baby Box will play a key role in achieving this. It not only sends a strong signal of support to families right from the start of a child’s life but also forms part of a wider programme of measures in the early years to tackle inequality, improve health and support parents.
“Baby boxes have been introduced and implemented in a range of countries around the world – it has a proven track record of delivering on issues such as encouraging better and earlier engagement among women with maternal health services. I look forward to seeing the very real benefits it brings for Scotland’s future generations.
“The competition to design the box is a fantastic opportunity that allows Scotland’s next generation of designers to play a key role in the process. Over 70 applications were received and we have now narrowed those down to a final shortlist of six which we will be unveiling to the public very soon. The judging panel will then select the overall winner who will see their design put into production and rolled out on every Baby Box from Summer 2017 until March 31 2019.”
Earlier this month, The National spoke to a number of parents who were already using the baby boxes under a pilot scheme launched on New Year’s Day by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Their experiences were very positive. The Scandinavian-inspired scheme will give families of newborns a box containing essential items such as bedding and clothing.
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