Fashion Designer Helps Pupils Create New School Tie

Pupils from Braeview Academy and Craigie High School have been working with Hayley Scanlan, alongside V&A Dundee, to create a new tie for Greenfield Academy. 

S3 and S4 pupils from both schools were challenged to design the tartan which will be used as part of the identity of the new secondary school. 

The efforts of Eilidh Shearer, an S3 student at Craigie High School were chosen for the tie. 

Her design weaves the light blue of Braeview and the black of Craigie into a new tartan identify, adding green to represent the new school and white and dark blue to provide contrast and a fresh, natural look. 

Hayley Scanlan said: "It was fantastic working with the Greenfield Academy students— they brought so much creativity and enthusiasm to the process. I always find it such a rewarding experience working with younger people, this opportunity will be a story told in generations to come. 

“Giving young people a voice in designing their own school tie is incredibly important; it fosters a sense of pride, ownership, and identity within their school community. They all did a wonderful job.” 

Eilidh said: “Working with Hayley and the V&A was really fun and gave us confidence as designers. It’s pretty special to think that the tie will be around for years, something I have designed.” 

Greenfield Academy is part of the £100 million Drumgeith Community Campus, which is the largest investment in education, sport and community provision in the city. The flagship campus will bring state-of-the-art facilities and services to the area. 

Children, Families and Communities Convener Stewart Hunter said: “Having Hayley Scanlan, one of the country’s top fashion designers, working with our young people on this design is an incredible opportunity and an experience they will treasure. 

“I would like to thank Hayley and V&A Dundee for giving up their time to help our young people do this and provide them with a valuable design experience. 

“This is another exciting step on the journey to the opening of the new school.” 

Julie Muir, Learning Manager, V&A Dundee, said: “V&A Dundee are delighted to support the pupils through their design process with a local expert and designer, Hayley Scanlan.  Good design can empower and spark joy within a community which is what we aim to do with every learning project.  

“The pupils have had the opportunity to work on a design brief for something they can see and feel in their everyday lives. I hope this process ignites them to become agents of change in their community going forward. We can’t wait to see the final result.” 

Johnny Lothian, Greenfield Academy Headteacher, added: “This co-design project brought together the best of Dundee. Our wonderful design museum, one of the city’s most inspiring international designers, and the brilliant young people of Greenfield Academy. Together they have created a new design that our school community can be proud of for generations to come.”