In March 2016, Regen partnered with Arts University Plymouth to explore how creativity can help people connect with sustainability and energy themes. The collaboration took the form of a live brief for Foundation level students: design a poster that communicates an idea about energy, climate, or sustainability.
The project built on Regen’s belief that when people explore ideas creatively, they deepen their understanding and make a stronger personal connection with the subject.
What Happened
Regen set a live brief for Foundation students: create a poster that communicates an energy or sustainability message in an engaging way.
Students responded with a wide range of imaginative designs: from humorous wordplay to striking photography, from bold graphics to playful satire.
A small panel selected the most compelling entries, and the winners received tokens of appreciation.
The posters were showcased at Regen’s public-facing events and online, giving students tangible work experience and visibility for their work.
“When you invite people to explore an idea creatively, they are motivated to deepen their understanding — and as the work becomes more personal, heartfelt or attractive, it increases the creator’s commitment to the idea.” – Regen team reflection
Learning
Creativity builds commitment: Students reported that working on the brief helped them think more deeply about energy and sustainability.
Work experience matters: The project gave young people the chance to work on a professional brief and see their work exhibited publicly.
Diverse voices enrich the conversation: The posters captured a wide range of perspectives, humour, and visual languages, reminding Regen of the importance of inviting fresh eyes into the energy debate.
Impact
For students: Recognition for their work, new skills in responding to a live commission, and the confidence of seeing their designs exhibited.
For Regen: A fresh bank of imagery and messages to use at events and online, and valuable insight into how young creatives interpret energy challenges.
For audiences: The posters provided eye-catching, accessible entry points into conversations about sustainability.
Legacy
The project demonstrated the value of working with colleges and universities on live briefs. It inspired Regen to continue experimenting with creative collaborations, embedding visual arts, storytelling, and performance into its wider programme of energy engagement.
“Working with young people reminded us that energy doesn’t have to be explained with graphs and data — it can be expressed with humour, imagination, and colour.”
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