The SAY Design Commission 2025

Each year, The SAY Award Design Commission sees an artist, designer or maker create bespoke prizes for the bands and artists recognised at The SAY Award Ceremony, highlighting the enduring links between music, art and design in Scotland. Previous makers have fabricated jesmonite arches, used natural slate veneer, and have created sand-cast sculptures using recycled glass.

As part of The SAY Award’s host city partnership with Dundee, the artist or designer selected for 2025’s commission will be living or working in the Dundee City Council area.

The SAY Award Design Commission offers a fee of £3,000 for the design and manufacture (including materials and packaging) of the fourteen required awards. The creative chosen and the prizes they produce will be amplified across SAY Award social media channels, and supported by our host city partners, Leisure and Culture Dundee, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council and UNESCO Dundee City of Design.

The prizes will be showcased at this year’s SAY Award , taking place on Thursday 6 November at Dundee’s Caird Hall.. A short video package on the commission will be shown at the live event, prior to the commissioned prizes being presented to some of Scotland’s most outstanding musical talent.

Applicants are invited to outline how they would propose to embed sustainability at the forefront of all stages of the process, giving consideration to design, materials, manufacture and packaging.

Applicants are encourage to take inspiration from the city and region of Dundee.