Megan McCullow and Laura Must with the adoptable animals which were sold at folio in Church Square, Hartlepool and also in Topshop, Metro Centre, Gateshead

The Northern School of Art (CCAD)  art and design students have been making and marketing their own designs, Adoptable Animals, which proved to be so popular at The Northern School of Art’s own folio shop, that they were invited to sell their products in Topshop at The Metro Centre, Gateshead!

The student work was so highly regarded that they were also invited to host a badge making session for Topshop customers. Megan McCullow, 18, of Linthorpe, said: “It has been a fantastic opportunity for us to have the chance to sell our work and to find out if customers like our designs.

“It was just amazing selling my own products to a customer; it felt just brilliant and we were over the moon with the response we got to our work.”

Megan joined four fellow students, Laura Must, Peter Jackson, Jake Lowes and Emma Alderton, to come up with the idea of slot-together toys that would be easy to assemble, colourful and fun.

They all worked on the designs of the animals, which were cut to size using a laser to ensure the perfect fit.

Tutor Amanda Smith said: “They have done everything needed in this project to create a product and get it to market successfully.

“They have learned so many skills in doing this and I am really proud of the designs they have produced. The have received a fantastic reaction from customers which they were able to hear first-hand.”

Adoptable Animals consist of a colourful collection of creatures, including apes, rabbits, parrots, hedgehogs, giraffes and penguins. They are all made of card and are completely recyclable. They retail from £4.50 for a readymade animal or £6 for a kit.

“Families and parents were buying the animals and the reaction from them was amazing; the children loved them,” said Megan.

“This project has taught me so much. This has been a real experience of what it is like out there on the high street.”

The Northern School of Art are still taking applications for this exciting course, which offers a range of projects including, community arts, street arts, theatre arts and also provides the opportunity for students to explore various disciplines if they’re not ready to specialise in a particular area of art and design.