Are you ready to bring your creativity to one of the most exciting design spaces in the UK?
Young V&A is inviting early to mid‑career designers, studios, and collectives to apply for a six‑month public‑facing design placement within The Shed, our unique residency studio in the heart of the Design Gallery. This is a rare chance to embed your practice inside a national museum, engage directly with children and young people, and develop an exciting project inspired by incredible objects across our three permanent galleries, Play, Imagine and Design.
Applicants have until 5pm on Monday 27th April to register their interest. The form can be found at the bottom of this page.
Young V&A opened in 2023 as a new museum of creativity for children from birth to 14. It has been designed with and for young people, placing accessibility to design and real-world practice at the centre. This is underpinned by our vision: to build creative confidence in young people, empower educators, connect audiences with contemporary designers, and influence the cultural sector by championing inclusive and child‑centred practice.
Located within the Design Gallery, The Shed is a working studio built into the gallery itself, a highly visible space that doubles as a living exhibit where visitors can watch designers develop and test ideas, It’s a space where works‑in‑progress take centre stage and families can step inside and experience the creative process to see how designers think and make.
Every year, Young V&A hosts a six‑month placement for a designer whose practice resonates with young audiences. We have welcomed designers with playful and tactile approaches to designing and making, with each designer bringing The Shed to life transforming it and making it their own. Past designers have included disciplines that have spanned fashion, textiles, jewellery, set and costume, product, furniture and more.
We are thrilled to share that the next 6-Month Placement will be taking place at Young V&A from July – December 2026! We are looking for a designer who will work from The Shed, dedicating two days a week to develop an exciting project inspired by Young V&A’s incredible collections, igniting our visitors’ imaginations and bringing your design process to life.
I would love to take part in this event. I have been working closely with young children and have truly been enjoying the experience. As a self-taught creative, I bring a fresh and different approach that I would be delighted to share with you.
You can view my work at http://www.marymartinlondon.com
Very exciting opportunity! I would be very interested to join. I’m experienced with art and design thinking and making. Major in design and currently working with children and younger kids.
Hello!
My name is Kelis and I’d be thrilled to take part in this project. As an artist and textile designer, I feel that I would bring a multitude of skills with a fresh perspective. It would be a privilege to do this alongside young people.
I am very interested in participating in this project. I have experience in painting and design, and I like children very much and I am very patient. I am now a graduate student, and my major is design. My undergraduate degree is also majoring in design, so I am very experienced in this field and very suitable for this position.
Hi, I am interested in this opportunity. Please let me know how to proceed. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Hello! I’m a local parent and artist/designer. My passionate interest is in researching and designing objects, bespoke creative hacks in spaces, and fun, inclusive, socially connecting plans and ideas… I want to create opportunities for youngsters with SEND to develop their independence and to nurture and practice their friendship skills. I would LOVE to do this at (and radiating out from) the Young V&A!
Hello! I’m Mayaluisa, and I really enjoy painting, art, design and I am always looking for new ways to bring my ideas to life!! Being 17, I am able to understand the way younger people think and what interests them which helps me create work that’s fun and relatable. During summer 2025, I had the opportunity to volunteer at Art-k art school, helping young children with painting and projects, which not only built my confidence but also made me realise how much I love inspiring others. I would love to bring my creative energy and experience to the table at the V&A young creatives program and be a part of something amazing. I know I am young, but my age doesn’t define my creativity since I am DRIVEN by genuine passion to create something meaningful!!
This is a wonderful opportunity to inspire children and young people. I would love to introduce my ideas at the V&A which are many. My degree was in fashion but I have explored many areas in the design field.
This is a wonderful opportunity to inspire children and young people. I would love to introduce my ideas at the V&A which are many. My degree was in fashion but I have explored many areas in the design field.
I am very interested in this opportunity as an artist and designer who works in multiple mediums regarding memory, childhood, home, and play. My practice focuses on storytelling, especially the stories that emerge during childhood, and presenting them in engaging, playful, and thought provoking ways to the viewer. My portfolio is at https://www.annlitico.com/
Hello,
As a creative and mum of 4 children of various years and a frequent visitor to the V&A. I believe this opportunity is the one for me. I would love to be given the opportunity to take part because I believe that I have ideas from my experiences in life that could make a huge impact in this project.
I can draw from my very own personal experiences to create a space that will influence and inspire wonderful things. I know that what I can bring to the table will be fresh, exciting and meaningful. All I need and would appreciate is a chance.
I am an architectural student who will be graduating from my part 1 soon. I think this would be a great opportunity to put into practise what I have learnt to make a real life impact. It would be great to explore new ways of making whilst incorporating my ideas motivated by accessibility and rooted in enhancing the real human experience to help create a unique encounter.
Hello!
I am a ceramicist based in N15. I work as a wheel throwing and hand building teacher for adults and children. I would love to use this opportunity to use local clay and other found materials to create a mural of tiles made by children and adults alike. I would hold work shops discussing ceramic processes and the science behind them, processing clay and creating tiles that are part of a larger community mural that could be installed in or around the museum.