Design Dalston’s Future: Kingsland Shopping Centre Launches £2,000 Logo Design Competition

Bring Dalston to Life – In a Logo

Kingsland Shopping Centre is getting a fresh new look – and we want you to design it.

We’re calling on Hackney’s residents, workers, and students to help reimagine the centre’s visual identity in a way that reflects the heart, heritage, and creativity of Dalston today.

Whether you’re a seasoned designer, an aspiring artist, or someone who simply loves this neighbourhood, this is your chance to shape a piece of East London’s future.

What We’re Looking For:

We’re after bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and imaginative designs that capture:

• Dalston’s diverse cultures and creative spirit
• Its history of music, migration, markets, and community
• A sense of place, energy, and belonging

Our current logo – with its old-fashioned crown and dated typography – no longer reflects the dynamic, vibrant soul of this area. We want something new. Something real. Something Dalston.

The Selection Process:

1. All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of local creatives, cultural champions, and community leaders – including Simon Murfitt, Editor of The Hackney Gazette, and Rahima Aziz BEM, Trustee of The Aziz Foundation. More judges will be announced soon.
2. The top 30 designs will be exhibited at Kingsland Shopping Centre in September, where the public will vote for their favourites.
3. The top 5 designs will go to a final round, with the winning logo announced in October 2025

Why This Matters:

Kingsland Shopping Centre has always been more than bricks and mortar. It’s where Dalston comes together – a melting pot of generations, styles, and stories. As we embark on an exciting new chapter – transforming the centre into a thriving, community-focused destination – we want a new visual identity that does justice to Dalston’s energy and diversity.

This competition is a key milestone in Criterion’s wider vision to transform the centre into a thriving, community-focused destination. In May 2025, the centre became home to the UK’s first Music Booth – a soundproofed, affordable space equipped with a world-class Blüthner piano, designed to offer musicians a professional environment to rehearse and record. Meanwhile, detailed plans have been submitted to redevelop the eastern flank of the centre into a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood. The proposals include 257 new homes, of which 35% will be affordable, alongside flexible workspaces, community facilities, and new high-quality public spaces.

Through this competition, Criterion is offering a preview of how it aims to regenerate with care – embedding culture, accessibility, and opportunity at the heart of Dalston’s story.