When a new Cheers outlet opens at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) this August, it could have a minimalistic, cafe-like atmosphere to it. The new store could have a dining area, a better categorisation of goods and prominent signages telling customers where goods are placed.

These are some of the ideas suggested by a team of students from NYP's School of Design, which won a Cheers design challenge competition on Wednesday. The five-member team, named Team Throwback, surveyed about 50 NYP students about what they wanted in a convenience store and asked them for feedback about the current Cheers store in the school.

"It can be hard to find products in the Cheers store at NYP, that's why we decided on more prominent signage," said Ms Jasmine Ong, 19, a third-year Space and Interior Design student from the winning team. "Young people these days like cafes, so we added an in-house seating area for students to eat and chill," said another team member Tay Ji Dong, 19, who is from the same course.

The winning design was selected for its practicality and functionality. It would also give the new Cheers outlet in NYP a "high-class look", said Mr Victor Cheong, general manager of Cheers Holdings. NYP would be a test-bed for new design concepts for Cheers and where feasible, they could be extended to the market, he added.

The winning team took home $3,000 and their idea would be implemented "as much as possible" in the new Cheers store at NYP, said Mr Cheong. First runner-up, Team A&F, spotted a market gap and suggested selling birthday cakes in the school's convenience store. This would save students the trouble of buying cakes from external bakeries when celebrating schoolmates' birthdays. Second runner-up, Team Green Penta, suggested in-store games and mobile charging stations to attract youth. Team A&F and Team Green Penta won $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.