Inspiring the next generation of makers
Thinking outside the proverbial birdbox?
CLIENT: University of Staffordshire
CATEGORY: Education
PROJECT TYPE: 3D design project for a professional practice module
LOCATION: Stoke on Trent, UK
MATERIALS: Waste materials
PHOTOGRAPHER: Dual Works
APPROACH:
We donated off-cuts of plywood to the University of Staffordshire and launched a collaborative design brief as part of a professional practice module and live client brief with students studying Product, Furniture and Ceramics. This fantastic course champions creators of the future, with a focus on designing and making innovative and contemporary products.
We welcomed the group to our studio to share our experiences as designers and makers, our career paths, running a boutique design studio, and the methods that underpin our design process. As part of their visit, we launched the live design brief, and we challenged them to “think outside the proverbial bird box” and to design and make creatives response which were either functional or concept-driven.
During the project, we participated in a design critique and final presentations, in which we helped reflect on their design process and evaluate the successful aspects of their projects. This experience enabled them to practice the essential presentation skills needed for a future career as a professional designer-maker. We were excited to see the project outcomes and how they successfully transformed our waste materials into well -crafted and imaginative bird houses.
Keeley Marshall (Traae) Co- Course Leader Product, Furniture and Ceramics, comments
“Having established connections with Dual Works through previous professional projects with one of our lecturers, it has been a valuable experience to further develop this relationship through a live client brief. The generous donation of materials has been greatly appreciated by our students, providing them with a diverse range of waste materials to explore and experiment with creatively. We are extremely grateful to the team for their time, support, and invaluable contribution to this project”
We are super proud of these level 4 students and thank you for your energy and enthusiasm! Hannah, Daisy, Dylan, Azeeza, Leah, Rabaa, Suyaini, Jemima, Zuza, Milly, Olivia, Paul, Bethany, Marcela, Lucy, Wren, and Blake.
Thank you to the staff team involved in supporting the students.
