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.

We are super proud of these level 4 students and thank you for your energy and enthusiasm! Hannah, Daisy, Dylan, Azeeza, Leah, Rabaa, Sushiny, Jemima, Zuza, Milly, Olivia, Paul, Bethany, Marcela, Lucy, Wren, and Blake.

Thank you to the staff team involved in supporting the students.