Inventor Club Day of Innovation & Inspiration for D&T Pupils
The Design and Technology Department’s Innovation and Inspiration Day with the Inventor Club!
Last Friday, Design and Technology pupils from the Fourth Year and Sixth Form enjoyed an exciting and insightful day with the Inventor Club. The event was split into two sessions, with the Fourth Year taking part in the morning, and the Sixth Form attending both the morning and an extended afternoon session.
The day began with an inspiring talk from a former Dyson design engineer and his colleague, who shared their journey through the world of design and innovation. The talk gave pupils a unique insight into the challenges and rewards of working in design, as well as the art of storytelling through the products we create. It was an invaluable opportunity to hear first-hand about the creative processes behind some of the most successful products.
After the talk, pupils took part in a group problem-solving activity. Their challenge was to design a product that would help an elderly table tennis enthusiast, named Len, pick up his table tennis balls from the floor. Working in teams, the pupils had only a small selection of materials and components at their disposal. They worked creatively and collaboratively to develop solutions.
The results were nothing short of impressive. Not only did our pupils produce some fully functioning devices, but they also gained valuable lessons in resilience and problem-solving. Through trial and error, they learned that failure is often a crucial part of the creative process, and teamwork was essential in overcoming the obstacles they faced.
The Sixth Form pupils returned in the afternoon for a more advanced session, where they had the chance to build on their morning work. They analysed their prototypes and discussed how they might take their designs to market. In addition to the hands-on design work, the students were able to ask questions and engage in one-to-one conversations with the Inventor Club team. This gave them invaluable insight into the realities of working in the design industry, setting up a business, and tackling important life questions about career development and entrepreneurship.
The event was not only an inspiring experience but also a brilliant way to connect classroom learning with real-world applications. It’s clear that the future of Design and Technology is in safe hands with such passionate and creative students leading the way.
We look forward to seeing where their inventive minds will take them next!
Back to all news
