In the past 12 years I have worked as a Design & Technology Teacher in the UK, Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai. To follow is some of the work produced by my wonderful students...
Year 7 Shipping Container Public Space Design
Design Brief - To choose a public space, to identify a target market and consider their needs, to create a venue which could be contained within a shipping container and to create a present their solution to their peers.
Year 7 H&S Introduction - Tower of Hanoi Game
Design Brief - As an introduction to the workshop tools and equipment, students make a stacking game, the rules are that only one piece can be moved at a time and only small pieces can be placed on top of big. They also produce an eye catching packaging as an introduction to Graphics. At the end of the manufacture a whole year stacking game competition is held in the hall to find the fastest player.
Year 7 introduction to polymers - Pencil Holder
Design Brief - A cross curricular project as students design the pencil holder shape in their ICT lesson and then bring the design to the D&T class where they are introduced to the properties of acrylics, tensol glue, line bender and formers.
Year 8 Bookend
Design Brief - Students are to design a bookend for a chosen target market. The project introduces them to a range of new tools, equipment and finishes.
Year 8 Storage Container
Design Brief - After learning the basics of wood joinery in the bookend project, students are then given the opportunity to design and make a storage box, they have to identify a storage need and continue to choose the dimensions of their box accordingly. They also trial several wood joints and incorporate laser cutting as they begin to become more independent in the workshop.
Year 8 Mechanisms - Balloon popping vehicle!
Design Brief - A group project where students need to create a battery propelled vehicle which will travel 1 metre into a balloon, the challenge is to pop the balloon with a mechanism.
Year 8 Travel Board Game
Design Brief - To design and make a travel board game for teenagers to try to reduce the dependence on computer games. The students focus on the concept, graphics and branding.
Year 8 Textiles - cultural cushion
Design Brief - Students identify a country or cultural group and research its key imagery. They then hand embroider felt shapes using various stitches and techniques and then assemble into a cushion.
Year 9 Sustainable Architectural Design
Design Brief - In groups students are given an area to study from Tundra, Wasteland, Desert, Mountain Range & Arctic. They are also given a family to design a home for including an elderly couple, a couple where one person is in a wheelchair, a family with 3 young children etc... After initial research students create a range of suitable designs using google sketch up and then proceed to model their ideas in scrap materials and present their concepts to the class.
Year 9 Trophy
Design Brief - Students are given the opportunity to create a trophy for something they would personally like to achieve in the next 10-15years. It will then act as an impetus to achieving these dreams when they take it home. The character is made from annealed Aluminium and then is dip coated in polyethylene. The decoration and stand is down to their individual design needs.
Year 9 Fragrance modelling
Design Brief - Students are asked to design a new fragrance bottle and packaging to enhance their modelling skills and to help them understand the importance of ergonomics and aesthetics.
Year 10 Pewter Jewellery
Design Brief - Students design a small piece of jewellery. This introductory project introduces the students to casting, laser cutting and pewter finishing.
Year 9 CAD CAM clock
Design Brief - Students investigate several important design movements and use this research to design and manufacture a clock using Corel Draw which includes an influence from a chosen design movement.
Year 10 graphics - annual sports kit challenge
As an introduction to Graphic Design students are given a live brief at the start of Year 10. in partnership with the Sports Department who re-design one of their older looking kits each each, the students have a tight deadline in which they have to work with the Sports Students, teachers and Marketing Department to create an exciting new sports kit and present it to their peers. At the end of the process 2 kits are chosen and are manufactured.
Year 10 Resistant Materials
The IGCSE syllabus is very traditional in its requirements therefore students learn the theory through design and make tasks which use the lathe, wood joints, brazing, finishing, router work and heat processes.
Year 11 Resistant Materials - Final Major Project - Storage
The following are examples of the students solution to their identified storage problem.
YEAR 11 RESISTANT MATERIALS - FINAL MAJOR PROJECT - LIGHTING
Year 11 Graphics - Final Major Project - Public Space Design
Students choose their design brief each year, a popular and successful option is the re-design of a public space of their choice.
Year 11 Graphics - Final Major Project - Marketing
In order for the students to gain and understanding of working for a real client and working within a time limit an excellent option has been for students to choose an IB subject to promote during the spring time parent options evening. They are required to create a department logo, 2D item (a business card or flyer), a marketing item and a text book or laptop stand, all the choices come down to their clients (the subject teachers) needs. This brief has proven excellent for creating an excellent evaluation opportunity on the options evening itself where students ask the parents questions and take excellent photo's of their product in action.