Y8 Design & Technology trip to the Design Museum, London
As has now become tradition, Year 8 had their annual D&T field trip to the Design Museum in London on Tuesday.
The purpose of the trip is threefold; firstly, the boys partake in a workshop led by a professional in the ‘design world’. The chosen theme was ‘Sustainable Design’ and, as ever, the boys were introduced to a range of new materials and contemporary thinking. Should you be interested, the three items which caught my eye were: a new sustainable/vegan leather substitute called Pinatex (see Wikipedia for more information). One concept which certainly caught the boys’ imagination was Adidas’ ‘FUTURECRAFT.LOOP PHASE 2’ trainer (link), a running shoe ingeniously designed to be sent back to Adidas for repair once broken (video here). The final inspiring design was aimed at reducing the large amount of used plastic produced at running events such as marathons: the design is an edible water bottle (with water inside, of course!) - click on this link to find out how edible water bottles work.
Following the workshop, the boys had the chance to experience the two contrasting temporary exhibitions: ‘REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion’ (more information here) offered insights into the dynamic evolution of fashion in the city. The exhibition about the evolution of the ‘Skateboard’ (more information here) provided a unique perspective on the cultural significance of this iconic recreational item. The final element of the trip is the opportunity to explore the iconic designs featured in the permanent DESIGNER/USER/MAKER exhibition (link here). As ever, this hands-on experience proved popular amongst the boys as they navigated their way around the broad range of exhibits.
Alex Armstrong
Head of D&T
Head of D&T
