This school year, Y8 students have had four design units introducing them to toy design, video production design, light design, and fashion design. Students have been challenged to learn and practice several skills including critical thinking, creative thinking, video production, freehand drawing, concept drawing, diagramming, CAD programming, sewing, epoxy resin mixing, physical modelling, 3D printing, product testing, collaboration, and presenting. Concepts covered include: the use of form and function, communication, sustainability, and invention.
On display in the Secondary Atrium are the Y8 light and cushion designs as well as last year’s Y9 chair designs. Visitors are invited to turn on the lights and sit on the cushions and chairs.
While learning and practicing these skills students have produced designs of toys for a chosen target audience in the school community, PSAs advocating for a selected cause, stool cushions for use in the classroom, prototypes of functional lights, and aesthetic clothing mock-ups of sustainable outfits.
Emphasis has been placed on building an understanding of and self-confidence in the ideation and experimentation processes of the design cycle. To do this, students were encouraged to produce quick idea sketches without fearing whether ideas were “good” or “bad”, to try out new materials, tools, and machines and to constantly discuss and reflect on what they were learning along the way.
May 22, 2023
Sterling Toppings
