For Teachers
How long does it take?
The Water Design Challenge will take about five days of curriculum time.
What does my school get for taking part?
There's a £20,000 prize fund to help schools that have designed products, services or campaigns to save water turn their designs into reality.
All Design Challenges for schools provide the time and expertise of a professional designer, at no cost to your school. The Design Council will partner your school with a Design Ambassador, who will spend about two days working with your team of staff and students on your design ideas.
Design Challenges for schools are intended to help participating schools develop the standard of their design teaching and to demonstrate how design can link with other subjects on the curriculum. Once you have completed a Design Challenges for schools project you might like to apply to have the quality of your teaching recognised with a Design Mark.
What is the Design Mark?
The Design Mark is a quality standards framework developed jointly by the Design & Technology Association and the Design Council. It is intended as an aspirational badge awarded to primary and secondary schools that demonstrate excellence in their teaching of design. It looks beyond schools that simply deliver excellent design and technology to schools that also integrate contemporary design thinking into their teaching. You can apply for your design teaching to be awarded a Design Mark on its website www.thedesignmark.org
Who is the Water Design Challenge for?
The Design Challenges we’re currently running are intended for Key Stage 3 students. The Challenges give them the opportunity to use design to make life better.
They also require the time of a teacher (or two or three) at your school, and the support of your Head Teacher.
What components make up the Water Design Challenge?
Teachers begin their involvement in the Design Challenges for schools by registering their interest online. The schools that are chosen by the Design Council team to take part, will then be invited to attend an Inspiration session where they will find out how their students can get involved in designing solutions to critical issues.
The Water Design Challenge projects really begin when the team of school students start to research the issue of the issue of water conservation and investigate your school’s water usage.
What happens at Inspiration sessions?
Teachers are shown what students will be asked to do, how much they might achieve, and how the teacher could run the challenge in their schools. They’ll also meet the team of Design Ambassadors for the first time, and get to understand how they can use the two day’s of Design Ambassador time.
What is a Design Ambassador?
Design Ambassadors are professional designers who volunteer to give up their time and expertise to work with groups of students on the Design Challenges for Schools.
They work as a design mentor, helping your students to come up with solutions to issues.
They are CRB checked via STEMNET’s Ambassador programme.
Can I attend an Inspiration session before I decide to register interest in the Water Design Challenge?
Teachers are invited to attend inspiration sessions when their school has successfully applied to take part in a Design Challenge for schools, but you may get a chance to come along to one before signing up. To find out more see the challenge specific pages.
Can any school get involved in the Water Design Challenge?
This year we are running the Water Design Challenge for schools in the Southern Water region.
How do I get involved?
We’re already running this year’s Water Design Challenge, but if you’re interested in future challenges, please email kate.ward@designcouncil.org.uk
Who delivers the Water Design Challenge?
The Design Council runs and co-ordinates the Water Design Challenge, partnered with Southern Water. We also work with a range of partners including STEMNET, the Design Museum and design networks from across the UK.
Who funds the Water Design Challenge?
Southern Water funds the Water Design Challenge, continuing on from a programme of work with the Design Council called Low Water Living.
For Designers
How can I become a Design Ambassador?
Please register your interest using this form .
How much time will I have to volunteer?
Being a Design Ambassador should take up approximately 16 hours of your time - although you can dedicate more time if you would like to. Your time should be divided between face to face contact and online support via Skype or the online Workspace.
What is STEMNET?
STEMNET creates opportunities to inspire young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). This enables young people to develop their creativity, problem-solving and employability skills, widen their choices and supports the UK's future competitiveness.
What is the connection with STEMNET?
The Design Council are working with STEMNET to help young people create a link between the design and the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). As a Design Ambassador you will also need to register as a STEM Ambassador with STEMNET who will be making sure that each Ambassador is trained to work with schools and CRB checked