Design in schools

Design is a tool that can be used to solve tough problems and drive economic and social renewal. To help develop skills for the 21st century we support design teaching and experience in schools.

 

Design Challenges for Schools

We partner secondary school students and teachers with experienced designers to tackle big issues such as reducing our environmental impact or enhancing quality of life for older adults. Here's how our Challenges work ...

News and new thoughts

The latest news from the Design Challenges for Schools team. Including:

Launch of Enrich: Local MP Diane Abbott today launched Enrich - the winning service design concept from the Keeping Connected Design Challenge. 

Redefining design in schools: Is now the time to think about broader notions of design and architecture in schools? An article by Schools Programme Manager, Bel Reed.

STEM + design education

As the UK government reviews the national curriculum and design technology’s status as a compulsory school subject, the Design & Technology Association, the James Dyson Foundation and industrial designers Seymourpowell have started a campaign to secure the future of design and technology education. The Design Council is supporting the campaign. Find out more about it

Get involved

Want to find out more about working with schools on design challenges? Contact Bel Reed at bel.reed@designcouncil.org.uk

Keeping Connected Design Challenge

Keeping Connected design challenge logo

Young people and older adults were challenged to design new ways to keep connected.

Find out how they worked together to make this happen

Water Design Challenge

Water Design Challenge logo

We asked schools to design innovative new approaches to saving water.

Find out more about their great ideas

Eco Design Challenge

Eco Design Challenge characters

Year 8 pupils from across Cornwall were given the opportunity to make parts of their school more sustainable by working with designers on the Eco Design Challenge. They calculated the size of their school's ecological footprint, then designed ways to make it smaller.

Design Mark

Design Mark badge

Does the quality of your design and technology teaching deserve better recognition? Do you deserve a Design Mark?

Design Challenges for Industry

We run open innovation Challenges for the design industry, because we know that when knotty challenges can’t be solved by business or government alone, design is the means to stimulate innovation, solve some of society’s problems, and grow the economy by creating new markets and business opportunities.

Find out more about Design Challenges for Industry

Find out more

 

If you're interested in working with us, please contact Schools Programme Manager Bel Reed

 

 

 

Partners

 

We've worked with a range of partners running Design Challenges for Schools including:

 

Southern Water

 

Southern Water logo

 

 

Technology Strategy Board

 

Technology Strategy Board logo

 

STEMNET

 

CCE

 

Design Ambassadors

 

Design Ambassador illustration

 

Working with a Design Ambassador helps students to understand a designer’s role and gives them the unique opportunity to develop work-related skills.

 

Find out more about our Design Ambassadors

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