V&A Innovate Overall Winners for 2025-26, team Planet Plush from Newstead Wood School, went with V&A Schools & Colleges team members to Blast Studio, as their workshop prize. The student group responded to the theme of ‘Rest’ and designed an innovative system for repurposing and recycling unwanted soft toys, giving discarded plushies a new lease of life. Blast Studio are a London-based design and research studio, founded in 2018 by Paola Garnousset, Martin Detoeuf, and Pierre de Pingon, who created the fantastic material Cupsan® which was used for the V&A Innovate 2025-26 trophies. Cupsan® is made from coffee cups discarded in London.
V&A Overall Winners group with Paola Garnousset © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The studio itself is based in an Acton maker space. Blast Studio’s circular economy ethos, proved to be a fantastic match for our overall winners who are keen to understand sustainable and regenerative practices within industry. The team were thrilled to tour the studio when they arrived. They were able to see the process which cups undergo to create Cupsan®, how they are processed in the ‘Urban Stomach’ that Blast Studio uses to remove excess water and prepare cups for following stages.
Shredded paper and discarded coffee cups on display © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
After discussing Cupsan® with the makers, students were keen to get stuck in themselves and began making their own mycelium bowls. The chosen material linked to Planet Plush itself, as it had been researched and selected among potential packaging materials.
Students laying out their shredded paper base © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Students combining their paper pulp with mycelium © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Students placing combined mix into bowl moulds © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Once the group had finished their making, students were told the next steps needed to finish their bowls. As mycelium is a living fungus, makers are required to ‘cook’ it in the oven 70–90°C for 3–6 hours which stops the material continually growing and leaves a lightweight composite.
Students shown how 3D moulds were made for them © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Next, the students were shown how technology helps the makers in their projects, as Paola and Pierre showcased the 3D modelling tool Rhino, to create bespoke designs. There were interesting comparisons drawn between Rhino and MakerWorld which the students had used previously.
Students shown controls for repurposed robot arm © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The students were then lucky enough to see Blast Studio’s robotic arm at use, a repurposed car assembly line equipment piece attached with a drill, that was able to create a sign out of Cupsan® for their D&T department.
Students watching robot arm at work © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Newstead Wood Cupsan® sign © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
In the afternoon, the group were able to swing by Minerva Studios which featured The Circular Economy School run by Absolute Beginners. Prashant from Rescued Clay demonstrated the many creative ways makers can repurpose discarded materials. From transforming old canisters into flower vases to turning discarded pipes into desk lamps, he showed students how everyday waste can be reimagined into beautiful, functional objects. Inspired by this blue-sky thinking, many students said they would look at waste in a completely different way from now on.
Students at Minerva Studio © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Students investigating terracotta soil plant holder © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Here’s what the students had to say about their experience:
“I enjoyed finding out about the circular economy… making something and finding out about different paths we didn’t know existed”
“Makes me really keen to pick D&T for GCSE!”
“We don’t learn much about the industries but its great to see how real people do what they do”
“it’s been interesting to actually see how being a designer looks… and the different ways to get into design… it’s really varied”
V&A Innovate winners and teachers © Lauren Mclean, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
REGISTER TO TAKE PART
The 2026-27 Innovate National Schools Challenge is now open for registration and entry submissions from student groups in years 7, 8 and 9 from state schools in England. This year’s themes are Simplify, Empower and Nurture, and a theme inspiration pack as well as Teacher and Student Toolkits to help with the design journey and submitting entries are now on the V&A website.
#InnovateVAM
Great to see students exploring sustainability through hands-on design and real industry experiences. The focus on recycling and creative problem-solving is inspiring. I enjoy activities that build creativity in different ways, and games like Geometry Dash Lite are also a fun way to improve timing, focus, and persistence.