As part of V&A Innovate – our annual National Schools Challenge for Key Stage 3 students – we run a series of free online talks for educators, featuring inspiring artists, teachers, designers and innovators.
REFLECTIVE DESIGN WITH MARAID MCEWAN AND RUNNING V&A INNOVATE IN A DAY WITH RUSSELL HILL
In this talk we’re joined by teacher Russell Hill from Houlton School in Rugby, alongside designer and researcher Maraid Mcewan. Mr Hill shares how he delivered V&A Innovate over a day with 180 Year 7s, whilst recent V&A Designer in Residence Maraid walks through her reflective design methodology. Talking us through her participatory design practice, she tells us about the importance of designing for social impact, with a focus on care.
WHY MATERIALS MATTER WITH SEETAL SOLANKI
Seetal Solanki is the founder and Director of a practice called Ma-tt-er, founded in 2015 to readdress our relationship with the planet and move towards a future that is caring and respectful. In this session, Seetal talks through being a ‘materials translator‘, shares some of her work at Ma-tt–er, and asks us to take part in her materials personality quiz.
TACKLING EVERYDAY PROBLEMS THROUGH DESIGN WITH MICHAEL OMOTOSHO
Designer and inventor Michael Omotosho shares his career journey – from a schoolkid trying to make headphones for his friends, to becoming a freelance industrial designer. In this talk he shares his passion for finding inclusive, functional solutions to problems that challenge everyday living. He is the designer, inventor and founder of Plugull, an electrical plug pull that makes it easier to remove plugs from sockets, designed to support independent living and help those with arthritis.
Find out more about the V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge on our website.
I really enjoyed these talks, and I don’t even work in education, so thanks for sharing them – I hope even more children on this programme gain confidence and skills to challenge conventional thinking.