Over the past few months, Year 9 pupils at Queen’s College have been taking part in a special Design Technology project with a simple but powerful brief: design something that could genuinely improve someone’s life.
The project, titled Make a Difference, was developed by Head of Design Technology, Mr Higgs, who wanted pupils to see how the skills they learn in the classroom can be used to create positive change beyond the school gates.
As part of the project, pupils welcomed Stanley, a local wheelchair user, photographer, beekeeper and small business owner, into the classroom. Stanley spoke openly about some of the everyday challenges he faces, including being difficult to spot in busy environments, carrying items while using his wheelchair, and managing equipment while pursuing his passion for photography.
Rather than designing for a hypothetical scenario, pupils were given the opportunity to work with a real person, understand his experiences and develop practical solutions tailored to his individual needs.
After meeting Stanley and listening to his story, pupils began a full design process, identifying key challenges, conducting research, generating ideas, building prototypes and testing their designs before manufacturing final products.
The resulting projects demonstrated not only impressive technical skill, but also a thoughtful understanding of Stanley’s interests and lifestyle. Among the final designs were an LED number plate to improve visibility, a light up snail logo for Stanley’s market stall, a honeycomb inspired bottle holder reflecting his love of beekeeping, and an adjustable phone mount to support his photography.
For Mr Higgs, however, the greatest success of the project was not the products themselves, but the empathy shown by the pupils throughout the process.
“The pupils really embraced the challenge,” he said. “What stood out was how much they cared. They listened carefully to Stanley, asked thoughtful questions and genuinely wanted to create something that would help him. Seeing them apply their creativity and technical skills to solve real problems was incredibly rewarding.”
When the projects were completed, Stanley returned to Queen’s College to see the finished designs and hear the thinking behind them. For pupils, it was a chance to present work created for a real purpose. For Stanley, it was an opportunity to see how carefully the pupils had listened and how much thought had gone into every solution.
Perhaps the most rewarding moment came later, as the products began to be used in Stanley’s everyday life.
The project served as a powerful reminder that Design Technology is about far more than making products. At its best, it encourages young people to understand the needs of others, think creatively and use their skills to make a positive difference.
One project at a time, Year 9 did exactly that.
