Year 10 Technology Students have been working with clients to make custom products for unusual situations. Their job is to find out what the client needs it to do and design and make a product to suit their needs. These students designed and made props for the “FAME Junior” production that needed to be super lightweight.

Harleen Binepal, Mandeep Gosal and Tavita Moy made a dance barre from steel tubing and super lightweight paulownia so it could be quickly moved off and on stage.

Adrian Stols, Caleb Wellsbury and Jack Forsyth made a lightweight sign that was held up between scenes that needed to be able to have dates and places on the sign changed quickly so they designed a product that had sections that slid out and could have different ones inserted.

As well as practical techniques, students learn about product function, working with clients, identifying the key attributes for a successful product, collecting all of the relevant information, communicating ideas to a client and time management. They also learn that they can design products for real-world situations.