In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, we chat with Leighann Ness Wilson, a designer-turned-educator with a passion for fostering creativity and innovation in education. Leighann shares her journey from growing up in rural Nanango to designing workspaces across the globe and, ultimately, to teaching and researching how design thinking can transform teaching practices.

Currently completing her PhD, Leighann focuses on empowering pre-service teachers to embrace design thinking as a core component of their pedagogy. She offers insights into the challenges of teaching design in schools and why it's critical for shaping 21st-century skills like problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Leighann’s journey from interior design to education and research

• The importance of design thinking in the Australian curriculum

• How design empowers both teachers and students to think critically and creatively

• Tips for incorporating design thinking into classroom practice

• Leighann’s vision for the future of design in education

Links and Resources:

• Follow Leighann Ness Wilson on LinkedIn

• Leighann’s blog and her website too.

• Explore The Cube at QUT

Connect With Us:

• Host: Stephen Anderson  [email protected]