Designed for Life

This is the third and final episode in our short mini-series on Teachers in Residence, the initiative within the Design and Technology Association that places teachers in business and industry placements, within which they gain a detailed perspective of the company, learn more about the sector that the business works within, thus allowing them to return to school empowered with this experience and with a knowledge base that enables them to answer that question "Miss/Sir, what's it like to work in..."  

This episode sees us catch up with Stephanie Tomlinson, Assistant Head of Technology at Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, a boy's grammar school founded in 1573 with an incredibly forward-looking and vibrant design and technology department. Stephanie recently undertook a TiR placement at Bulletproof Design at their London studio. 

Bulletproof has been a Blueprint 1000 (www.blueprint1000.org.uk) member almost from the very start of this initiative and was one of the founding partners for Teachers in Residence. Over the last three years, Bulletproof has hosted three teachers at its Covent Garden, London studio. In this episode, we explore what the agency saw for them in this initiative, how this has developed over time, and just how much time Bulletproof staff spend making the teacher's placement not only worthwhile but transformational. 

I want to take the opportunity to thank Bulletproof for the vision and energy that they have brought to this initiative, described by one teacher as "the best professional development I have ever received". 

So pull up a comfy chair, pour yourself a luxurious cup of coffee, sit back for the next thirty minutes and enjoy Designed for Life in conversation with Stephanie Tomlinson. 

https://www.wearebulletproof.com
https://www.designtechnology.org.uk/for-partners/blueprint-1000/teachers-in-residence/
https://www.qebarnet.co.uk/

The Design and Technology Association is indebted to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for supporting the Teachers in Residence initiative. 

This is the second of three in our short mini-series on Teachers in Residence, the initiative within the Design and Technology Association that places teachers in business and industry placements, within which they gain a detailed perspective of the company, learn more about the sector that the business works within, thus allowing them to return to school empowered with this experience and with a knowledge base that enables them to answer that question "Miss/Sir, what's it like to work in...).  

This episode sees us catch up with Debbie Inman, talent partner at Bulletproof design agency, a large international design agency with offices internationally. 

Bulletproof has been a Blueprint 1000 (www.blueprint1000.org.uk) member almost from the very start of this initiative and was one of the founding partners for Teachers in Residence. Over the last three years, Bulletproof has hosted three teachers at its Covent Garden, London studio. In this episode, we explore what the agency saw for them in this initiative, how this has developed over time, and just how much time Bulletproof staff spend making the teacher's placement not only worthwhile but transformational. 

I want to take the opportunity to thank Bulletproof for the vision and energy that they have brought to this initiative, described by one teacher as "the best professional development I have ever received". 

So pull up a comfy chair, pour yourself a luxurious cup of coffee, and sit back for the next thirty-six minutes and enjoy Designed for Life in conversation with Debbie Inman.  

https://www.wearebulletproof.com
https://www.designtechnology.org.uk/for-partners/blueprint-1000/teachers-in-residence/

The Design and Technology Association is indebted to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for supporting the Teachers in Residence initiative. 

Around three years ago, the Design and Technology Association recognised a problem which many teachers expressed. Many D&T teachers had entered the profession through the traditional route, school-university-school and as such had no experience of working in business or industry that could inform their teaching. 

We tried a few trials with teacher placements into industry. We instantly saw that there was gold dust within this work as both the teacher and the industry host came back with glowing accounts of what they gained from the placement, and so Teachers in Residence was born. 

This short mini-series of podcasts will explore the Teachers in Residence initiative from the perspective of both teacher and placement host, starting with Mario de Freitas, D&T teacher at St.Birinus Boys School in Oxfordshire, who recently undertook a three-day TiR placement at Bulletproof Design https://www.wearebulletproof.com in Covent Garden, London. 

Mario tells us why this initiative appealed to him, what he gained professionally and personally from the experience and, perhaps most importantly, how this has changed and helped to shape his professional practice at St.Birinus. 

So please sit back, relax and enjoy the first in our Teachers in Residence mini-series with Mario de Freitas. 

https://www.st-birinus-school.org.uk
https://www.wearebulletproof.com
https://www.designtechnology.org.uk/for-partners/blueprint-1000/teachers-in-residence/

The Design and Technology Association is indebted to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for supporting the Teachers in Residence initiative. 

In this episode, we are delighted to be in conversation with Nick Grey, founder and Managing Director of Grey Technologies, better known to most of us as GTech. 

GTech manufactures cordless tools, with the range running from vacuum cleaners through to garden tools and equipment. In this podcast we follow Nick's journey from his earliest years and what sounds like a few idyllic years when his father's work brought Nick and his six siblings to Ireland, through a problematic secondary education and then a range of jobs that eventually led to a technicians role at vacuum manufacturer Vax.  

At Vax, Nick found that his natural tendency towards being inquisitive and curious was encouraged and applauded where school had discouraged this. He flourished in this creative environment and, over several years, he moved from technician to Senior Engineer managing their innovation and design department.   

All this time, Nick was growing in confidence in his abilities and working out how he could set up as a design engineer and manufacturer in his own right. In 2001 supported by two friends who still work with him at GTech today, Nick branched out into his garage, and GTech was born.

This interview follows an engineering mind as Nick developed in business and, from that garage in Worcestershire, has built a business that turned over more than £65 Million in 2019/20 with a Pre-Tax profit of £12.6 Million. 

GTech was announced earlier this season as the stadium sponsor for Premier League club Brentford FC in a ten-year deal. In this conversation, we explore why Nick was drawn to this deal specifically and what his plans are as the stadium sponsor for the foreseeable future. 

This was an enlightening conversation with a designer, innovator and surprisingly chilled founder/owner with insights into setting up, building and expanding a successful design and manufacturing company. 

So grab a coffee, take the dog for a walk or take us to the gym and listen to Designed for Life in conversation with Nick Grey. 

https://www.gtech.co.uk/about-gtech
https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/gtech-announced-as-stadium-naming-rights-partner
 

In this episode, we are delighted to be joined by Dr Lynne Bianchi. Lynne is Vice Dean for Social Responsibility, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility, Director of the Science & Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub & Senior Lecturer at Manchester University. 

A staunch advocate of STEM and vocational education, we track Lynne's journey from her school days, which did not pass without challenge, to her current role at Manchester University and how this came to her through a slightly unorthodox process. We also dig deep into the outreach work Lynne is leading across a range of sectors and how a deep passion for students to have full access to opportunity irrespective of gender, social and ethnic backgrounds drives her to this day.

I really enjoyed this rich and broad conversation, and I believe you will too. So sit back, put your earplugs in, pour the coffee and enjoy Designed for Life in conversation with Dr Lynne Bianchi. 

Lynne wishes to thank all the organisations and supporters that have collaborated with her over the years and the teams that have committed time and energy to STEM projects over this time. 

Links: 

www.seerih.manchester.ac.uk

SEERIH  is a nationally recognised centre of science and engineering education. We develop and engage teachers in innovative, research-informed continuous professional development programmes to ensure high-quality learning outcomes for young people.

www.engineeringeducates.org

The Engineering Educates Farmvention Challenge involves three different pathways tailored to inspire 7-14-year-olds to think as engineers in the context of British farming. Each includes sequences of five curriculum-linked sessions. Learners apply maths, science, design technology and computing skills and knowledge through the context of farming and agricultural engineering. Sponsored by the National Farmers' Union

www.greatscienceshare.org

An annual campaign to inspire 5-14-year-olds to ask, investigate and share their scientific questions with new audiences. An award-winning campaign to raise the profile of science in schools and their communities, encouraging young people to be inspired into science and engineering. An inclusive, non-competitive and collaborative experience for all.

Twin brothers Richard and Antony Joseph are founders and owners of one of the world's most iconic and innovative kitchenware brands. 

In this podcast, we are fortunate to be in conversation with Richard Joseph, who takes us through his journey from school, where design and technology played a key role in setting his future direction as a designer, through the early days of Joseph Joseph selling glass chopping boards made from a raw material donation from their father's factory. Through to today and running a successful and innovative design business with over two-hundred mission-driven staff across continents. 

This conversation provides an amazing insight into the development and carefully planned growth of a design business, a business where 'form follows function' is something of a mantra, and why Joseph Joseph endeavour to take often complex designs just that little bit further in development than their competitors in order to fulfil this design promise to their customers.   

It also provides insight into how a successful business can be managed and led by twin brothers by splitting tasks and responsibilities but keeping design at the epicentre of every decision taken. 

Finally, we get an insight into the future of Joseph Joseph as Richard describes his passion for the company's products to use research and mission prioritisation to help solve some of the sustainability issues created by a capitalist and sales-led society. 

This was a great conversation to start 2023, I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation, and I know you will too.  

This podcast has been recorded with the help of our sponsors, The Edge Foundation https://www.edge.co.uk/ inspiring the education system to give all young people across the UK the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to flourish in their future life and work and PTC Onshape Providing industry-standard cloud-based CAD to education  https://www.ptc.com/en/news/2020/ptc-onshape-education-enterprise-plan-available-free-of-charge.
 
We are indebted to The Edge and PTC Onshape for their continued support.

References within this podcast:

https://www.josephjoseph.com/

It's that time of year again when we track back over the nineteen podcasts released so far this year (with more still to come before 2023) and pick out some of the best bits to string together into an end-of-year compilation.

This is always a difficult task, but this year it has proved to be even more so, with some amazing guests providing brilliant thought pieces within the pods. That said, I had to pick some favourite clips out, and this podcast takes you back through the year, starting in February 2022 and finishing with a clip from just a few weeks ago.

In the podcast, you will hear from Industrial Designer Jonathan Robin, talking first about the difficulty of that middle stage of any design project, which can feel like wading through treacle until you can see the light on the other side, and then discussing the 'theatre' of some designs and why keeping it simple is more likely to produce a classic design of note that will stand the test of time.

George Cave (interaction magic) speaks of how D&T A Level set him on a path to where he is today and discusses the importance of empathy and emotion in design. " "Never mind how it looks for a moment; how does it make you feel?"

Jamie Robinson (Mashoom) asks why we ask teenagers, "what are they going to do with their life" and the importance of solid foundations that you can build on later.

Matthew Cockerill explains what lies "left of brief" and why it is so important to carefully consider this before driving on with possible solutions to an identified problem. And then discusses how Design can be a significant part of the solution to many of the environmental issues that the earth currently faces.

Professor Ian Green MBE discusses why it is important for business and industry to work closely with education if we are to have any chance of improving diversity figures and making a career in engineering/manufacturing attractive to as wide a talent pool as possible.

Carra Santos MSc talks of the importance of creativity within education as we seek to prepare young people to take their place in a challenging, troubled and fast-changing world.

And we end with a gem of a quotation from the podcast with Will Butler-Adams, CBE Chief Executive Officer at Brompton Bicycle Ltd.

I would like to thank all the above and all guests of Designed for Life across 2022 for their expert input and for making themselves available to chat on the podcast; you are all amazing!

Finally, I would like to thank all listeners for your support over the year. Together with our sponsors, The Edge Foundation and PTC Onshape, we have even more ambitious plans for 2023! Until then, please do take care. 

Welcome into 2023, and on behalf of everyone at the D&T Association, I would like to wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful new year!

The First episode of 2023 and the first in season three welcomes Matt Hewison as our guest. Matt is the Co-founding Director of Cyberwhite, a disruptive provider of security services and risk mitigation technologies based in the North East but working with SMEs and larger organisations across the UK.

This is the first time that Designed for Life has explored the world of cyber security as we seek to explore the range of possible careers that could emanate from a design and technology education. Matt talks us through his journey through an education that failed to deliver in many ways to an accidental path into the IT industry, initially in sales but later specialising in cyber technologies and business ownership.

This podcast provides a look into a field that most of us are more than aware of but know very little about while at the same time covering the journey to self-employment and entrepreneurship, not for the first time on this podcast described as "an itch that I felt compelled to scratch".

At the end of this pod, we track back to a podcast released at the end of last year featuring Lynne Elvins and the Werkhouse activity that was just about to break when we released the podcast back in November. Now, post-event, we can reveal the brief presented to students, and Lynne joins us again to talk us through the weekend's events. (Please note we had a few technical issues with Lynne's recording, please excuse us if the sound quality is not up to usual standards).

This podcast has been recorded with the help of our sponsors, The Edge Foundation https://www.edge.co.uk/ inspiring the education system to give all young people across the UK the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to flourish in their future life and work and PTC Onshape Providing industry-standard cloud-based CAD to education  https://www.ptc.com/en/news/2020/ptc-onshape-education-enterprise-plan-available-free-of-charge.
 
We are indebted to The Edge and PTC Onshape for their continued support.

References within this podcast:

Cyberwhite - https://www.cyberwhite.co.uk/
Werkhouse - https://www.werkhouse.co.uk/

If you are intrigued by the art of leadership, especially how to lead an organisation through a period of profound change successfully, then you will love this podcast. 

If you are fascinated by the sheer art and skill required to manufacture anything that is high in quality and is designed and built to last, then you will love this podcast.

If you find yourself conflicted between a societal push to consume more goods (requiring more 'stuff' to be manufactured) and the desire held by an increasing number of companies who are 'value led' and want to do the right thing, not only for the bottom line but also for the environment, then you will love this podcast. 

And finally, if you own a Brompton bike, or have ever considered owning this iconic means of transportation, then you will love this podcast. 

In this conversation, Will Butler-Adams, CEO of Brompton Bicycles Ltd., takes us on his journey from school, through a near-death experience in the Amazon and how this changed his outlook on life, to a chance meeting on a bus within which he was encouraged to come and take a look at how we make 'the Brommie'. 

The rest is history, as Will has led the company from handcrafting around 5,000 bikes per year to its current manufacturing capacity of over 90,000 and sales worldwide. This is a fascinating tale of picking up the design of an engineering genius (Andrew Ritchie MBE- founder and inventor of the Brompton) and plotting growth and development that has made the Brompton a British manufacturing success story. 

We recorded too much good material to lose in the edit but equally too much to cram into one podcast. So welcome to part two of this interview; part one was released earlier this week.

So grab a coffee, pull up a comfy chair, put us in your ears as you travel to work, work out in the gym or walk the dog, and enjoy Designed for Life - in conversation with Will Butler Adams OBE. 

This podcast has been recorded with the help of our sponsors, The Edge Foundation https://www.edge.co.uk/ inspiring the education system to give all young people across the UK the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to flourish in their future life and work and PTC Onshape Providing industry-standard cloud-based CAD to education  https://www.ptc.com/en/news/2020/ptc-onshape-education-enterprise-plan-available-free-of-charge.
 
We are indebted to The Edge and PTC Onshape for their continued support.

Read the book we refer to in this podcast, 'The Brompton, Engineering for Change' By Will Butler- Adams and Dan Davies. 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brompton-Engineering-Change-Will-Butler-Adams/dp/1788168305/ref=sr_1_3?crid=GUMDGEIQW4JM&keywords=the+brompton&qid=1669723543&sprefix=the+brompton%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-3

If you are intrigued by the art of leadership, especially how to lead an organisation through a period of profound change successfully, then you will love this podcast. 

If you are fascinated by the sheer art and skill required to manufacture anything that is high in quality and is designed and built to last, then you will love this podcast.

If you find yourself conflicted between a societal push to consume more goods (requiring more 'stuff' to be manufactured) and the desire held by an increasing number of companies who are 'value led' and want to do the right thing, not only for the bottom line but also for the environment, then you will love this podcast. 

And finally, if you own a Brompton bike, or have ever considered owning this iconic means of transportation, then you will love this podcast. 

In this conversation, Will Butler-Adams, CEO of Brompton Bicycles Ltd., takes us on his journey from school, through a near-death experience in the Amazon and how this changed his outlook on life, to a chance meeting on a bus within which he was encouraged to come and take a look at how we make 'the Brommie'. 

The rest is history, as Will has led the company from handcrafting around 5,000 bikes per year to its current manufacturing capacity of over 90,000 and sales worldwide. This is a fascinating tale of picking up the design of an engineering genius (Andrew Ritchie MBE- founder and inventor of the Brompton) and plotting growth and development that has made the Brompton a British manufacturing success story. 

We recorded too much good material to lose in the edit but equally too much to cram into one podcast. So welcome to part one of this interview; part two will follow towards the end of this week. 

So grab a coffee, pull up a comfy chair, put us in your ears as you travel to work, work out in the gym or walk the dog, and enjoy Designed for Life - in conversation with Will Butler Adams OBE. 

This podcast has been recorded with the help of our sponsors, The Edge Foundation https://www.edge.co.uk/ inspiring the education system to give all young people across the UK the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to flourish in their future life and work and PTC Onshape Providing industry-standard cloud-based CAD to education  https://www.ptc.com/en/news/2020/ptc-onshape-education-enterprise-plan-available-free-of-charge.
 
We are indebted to The Edge and PTC Onshape for their continued support.

Read the book we refer to in this podcast, 'The Brompton, Engineering for Change' By Will Butler- Adams and Dan Davies. 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brompton-Engineering-Change-Will-Butler-Adams/dp/1788168305/ref=sr_1_3?crid=GUMDGEIQW4JM&keywords=the+brompton&qid=1669723543&sprefix=the+brompton%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-3