Northgate High School and Jenny Rhodes

Duration: One day
Teacher: John Richelle
Students: Year 9

Jenny Rhodes runs her own practice, Jenny Rhodes Design, which has been designing products for the home such as wallpaper and furniture for over 20 years.

Activity

Northgate had just introduced a new vocational GCSE course combining Art and Design and John Richelle, Head of Design and Technology, saw Designers into Schools Week as the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that his department could work with Art and Design to forge a common Design department.

Designer Jenny Rhodes set the students from both departments the task of designing ergonomic chairs. The day began with the students sketching their schoolmates sitting on various chairs to determine how comfortable they were.

The rest of the day was spent with the students concentrating on their own designs, which had to include both ergonomic and aesthetic considerations. The designs were then turned into prototypes in the school studio, with Jenny teaching the students new ways of twisting, forming and soldering wire.

Feedback

Designer

Jenny said: 'It was a wonderful experience - fulfilling and enjoyable. You get out what you put in - we were all exhausted and exhilarated.' On what she had gained, Jenny said: 'I got an active insight into how young people think. It was refreshing to see Art, Design and Technology working hand in glove.'

Teacher

'This rates as one of my best experiences in 32 years' teaching,' said John. 'The experience has refreshed and reinforced my belief in design. It will lead me to take stock of how I deliver my subject across all year groups.' On one of the aims of the day, he said: 'It was to make students aware that design is the key element in Art and Technology. Students were afforded the luxury of a full five-hour day, as opposed to the rigidity of a one-hour timetabled lesson.'

Students

Jess said that her idea of the design industry had changed. 'It has made me think about how everything in my house has been designed.'

'I've learned that it's very hard work,' said Lucie. 'It can be difficult to accept failure but you have to pick yourself up and carry on.'

'Jenny helped me expand my design and seeing her work inspired me,' said Fraser. 'It's a hard world out there even for a professional designer,' he added. 'You have to have lots of ideas just to get one accepted.'

Samantha said she now appreciated what it was like to be a designer. 'I used to think designing would be really simple, but after listening to Jenny it sounds quite hard.'