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Designed for Life

Tony Ryan CEO Design & Technology Association

This is the official podcast of the Design and Technology Association. 'Designed for life' aims to entertain, inform and inspire, bringing the worlds of business and industry together. Design and Technology is a wide-ranging curriculum subject that, along with qualifications in other facilitating subjects, can open doors to students across an ever-increasing breadth of career. England was the first country in the world to introduce this subject to its mainstream curriculum offer in 1988. Where we led others, have followed and in various guises, it is now taught in countries around the world including India, Australia, China, USA, France and Finland. This podcast consists of a series of short, informal conversations with people from across the worlds of education, industry and design. The intention is to help to link business, industry and education, as the solutions to tomorrows problems are being educated today!

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S6 · E5
August 21 · 50 min
Designed for Life, in conversation with Phil Cotton - Learn by Layers
3D printing has gone from strength to strength in recent years within UK schools and is now firmly established as one of the major tools used by students to fast prototype. The majority of D&T departments now have at least one printer, and with the market now dominated by Bambu Lab, these new machines are making 3D printing available to all (including many students now having their own machines at home); it is clear that the use of 3D printing will continue to grow and develop within education. Phil Cotton saw an opportunity some years ago, and, as a teacher and Head of Department, was an early adopter of 3D printing. As he used it more in his own school and shared his experiences online, he noticed other teachers reaching out for help and advice...in this way, Learn by Layers, an online 3D printing educational platform, was born. Over the years, the platform has grown and developed into a small business supporting educational printing worldwide. A Bambu curriculum was added as Phil adapted the content to meet teachers' needs and requests. LearnBylayers provides ready-to-teach 3D printing resources for schools and is currently taught in over 1500 schools in 33 countries. We pick up this conversation as Phil readies himself to diversify his online offering into online revision, supporting STEM subjects with the release of the Studylayers platform (more information within the pod). As we prepare for the start of a new term, grab your earpods, grab a tea or coffee, put your feet up for 50 minutes, and listen to Designed for Life, in conversation with teacher and founder of Learn by Layers, Phil Cotton. www.learnbylayers.com Studylayers link https://www.learnbylayers.com/studylayers/
S6 · E5
August 3 · 1 hr 5 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Goldsmiths University - Part 2
In part two of this two-part mini-series, we dig deep into what system changes might be necessary to make teaching the attractive profession that it once was. One-third of all teachers who have qualified across all subjects in the last decade have already left teaching; here we ask why that might be the case and what needs to change. We also talk to more students graduating from their PGCE qualification and find out what excites and frustrates them from their experience to this point. I have to say that, despite the worrying statistic mentioned above, I sense nothing but excitement and optimism from the students that I met on the day. I have it in mind to follow these teachers up a couple of years in and see how things panned out for them. I, for one, am excited by the quality of graduates entering D&T classrooms in September. Goldsmiths, University of London is one of the longest-established providers of D&T teacher education in the country and, over the years, has been instrumental in helping shape the subject that we now know. In this short mini-series of two episodes, we spent a day at Goldsmiths talking with Alice Hellard, who leads the PGCE programme at the university and some of this year's graduates who, at the time of recording, were just days away from completing their course. As you hopefully relax on your well-earned summer break, I hope you can find time to grab a cold drink, sit back and listen to Designed for life - In conversation with Alice Hellard and graduating PGCE students from Goldsmiths University London. Alice Hellard completed her PGCE in Design & Technology at Goldsmiths, University of London almost 20 years ago before teaching in two south London schools. She is now back at Goldsmiths where she leads the PGCE D&T programme. In these podcasts we also hear from students on the programme: Josie Beardsmore, Nikki Blustin, Steve Cheung, Tyla Garrett, Rajinder Kalsi, Patrick Readings, Ed Thomas, Nick Thomas and Noah Thompson. https://www.gold.ac.uk/pgce/secondary-design-technology/?https://www.gold.ac.uk/&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23383165810&gbraid=0AAAAADF9-XDCJh-u42U6ADj7hpY1fdMdD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjb3SBhDgARIsAMKiWzjwgb20eW9Alyla9YqQrNCAzA1MixdXYmxs1y1djagUpKf_BuX3oNsaAg91EALw_wcB
S6 · E4
July 24 · 53 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Goldsmiths University - Part 1
Goldsmiths, University of London is one of the longest-established providers of D&T teacher education in the country and, over the years, has been instrumental in helping shape the subject that we now know. In this short mini-series of two episodes, we spent a day at Goldsmiths talking with Alice Hellard, who leads the PGCE programme at the university and some of this year's graduates who, at the time of recording, were just days away from completing their course. At a time when trained D&T teacher numbers are at a record low following years of under-recruitment and a central neglect of the subject's curriculum value, this seems as good a time as any to get 'under the hood' of one of our major teacher training organisations and see how things really are and, just as importantly, how they feel to the new teachers about to enter schools as Early Career Teachers (ECTs). As you hopefully relax on your well-earned summer break, I hope you can find time to grab a cold drink, sit back and listen to Designed for life - In conversation with Alice Hellard and graduating PGCE students from Goldsmiths University London. Alice Hellard completed her PGCE in Design & Technology at Goldsmiths, University of London almost 20 years ago before teaching in two south London schools. She is now back at Goldsmiths where she leads the PGCE D&T programme. In these podcasts we also hear from students on the programme: Josie Beardsmore, Nikki Blustin, Steve Cheung, Tyla Garrett, Rajinder Kalsi, Patrick Readings, Ed Thomas, Nick Thomas and Noah Thompson. https://www.gold.ac.uk/pgce/secondary-design-technology/?https://www.gold.ac.uk/&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23383165810&gbraid=0AAAAADF9-XDCJh-u42U6ADj7hpY1fdMdD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjb3SBhDgARIsAMKiWzjwgb20eW9Alyla9YqQrNCAzA1MixdXYmxs1y1djagUpKf_BuX3oNsaAg91EALw_wcB
S6 · E4
July 13 · 45 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Jasmine Allen
At the end of 2025, I was privileged to be asked to visit the JLR plant in Gaydon in the West Midlands to attend their Creative Showcase. I don't hide the fact that I am a car enthusiast, so I must admit that letting me loose amidst the creativity, design and engineering excellence on show was a little akin to letting a child with a sweet tooth free in a sweet shop. One of the highlights of the day for me was meeting a group of apprentices from a range of creative disciplines. As far as I am aware, these good people put their hands up and volunteered to meet with me to explain their roles at JLR and how they got there. I added one request to the conversation before we started: "Please tell me what your experience of D&T was at school, good or bad, and did this have any influence on you wanting to do what you now do at JLR?" One by one, every young person in the room told me of a D&T teacher that had connected with them, and all of the students confidently stated they would be very unlikely to be doing what they do today, were it not for the influence of the named teacher and Design and Technology. One of those young people was Jasmine Allen. Jasmine is a second-year Creative: Technical, Studio Engineering Graduate who, in her own words, works at the intersection between design and engineering, and whose task it is to make sure those two disciplines work in harmony. In this podcast, we follow Jasmine's journey from school to earning a 1st Class Honours in Product Design and Technology (BSc) at Loughborough University, and find out a little more about her role at JLR and how she successfully applied for it, without a plan B. This was a really easy and guest-led podcast which I hope you will not only find interesting, but which I feel has the potential to help so many young people currently at school or university and considering a creative career, possibly with a multi-national company such as JLR. So grab the dog, grab a coffee and a comfy chair, take us to the gym, or maybe to a sun lounger this time of year and enjoy Designed for Life, in conversation with Jasmine Allen.
S6 · E3
April 21 · 1 hr 9 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Ilā Kamalagharan
Ilā is a British artist, producer and vocalist. When you are approached by an agent stating, "Would you like to speak with an artist who operates at the intersection of quantum computer music, AI and the human voice, well, you kind of say yes straight away! I spend a lot of time researching my guests. If someone is good enough to give up their time to be a guest on the podcast, then the very least I can do as the host is spend some time getting to know them a little before we actually meet. I have to admit to being intrigued by Ilā's background. The education that could so easily have led to an academic career has instead led to a career in which creativity takes precedence, barriers are explored, and walls are knocked down. There is no doubt that music is the major influence in their professional life. But in talking with Ilā, it became clear that there are no categories, sectors, or topics that are off-limits; curiosity feeds their professional development, and there is definitely an element of, say, "yes" and work out the details later. In this podcast, we cover education, music, and creativity, their importance in a technologically driven world, and the importance of helping instruct young people on how to use AI responsibly as an assistant to learning. Towards the end, we discuss Ilā's contribution to the BBC Bitesize guide to AI for young people, which is both timely and comprehensive. At a time when education's response to AI and its use by students ranges from "You won't be using that here" to "We welcome students to use AI so long as they reference where and how it has been used, this feels like a very timely conversation. I loved our hour in conversation, and I believe you will too. So get those ear buds in and enjoy Designed for Life, in conversation with Ilā Kamalagharan. BBC Bitesize guides to AI can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/groups/cgk3rj0kl55t Thanks to Arachne.digital for their continued sponsorship of the podcast, which allows us to bring these conversations to you. Contact Arachne https://www.arachne.digital/ or us for a free evaluation of your school’s cybersecurity.
S6 · E4
April 19 · 57 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Leia Milburn
Leia Milburn is an industrial designer working at Tone Product Design in London. Leia was born in London but grew up in Hong Kong and Singapore. Her father is a D&T teacher and trained as a furniture designer, so she was raised around strong design influences, but has developed her own unique identity as a designer through her degree at Loughborough University and subsequent work at Tone. In this podcast, we follow Leia's journey from her school education and parental influences to where she is today, what is important to her as a young designer, the comparative isolation of being a woman in a still-male-dominated sector, and what she is proactively doing about it. It's a flowing and very informative conversation that I feel has much to offer everyone listening, from students, through teachers, to professionals. So give yourself 50 minutes, put those earbuds in, and listen to Designed for Life in conversation with industrial designer Leia Milburn. Leia's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leia-milburn Leia's design Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/design.byleia And if you want to learn more or get involved in the female designer community (Revision), then follow the links below: REVISION LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revision-design/ REVISION Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revision.bydesign Thanks to Arachne.digital for their continued sponsorship of the podcast, which allows us to bring these conversations to you. Contact Arachne https://www.arachne.digital/ or us for a free evaluation of your school’s cybersecurity.
S6 · E2
January 16 · 40 min
Designed for Life - Samsung Solve for Tomorrow
The countdown is on – the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition closes on 1st February 2026! This podcast takes on a different format as we talk to Jessie Soohyun Park, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility for Samsung Electronics UK, about the Solve for Tomorrow initiative, why a multi-national company such as Samsung believes this work is so important, and how design and technology education naturally fits the knowledge base, skillsets and design curiosity required for the competition. Bring this challenge into your design and technology classroom and give students aged 11-18 the chance to tackle real-world problems, think creatively, and see their ideas make a difference. @SamsungElectronicsUK have ready-to-use resources, expert mentoring and the Imagination Lab to guide every step. Students could be designing and prototyping tech-for-good solutions, building confidence and future-ready skills. At the same time, your school could win Samsung technology, mentoring, work experience opportunities, and even national recognition, with your students seeing their work splashed large on Piccadilly Circus. Short on time? Your students’ NEA or STEM Club coursework may be eligible for submission. We’re proud to be supporting this flagship education programme. Opportunities like this don’t come around every day! Enter before the 1st February 2026 to make sure your students don’t miss out 🔗 www.SolveforTomorrowUK.com Huge thanks to Archne.digital for their help and continued support, which enables us to continue to bring these conversations to you. Reach out to them today to arrange a free audit of your school’s cybersecurity.
S6 · E1
January 1 · 56 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Brad Scott, Principal Designer at Applied Design Works, New York
On the first day of 2026, and if we are honest, a touch later than planned due to the Christmas break, we are delighted to open the New Year with a conversation with the Co-founder of Applied Design (https://helloapplied.com), one of New York's leading branding and design agencies. A short while back, Applied Design was commissioned for what, at first, appeared to be a relatively straightforward and exciting branding brief. Braille was 100 years old (a fact tI find challenging to comprehend in itself), and to mark the centenary, the Braille Institute of America (https://www.brailleinstitute.org) commissioned Applied Design to carry out a rebrand. As the design team at Applied dug into the task, they were unable to find a typeface that was both functional and exciting enough. With the Braille Institute's permission, the team took on the task of designing a new and exciting typeface. Following extensive research, testing, and development, Atkinson Hyperlegible emerged as the typeface emanating from the identified design task. A typeface that the Braille Institute waived all claims to ownership of early in the process; a visible demonstration of the charitable cause taking over from any desire to create profit. Google, Microsoft, Canva, and others have since adopted the typeface. It is estimated that Atkinson Hyperlegible is now downloaded at least 70 million times per week, being utilised by blind, partially sighted and able-sighted alike. In this podcast, we talk about the processes that led to the creation of Atkinson Hyperlegible, the importance of design education for all young people, AI adoption, why we shouldn't fear it, and more. Thanks to Brad's willingness to dig deep on these subjects, this is a deep and fascinating conversation that I know you will enjoy. So, start the New Year as you mean to go on, grab those earplugs, give yourself 56 minutes to yourself and enjoy this episode of Designed for Life. Thanks to Arachne.digital for their continued sponsorship of the podcast, which allows us to bring these conversations to you. Contact Arachne https://www.arachne.digital/ or us for a free evaluation of your school’s cybersecurity. Links to Atkinson Hyperlegible: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/freefont/ https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Atkinson+Hyperlegible https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Atkinson+Hyperlegible+Next
Dec 5, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Amazon Mechatronics Engineering Apprentice Olivia Lane
One pattern that has repeated across the 108 podcasts published since Designed for Life launched in the summer of 2020 is the role of serendipity in aligning people and their careers. Today's podcast is a case in point. Driven by a primal desire to help people, Olivia set her heart on a career in medicine. School and academia did not come easily to her, and she realised at a very early stage that if she were to have any hope of following her dream, she would need to roll her sleeves up and work harder than most. With this in mind, this is precisely what she did, sacrificing aspects of her social life and doing whatever was asked of her at school to achieve her goals, and more. Outstanding GCSE results followed, with Olivia being featured on her school's website front page as a success story. Here, the rhetoric changed as teachers now looked upon her as an 'academic' and as such, started to point her towards A Level success and University. Some careers are no doubt easier to enter if you come from the middle or upper classes. Finance is a factor if you want to enter architecture, medicine, law and many other career pathways; who you know and your access to work placements and internships are also significant factors. Olivia took a year out to rethink her future and, at first, saw Amazon as a way to earn money while she refocused. She is now a Mechantronics Engineering Apprentice at Amazon and is in her flow state in this position. I first came across Olivia at a recent Women in Manufacturing Conference, where she was on a panel alongside equally impressive fellow apprentices, and I had to ask her to share her story on the podcast. There is so much to learn from both her journey and where she is today. So sit back, take an hour for yourself and enjoy Designed for Life - In conversation with Olivia Lane. Huge thanks to Arachne.digital for their support that makes this podcast possible. To get a free check on your school's cyber security email contact@arachne.digital For more information, please see Girls Gone STEM on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@girlsgonestem?_r=1&_t=ZN-91udctoZ8WE. Or check Olivia's LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-lane-02bb802a2?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
S5 · E2
Oct 23, 2025 · 57 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Julie Brierley (Head of Learning and Engagement, RAF Museum, Midlands).
You can cover so much learning within the confines of the classroom, but with design & technology education, whether at the primary or secondary level, a carefully planned educational visit can add so much. At the Design & Technology Association, we are always seeking potential visits to recommend to teachers and their students. With this in mind, we are delighted to talk with Julie Brierley, Head of Learning and Engagement at the excellent RAF Museum, Midlands. In this podcast, Julie takes us back to a mixed experience at school. Loving her primary school experience, and then finding secondary school to be less than welcoming to a shy, introverted student. Design and Technology education proved to be a sanctuary within this environment, and being one of the few female students was not a barrier to her loving the subject. Set on a career in nursing, she surprised everyone (parents included) by leaving school as soon as she could and joining the RAF as an apprentice flight engineer. Here she found her 'tribe' and was immediately at home, but as we will hear in the podcast, this was before equality of opportunity reached the forces. As a woman, there were several challenges to overcome. Julie is now Head of Learning and Engagement at RAF Museum Midlands, a perfect setting to study all things D&T, maths, science and across most of the curriculum. This is a tale of perseverance, about finding what you love, sticking with it, and finding a working role that plays to your strengths and brings you fulfilment and joy! I loved the conversation, and I think you will too. Thanks to Arachne.digital for their continued support, which enables us to bring these conversations to you. Please reach out to request a consultation to secure your school's cyber presence by emailing contact@arachne.digital or visiting arachne.digital https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/midlands/schools-and-colleges/ https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/midlands/schools-and-colleges/learning-events/
S5 · E1
Oct 22, 2025 · 10 min
Designed for Life - Reset Short Update
We have been offline for a short while whilst we evaluate, reconsider where the podcast is heading and reset. This is the first of what will be a regular series of brief updates between the main podcasts. In these, we aim to tell you what we are up to at the Design & Technology Association, highlight any primary areas of work you might not be aware of, discuss what's going on with the subject, and occasionally bring in guests to help inform the conversation. These pods will never be more than 12 minutes in length and will be released between the main Designed for Life podcasts...but only when there is something relevant to say! Let us know what you think.
S5 · E2
Sep 15, 2025 · 59 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Chris Black
In this podcast, we are going to test your knowledge of UK manufacturing, your memory, and empathy for items that, by their very nature, invoke nostalgia, as we take you through a journey that transcends technological change and leads through a combination of determination, an 'old-fashioned' desire to be the very best in a field, and contains equal amounts of passion and innovation. Sound Leisure is a truly unique company. Built on one man's dream and passion for combining engineering and music, Sound Leisure is now the leading manufacturer of jukeboxes, not just in the UK but arguably worldwide. Sound Leisure started in 1978 with a custom-designed jukebox, and today is the only manufacturer in the world producing classic jukeboxes for all major formats, including CD, Digital, Vinyl 45 and Vinyl LP, with all jukeboxes coming fitted with Bluetooth. And all of this comes not from Nashville or Germany, but proudly from Leeds. In this conversation with Chris Black, who, with his brother, leads the company founded by his father, inventor and electrical engineer Alan Black, the company remains owned and run by Alan and his family, making it the oldest, single-ownership jukebox company anywhere in the world. From its foundation to the present day, Sound Leisure has remained a brave and forward-thinking organisation. From becoming the first British company to design, develop and build a commercially viable and widely adopted jukebox platform in the 1970s, they went on to pioneer the early development of digitised music platforms in the 1980s and were responsible for the reintroduction of vinyl jukeboxes in 2016. They remain a globally recognised and respected leader in their sector, with countless patents and industry-firsts to their name. Their consistent success and growth over a 40-year period, which saw the demise of many long-established jukebox manufacturers such as Seeburg and Wurlitzer, is based on an ongoing commitment to developing better products and technologies and an unfailing focus on high-quality British manufacturing. Chris has heavily invested in his local community, keen to grow his company with local talent, and has reached out to schools and colleges to identify young people who possess the drive, determination, and passion to join Sound Leisure's journey. This podcast was an absolute pleasure to record. Chris and his team are on a mission to make every jukebox they create unique. Handcrafted and featuring the latest carefully assembled technologies, you are not just buying a machine from Sound Leisure; you are joining a family. To view Sound Leisure's Classic Jukebox range, visit www.soundleisure.com. To view their operations webpage, visit https:/www.operations.soundleisure.com/ And for their kids division visit – www.Slkids.co.uk Huge thanks to Arachne.digital for their sponsorship and support, which make these podcasts possible. Reach out to them, free to ensure
Jul 25, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Designed for Life - New Blades 2025
New Blades is an annual model-making exhibition and recruitment fair held in London each year, showcasing the work of graduating students from various UK universities and colleges. It's a key event for connecting emerging talent in the model-making industry with employers and professionals. The event is organized by 4D Modelshop, a major supplier to British model makers. This is the first time the Design & Technology Association has attended this exhibition but it certainly won’t be the last. In this podcast we talk with students, university lecturers and industry professionals as we seek to follow each student interviewed on their journey from inspiration, through school and university, to a career in architecture, film and other exciting related industries. This podcast was recorded in a crowded exhibition on mobile recording equipment, I believe it successfully captures the excitement and bustle of a crowded centre, but the sound may not be on a par with our usual standard; I hope you can appreciate why. We reference many of the student models on show in our conversations, these can be seen in their full glory through this link: https://www.designtechnology.org.uk/news/new-blades-2025-celebrates-the-next-generation-of-modelmakers/ Huge thanks to Arachne.digital your cyber threat intelligence platform for their support that makes these podcasts possible. Contact them for a free appraisal of your school’s cyber security. This is a very different venture for Designed for Life. It’s one we are keen to replicate should you, the listener feel it appropriate. We would really appreciate your feedback, positive or otherwise to designedforlife@designtechnology.org.uk
S4 · E7
Jul 14, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Helen Cuthill (CEO Smallpeice Trust)
The Smallpeice Trust is a charity dedicated to inspiring young people to explore careers in science and engineering. It was founded in 1966 by the British engineer and entrepreneur Dr. Cosby Smallpeice (who invented the Smallpeice Lathe). The trust exists to help young people turn their passion and ideas into reality. In 1991, a group of committed headteachers came together, motivated by the conviction that Design & Technology was not receiving the profile it deserved as an incubator for future innovators, engineers, and technical designers (how I wish times had changed), and the Arkwright Engineering Scholarships began. In 2001, the Arkwright Engineering Scholarships programme was transferred to the Smallpeice Trust, with the two organisations officially merging on 4 January 2018. Helen Cuthill assumed the role of CEO of the Smallpeice Trust in November 2023. Helen arrived with a diverse background of experiences and an excellent track record in the not-for-profit sector. She has exceptional strategic capabilities, proven operational effectiveness, and substantial experience within the charity sector. She has an innovative and community-driven work ethic, blending purpose with enjoyment and a sense of fun. In this podcast, we follow Helen’s somewhat unorthodox route to CEO at Smallpeice, discuss the impact that dyslexia has had on her schooling and career to date; her email footer reads as below: I’m #MadeByDyslexia – expect BIG thinking and SMALL typos. It helps me to send and receive emails that use short paragraphs and highlighted requests. We discuss how she is working to make the work of the Smallpeice Trust, specifically the Arkwright Scholarships, more inclusive to all by bringing opportunities to young people rather than waiting for them to come to Smallpeice. This is a very full conversation with a sector leader who is 100% authentic and is willing to be vulnerable as she and the organisation seek to progress. I loved the conversation, and I believe you will too. So, sit back, listen wherever you have the time and with an open mind, and enjoy‘'Designed for Life’' in conversation with Smallpeice Trust CEO Helen Cuthill. https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/ British Dyslexia Association - https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia
S4 · E6
Jun 23, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with STEM Racing's Andrew Denford
Many people familiar with this podcast will recognise the name 'F1 in Schools', a design, teamwork and engineering challenge that has existed in schools for over two decades. Some of you will have competed in either regional or, if you are fortunate enough, national finals. Others...I want to say the elite few, as getting there is some achievement, will have made it to the world finals, held to coincide with an F1 race somewhere in the world and closely aligned to the FIA. I would suggest very few of you know just how this design and engineering challenge came about, how it has grown and constantly exceeded expectations and just who is the founder, Andrew Denford and what drives him to keep pushing this challenge to greater heights. Finally, why has such a seemingly brilliantly branded initiative recently changed its name and branding from 'F1 in Schools' to 'STEM Racing'? This episode will bring the answer to all these queries, and more as we bring Andrew Denford, Chief Executive Officer of Denford Ltd., and Founder of Stem Racing back to school and then follow his journey into engineering, taking over the family business at a relatively early age, and how he got the idea that racing a small but carefully precision engineered CO2 powered car down a twenty metre track at speed may be something that schools and colleges might buy into. It's a great story, filled with a few twists and tales that I know you'll enjoy. So sit back and enjoy, Designed for Life - In conversation with Denford CEO and Founder of STEM Racing, Andrew Denford. https://www.stemracing.com/ This podcast is brought to you with the assistance of our sponsors https://www.arachne.digital/ Your cyber threat intelligence platform for empowered protection.
Jun 6, 2025 · 59 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Senior Lecturer in Primary Education Janine Pavlis
In this episode, we focus on primary education, specifically design and technology education in the primary phase. Our guest in this episode is Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at St.Mary's University, Twickenham, Janine Pavlis. In recent years, we at the Design & Technology Association have seen significant growth in our primary membership categories, as schools (driven by Ofsted requirements) seek to broaden their curriculum offer to include design and technology across Key Stages One and Two. Our research suggests that the average primary teacher (and D&T Coordinator) is usually out of their depth in planning and delivering a subject that is often alien and unfamiliar to them. It should be remembered that primary teachers are asked to deliver a broad and diverse curriculum, of which D&T is only part of the picture. The majority of primary teachers in our research hold a humanities or English degree certificate, and for many, their last encounter with STEM-related topics was during their own school days. Teacher training details now vary across establishments, but many teachers surveyed suggested that their D&T training during their PGCE training amounted to half a day or six hours at most. From this training, teachers are expected to read, understand, plan and deliver an exciting and engaging curriculum offer for their students. In this podcast, we discuss Janine's unusual journey to primary teaching, specifically her approach to delivering Design and Technology (D&T) to her students. We discuss how St.Mary's offer to postgraduate students is different, not just in its content, but also in its philosophy, and we also discuss how helpful (or otherwise) the STEM label is to the development and growth of D&T at the primary level. I loved delving into a sector that is doing so well with D&T delivery at the moment and speaking with an educator who is a true expert in the subject. So sit back, get those headphones on and listen to Designed for Life, in conversation with Janine Pavlis. Janine's Website Bio: https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/staff-directory/janine-pavlis Janine's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/janine-pavlis123 Some of the work that Janine is currently involved with: Roles & Contributions: - Advisor in Primary D&T - Writer & EdD Researcher exploring primary teachers’ lived experiences and their motivation to teach - Reviewer for the D&T International Journal - Committee Member of the Design and Technology Teacher Educator Group - Lead of the D&T Primary Teacher Educator Hub - Lead researcher for the STEM Education and Research Hub at St Mary's University Current Research Interests: - The challenges in primary STEM education - The intersection of motherhood and academia - The future of D&T education in England With huge thanks to Arachne.digital, whose sponsorship makes this podcast possible. For a free consultation and assessment of your school's cybersecurity, contact https://www.arachne.digital/, mentioning Designed for Life
May 23, 2025 · 57 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Aakeen Parikh
Dr Aakeen Parikh is a mechanical engineer with a background in research, design, sustainable technologies, and social impact. She currently works as the Project Manager for the Vehicle Future Hub at Imperial College London. Aakeen discovered engineering through her passion for product design, and she has worked on numerous projects over the years. Aakeen is passionate about increasing diversity, access, equality, and retention of women in engineering. She is on the advisory board for education charity Project Access and is an ambassador for the Queen Elizabeth’s Prize for Engineering. In 2024, Aakeen was awarded the WISE100 Women in Enterprise award as the ‘Equality and Empowerment’ Champion. Alongside her current roles, Aakeen is the founder and director of The Minazi Impact, a social enterprise dedicated to promoting sustainable development and reducing global inequality through engineering and design. Minazi’s most notable project, the Banana Fibre Sanitary Pad project, involved designing reusable sanitary pads with an absorbent core made from waste banana fibres. The project won the 2023 RSA Catalyst Award and further recognition at the Ripple Effect Conference 2024. This project demonstrates a viable, alternative, sustainable future pathway for sanitary products, whilst creating economic growth and upcycling agricultural waste. Read more here: https://theminaziimpact.co.uk/ This is a great conversation that I know you will love. So grab 50 minutes of 'me time' and listen to Designed for Life—In Conversation with Dr. Aakeen Parikh. This podcast is brought to you with the support of Arachne.digital. The Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform for Empowered Protection. Reach out now and get a free analysis of your school's cybersecurity www.arachne.digital
S4 · E5
May 16, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
Designed for Life - Live at Simon Langton Boys School, Kent (Part 2)
In this, the second episode of a two-part mini-series, we continue exploring the journey of school design and technology leaders and departments as we visit and speak with staff, students, and parents at Simon Langton Boys' Grammar School in Canterbury, Kent. Before anyone assumes this is a story of overprivileged students enjoying an experience facilitated by wealth and connections, please be aware that this is not the case. This department has been carefully crafted from the ground up with a limited budget. It now has over 200 students studying design and technology at GCSE, alongside a mixed-gender, large, and growing sixth form. The school has achieved huge success in F1 in Schools, winning the National competition, which enabled students to represent the UK in the World Finals. This, alongside other opportunities, is part of an extensive extra-curricular offer presented to Langton students. We recorded over a full day in school, and there was so much good content that it was impossible to edit it into a single podcast. Therefore, we have decided to break this into two podcasts, released in close succession. If you haven't listened to part one yet, I suggest you go back and do so, as the recording has a sequence. So sit back, grab a moment or two to yourself and listen to Part Two of Designed for Life, in conversation with the Simon Langton Boys Grammar School in Kent. We thank our sponsors, Arachne Digital, your cyber threat intelligence platform for empowered protection. https://www.arachne.digital/ Follow The Langton Boys D&T Department on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/langtondesign/?hl=en
S4 · E4
May 9, 2025 · 58 min
Designed for Life - Live at Simon Langton Boys School, Kent (Part 1)
In this episode, we continue exploring the journey of school design and technology leaders and departments as we visit and talk with staff, students, and parents at the Simon Langton Boys Grammar School in Canterbury, Kent. Before anyone decides this is a story of overprivileged students enjoying an experience created by money and connections, please know this is not the case. This department has been carefully crafted from the ground up with a limited budget and now has over two hundred students studying design and technology at GCSE and a mixed-gender, large, and growing sixth form. The school has had huge success at F1 in Schools, winning the National competition, which allowed students to represent the UK in the World Finals. This, alongside other opportunities, is part of an extensive extra-curricular offer presented to Langton students. We recorded over a full day in school, and there was so much good content that it was impossible to edit it into one podcast, so we have decided to break this into two podcasts that will be released in close succession. So sit back, grab a moment or two to yourself and listen to Part One of Designed for Life, in conversation with the Simon Langton Boys Grammar School in Kent. We thank our sponsors, Arachne Digital, your cyber threat intelligence platform for empowered protection. https://www.arachne.digital/ Follow The Langton Boys D&T Department on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/langtondesign/?hl=en
Apr 17, 2025 · 59 min
Designed for Life - In conversation with Dean Kamen & Chris Hatherall
This is a big episode for Designed for Life, as we proudly reach number 100! We are delighted to have Dean Kamen, an American engineer, inventor, and businessman, on the show. Dean is known for his inventions of the Segway, iBOT, and Slingshot (a water purification system) and for founding what he proudly calls his greatest invention, FIRST. In this episode, we investigate the mindset of a serial inventor to discuss what drives a high-school student to set up a business that yields $60,000 before he finishes school and then pushes him to overcome design challenges, legislation, and the challenges posed by naysayers as he follows his belief that engineering can be a power for good. Chris Hatherall is the principal of Warrington UTC, a design and technology teacher, and a Design & Technology Association Trustee. Last year, he came across FIRST and set up a robotics challenge for his local primary schools, which was hugely successful. This year, the challenge has spread to more UTC's nationally and is open to primary colleagues nationally through this network. From small beginnings, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Technology) has become a global challenge, with events across multiple countries and nearly three million students competing. Dean's vision was to harness the passion seen openly for sporting events held in large stadiums with hugely competitive students and turn this into one of the world's biggest and most exciting STEM activities. 2025 is the 35th year of FIRST activities. Last year's competition saw 3,468 teams enter, including almost 87,000 students and 27,700 mentors across 28 countries, including the USA, Canada, China, and Turkey. It is an open competition open to all, and while it is truly competitive, it emphasises the need for collaboration, respect, and teamwork. It seems appropriate that we welcome a new sponsor to Designed for Life for our 100th episode. Welcome to Arachne.digital, who have joined the show with an offer to help schools, charities, and public institutions protect against global cyber threats. We are delighted to welcome them on board. So, without further ado, grab an hour to yourself and listen to Designed for Life—In Conversation with Dean Kamen and Chris Hatherall. https://www.experiential.bot/get-started https://www.firstinspires.org/ To hear a seven-year-old girl's perspective on FIRST, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igR409sJly0 Robotpagent@utcw.co.uk https://www.arachne.digital/

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