Happy New Year – Design Technology Students – Best of’s 2013

Happy New Year to all IB Design Technology Students,

Are you looking forward to getting back to school at the beginning of next week, NO – why not I ask? If not it is time to get yourself inspired especially for the upcoming year of your studies in Design and Technology. BUT HOW you ask?

Well have a look at the links below at what some of the most important blogs and design websites have listed as the most innovative or best designs in 2013. Yes I know you have looked at the top ten of music for 2013 – so why not have a look you will be amazed at the creativity of such designs – and in can also help you if you use these lists and sites to do the following exercises or help with your upcoming design challenges :-

• Yanko Design Top 50 – A great website for new innovative designs and there top 50 is as varied as they come. Whether the ‘swing toothpaste’ or ‘air rope‘ – a great starter for 10 – choose which of the 50 you believe will go from an innovative idea to a successful product and be able to explain why? Or maybe do a materials quiz where for your chosen innovation decide what materials it is made from and why and how it is produced? I personally love the ‘window socket’ – maybe not the most feasible? Not sure as to your answers – why not start a discussion with your Design Technology teacher?
• Or how about the Top Ten Shipping Container Structures of 2013 – a fabulous way in to a great ergonomics and anthropometrics revision maybe? Does this inspire you that the simplest object can make the most creative living spaces?
• Design Boom has some other top tens for 2013 including – best installations and best bridges (great if you are starting a structures unit?) Just have a browse with this site…
• Another browser is Wallpaper, although more commercial, has their design awards of 2013 presented well – especially the other section…
• Design Museum Awards are always a great place to start for 2013…
• Finally not a top ten list – but a fabulous example of ‘constructive discontent’ by some University students to redesign guess what the cardboard box – this could be a real brain-scrambler to test your friends on their first day back to try and think how to improve the cardboard box as a micro design task – and then compare to this one… there is a great video to...

I hope these links have inspired you – remember the world of design and technology is an exciting and vibrant one. So when you get bogged down in your studies this year think back to some of these ideas to inspire YOU!