Designers' ideas for zero gravity world take off

Jason Tozer

26 September 2006:University of Canberra design students have worked with Canberra high school students helping them create products for a world with no gravity.

As part of the inaugural project titled Designing the Teaching of Design and Technology , six industrial design students and three graphic design students acted as teacher associates at Dickson College, Hawker College, Lake Ginninderra College and Narrabundah College.

Ms Baker said she learnt a lot from the project Photo: Kimberly Douglas

The students became a resource for teachers and mentor for design and technology students providing their knowledge and skills of the design process.

Deputy head of the School of Design and Architecture Stephen Trathen helped coordinate the project and said it was designed to fuel creative thinking.

"The idea was to take the theme of 'no gravity' and use it as a channel for understanding creative design thinking rather than specific design skills," Mr Trathen said.

"The theme was chosen to be non-discipline or skill specific so it could be answered by any stream within a design and technology area from food to fashion design."

The high school students designed practical devices to help with sleeping and showering, and novel ideas such as a break dancing jacket, all for use in a life of zero gravity.

Industrial design student Kate Baker said that the high school students weren't the only ones learning new things from the project.

"The best way to learn something is to be able to teach it," Ms Baker said.

"Also, because we have the option to do a diploma in education after graduation, it was a great opportunity for me to get an insight into the education side of design."

Geoffrey Roberts, also studying industrial design, agreed seeing how their design skills transferred into a high school environment was very interesting.

"The interaction with the students and the teaching element was something that appealed to me," Mr Roberts said.

"Seeing the jump in diversity of the students' creativity from when they first started and when they finished was really rewarding."