D&T Change Makers Visit to D-Lab Studios

"In June we competed in a friendly competition run by the D&T department called Change Makers. Most of our year group (currently Year 9) partook in this exciting opportunity, with the prize being a trip to D-Lab Studios, a creative space in Stratford where creatives can use the equipment including 3D printers and laser cutters.

The team from D-Lab Studios came to help judge the competition. This was an innovative challenge to create and present a prototype of a product that would help people with specific needs. Our target audience was selected through the use of randomly selected cards - one set providing details like age, independence and gender, with the other set showing a key characteristic such as anxiety, dyslexia or a visual impairment. We had to be empathic to our users’ circumstances, then design a product to aid their daily life.

Firstly, we drew out multiple ideas. After that, we selected our favourite design and made a prototype out of cardboard. Next, we brought it to life by 3D printing a mini version on the school’s 3D printers. Lastly, we produced a presentation with an annotated sketch and the steps we followed to explain our idea to a panel of judges. The winners were then decided and were awarded with medal and an invitation to D-Lab Studio.

Last week we were taken to the studio in Stratford to print our trophy using a clay 3D printer. We each started by making our own individual designs to bring together and vote on which to print. The vote was tied between a fish pot and a vase with a scalloped design. A final design was settled upon by combining both designs, it was created on a design program called Rhino and sent to the printer. 3D printing in clay is different to 3D printing with plastic filament as clay is more fluid. Clay can 3D print faster and thicker than filament and extrudes with a toothpaste-like consistency, it also works at room temperature. 3D printing with clay is used to make different looking, more textured prints. 3D printing with clay is quite new which means that the 3D printers can cost around £10,000!

However, there are some problems with 3D printing with clay because it could produce an air bubble, which leaves a mark in the print. The clay could also crack, or not stick together properly, which would make the end product look worse. A common problem is that if the product has an overhang, it will probably collapse."

• By Grace, Mia, Kyra, Sophie, Emma and Sylvie, Y9