Inspired by Industry Gola® Design Challenge
Inspired by Industry Design Challenge
The Gola® Design Challenge, delivered in partnership with the Design & Technology Association as part of the Inspired by Industry context, provided students with a meaningful opportunity to engage with a live, real-world design brief. Centred on designing an innovative sports bag, the challenge encouraged learners to respond to authentic user needs while developing a deeper understanding of professional design practice.
A Real-World Context for Learning
The challenge asked students to design a sports bag that solved genuine problems faced by athletes and active users. This moved learning beyond hypothetical scenarios, placing students in the role of designers working within a recognised British brand context. Students were able to explore how brand identity, functionality and user experience intersect in commercial design. The brief supported key areas of the D&T curriculum, including user-centred design, material selection, ergonomics and iterative development.
Designing with Purpose
Students approached the challenge by first identifying user needs, often drawing on their own experiences. The winning design by Arthur Vakil Tcherniak from Colchester Royal Grammar School exemplified this approach. Inspired by his experience as a tennis player, Arthur focused on storage limitations within existing sports bags, developing a solution that incorporated multiple compartments alongside insulated sections for food and drink. Other students demonstrated similar depth, incorporating anthropometric data, CAD modelling and visual communication techniques to refine and present their ideas effectively. Head of Design Technology at Colchester Royal Grammar School, noted that collaboration brought relevance to the project, helping students understand the realities of design careers while developing practical skills.
From Concept to Prototype
A key feature of the competition is the progression of student ideas beyond the classroom. The winning design is now being taken forward for development with Gola®’s design team, following professional processes such as material selection, pattern cutting and construction. The opportunity to have designs recognised and developed by a professional brand provides a powerful sense of purpose and achievement.