Teachers in Residence with Saima Ahmed and Bulletproof

Published 1st October 2025

Bringing real-world design insight to the classroom

Saima, Head of Design and Technology at South Bank University Academy, has brought fresh industry insight to her classroom after taking part in the Design & Technology Association’s Teachers in Residence programme. She teaches Product Design to secondary and sixth form students and wanted to explore how design operates in a professional environment, bringing that learning back to her pupils.

Discovering the workings of the design industry

During her placement at Bulletproof, a leading creative agency, Saima gained a comprehensive understanding of the many roles required to deliver a project—from accounting and strategy to marketing and design. She observed how teams collaborate and support one another, learning how each role, even those often behind the scenes, contributes to the final product. This experience gave her a clear picture of real-world processes and the importance of teamwork in professional design.

Connecting classroom learning with real-world practice

Saima is now applying these insights in the classroom. She plans to incorporate roles not usually explored in school projects, such as strategy and proof reading, and increase team-based activities to mirror professional collaboration. These changes will help pupils see how classroom learning links directly to industry practice. Saima also hopes to maintain her connection with Bulletproof, arranging visits so students can witness a design workplace in action.

She believes the experience will boost pupil engagement in design and technology and help them make informed decisions about future courses and careers. For teachers considering Teachers in Residence, Saima’s advice is simple: embrace the opportunity. The placement offers invaluable professional development for teachers and opens doors for pupils to understand the evolving world of design.