Thinking outside the box - Using D&T to solve real-world problems

Published 23rd October 2025

At St Mary’s College in Crosby, design & technology is about more than making products. Led by Ben Swan, Head of D&T, students develop practical problem-solving skills and innovative thinking to tackle real-world challenges.

A striking example was Upper Sixth student Emily Jones, whose bus shelter design for Mersey Travel was recognised with a Design & Technology Association Excellence Award in 2024. Emily’s project went beyond functionality, focusing on community engagement and sustainability.

Design with purpose

Emily included a digital screen where passengers could upload photos via QR code, creating a constantly updating collage of local images. Her aim was to make the shelter feel part of the community rather than just another street structure.

She balanced eco-friendly choices with durability, using concrete and metal for strength, wooden elements for warmth, and a green roof to offset emissions. “The plants improve air quality and provide a renewable energy source for the shelter’s power needs,” she explains.

Learning through challenges

Working with concrete proved tricky and required multiple test runs. Reinforcing it with wooden beams gave the structure stability. This hands-on problem-solving gave Emily valuable experience in material testing, construction, and iterative design—skills she can apply in future careers.

The evolving role of D&T

Emily’s project shows how D&T now blends creativity, critical thinking, and real-world problem solving. At St Mary’s, students tackle authentic challenges, developing skills useful in architecture, engineering, product design, and beyond.

Ben Swan highlights the impact: “Projects like this inspire students to take creative risks and build confidence in their abilities.”

Looking ahead

By giving students freedom to explore ideas and test solutions, D&T helps them create portfolios that showcase design thinking, practical skills, and innovative solutions. For teachers, it demonstrates the subject’s potential to prepare students for careers in a rapidly changing world.

To support teachers further, a handy downloadable PDF article is available. This resource can be kept in your classroom as inspiration to revisit and share whenever you want to highlight how sustainability and creativity can come alive in design and technology.