From ironing boards to classroom innovation: celebrating Sarah Boone this Black History Month

Published 15th October 2025

This Black History Month, we turn our attention to Sarah Boone, a trailblazing inventor whose insight still resonates in design & technology classrooms today.

In 1892, Boone was granted US Patent for an improved ironing board. She recognised that the existing bulky, flat boards were ill suited to pressing sleeves and fitted garments. Her design featured a narrow, curved board that corresponded to the inside and outside seams of sleeves, plus a movable support to flip the board for pressing both sides.

Linking Sarah Boone’s innovation to design & technology

Boone’s invention is a vivid example of spotting a user need, iterating on existing solutions, and improving everyday objects through clever design. Teachers can use her story to prompt pupils to see that innovation often lies in refinement, not total reinvention.

A natural classroom connection is to the KI – Minimising Parts context, part of 'Inspired by Industry', which challenges students to reduce component count in furniture design while maintaining strength and function. Students can draw parallels: Boone eliminated excess bulk and refined form to serve function. ‘Inspired by Industry’ is free for all teachers to use, with additional member-only tasks and activities available for Design & Technology Association members.

By bringing Sarah Boone’s story into the D&T classroom, teachers remind pupils that design is inclusive, history is full of unsung innovators, and that small design changes can have huge impact.