IB students of Design and Technology will soon be embarking on their year long, internally assessed design and make project. Firstly, students are tasked with identifying a design context that can be explored and analyzed.  Identifying target users and customer needs is a key part of formulating the success criteria with which to assess their own design proposal. The product development stages will see students using their Computer Aided Design modeling skills to build testable mock ups. In our makerspace a range of tools and materials are available for students to test and use while creating their rapid prototypes. Students learn to plan, build and evaluate their design ideas as well as the systems they put in place to achieve them. Sustainability and environmental impact are serious considerations as well as User Centered Design and the inclusion of anthropometric data and ergonomics.  

To help inspire  our young designers we visited the INÉDITO exhibition in Chapultepec Park as part of Design Week 2020. We analyzed the work of contemporary Mexican designers looking for themes and approaches to aesthetics, functionality and the hidden ethical decisions related to design and manufacture. 

“I really enjoyed seeing design work from older students studying at Mexican Universities like CEDIM. I could see how students were approaching similar design contexts in their own unique ways”.  Luisa - Hive 3. 

“I saw some really cool innovations. Students Anáhuac were developing a structure that could be used to help Bees create a hive”.  Andres - Hive 3.