“We have had a fantastic response to the Bendigo Tech School’s Furniture Design Competition. They have submitted designs and 3D models of their vision of furniture for the school of the future,” says Director Graeme Wiggins.

Students were competing to win one of three mini 3D Printers and attend a Tech School Furniture Design Masterclass, where design and materials experts will mentor them to develop and refine a digital product prototype.

“Students have come up with designs for indoor and outdoor collaborative learning spaces, as well as storage for equipment, technology and materials,” says Graeme. “There were two age groups for judges to select the winning designs.”

‘The Design Thinking Studio’ by Eve Featherstonhaugh was the winning design for the Year 9-10 category. The studio contains what she calls the ‘thinking tree’ for students to develop ideas and designs, collaboratively or individually. “I wanted to connect the natural world to the high tech world we are entering,” says Eve. “I know tech is going to be a huge part of our lives and I want to be a part of what good tech can bring to our world.”

Winner for Year 7-8 was Carla Mills for her design ‘Chillax’, for her great model making, use of materials and vision for future furniture.

Highly commended included Kristin Schwartz her 3D functioning car table, Mackenzie Mamon ‘The Comfy Box’ demonstrating the spirit of hygge (Danish philosophy of cosiness), Arwen Featherstonhaugh with an outside chair/bench concept and Joe Wild with ‘Rock Lamp’– organic form light, shaped like a geometric rock.

The Victorian Government is investing $128 million to establish 10 Tech Schools across the state as part of its commitment to deliver the Education State for Victoria.