Design and Technology
Eight days where an idea becomes a working product through design thinking, CAD, materials science, electronics and practical manufacturing.
Coastal STEM
Design studio
From an idea on paper to a product that works.
The Design and Technology Programme is an eight-day, seven-night residential learning experience offered at Clayesmore School and Royal Hospital School for students aged 13–17.
Through the Sustainable Futures: Waste to Worth project, students move through the complete design process: research, sketching, CAD, material preparation, electronics, manufacturing, assembly, testing and presentation. They work towards creating a flat-pack USB-powered LED desk lamp using recycled HDPE and low-voltage electronic components.
Why this programme matters
Design and Technology is not simply about making an object. Students identify a problem, understand materials, test ideas and improve a solution until it works. The programme combines design thinking, materials science, mathematics, digital design, electronics and communication, supporting IB inquiry and reflection while aligning with NEP 2020 experiential and competency-based learning.
Programme structure
- Day01
Arrival & orientation
Met at Heathrow and transferred to the host school. Room allocation, safeguarding guidance, campus orientation and an introduction to British boarding-school life.
- Day02
Design brief & material exploration
Explore plastic waste, the circular economy and recycled HDPE. Shred and sort material, observe thermoforming, and begin sketching a flat-pack LED desk lamp.
- Day03
Design development & CAD
Refine concepts using CAD. Develop the lamp base, arms and panels while considering material thickness, joints, pivots, tolerances and efficient assembly.
- Day04
Oxford or Cambridge experience
Visit Oxford or Cambridge, depending on the final route, and explore a globally recognised environment shaped by design, engineering, research and innovation.
- Day05
Materials science & electronics
Investigate polymers, thermoplastics, LEDs, voltage, polarity and USB power. Begin laser cutting, preparing components and learning safe precision manufacturing.
- Day06
Manufacture, assembly & presentation
Cut, drill, finish and assemble components, install the LED circuit, troubleshoot issues and complete product photography, reflection, presentations and certification.
- Day07
The London experience
A guided journey through London introducing students to the city’s landmarks, architecture, design, history and contemporary culture.
- Day08
Local sightseeing & departure
A final local cultural experience before transfer to Heathrow. The complete international journey is nine days including travel.
A complete design journey, not a classroom exercise.
Students experience every stage involved in turning an initial concept into a manufactured, tested and working product.
Design thinking in practice
Interpret a live brief, explore a real sustainability challenge and develop ideas through research, sketching and evaluation.
Digital design and CAD
Learn how digital design supports accurate manufacturing, component planning and efficient assembly before production.
Materials and manufacturing
Explore recycled HDPE, thermoplastics and the practical processes used to shape, cut, drill and finish components.
Electronics and engineering
Study LEDs, voltage, polarity, simple circuits, USB power and energy efficiency before assembling a working product.
A working final product
Work towards a functional flat-pack USB-powered LED desk lamp that can be tested, presented and taken home.
Communication and confidence
Public-speaking coaching, debate and final presentations help students explain ideas and defend design decisions.
What you take home.
Students finish with a physical product and a clear understanding of how it was researched, designed, manufactured and evaluated.
- Complete design-process understanding, from a live brief to a finished product.
- Research and ideation experience through sketching, concept development and evaluation.
- Introductory CAD competence and experience designing components for manufacture.
- Materials knowledge covering recycled HDPE, polymers and thermoplastics.
- Manufacturing awareness including accuracy, tolerances, joints, pivots and assembly.
- Electronics understanding covering LEDs, voltage, polarity, circuits and USB power.
- Testing and troubleshooting skills for improving mechanical and electronic performance.
- A working LED desk lamp and programme certificate.
Built for curious makers aged 13–17.
No previous CAD, electronics or workshop experience is required. Students should arrive ready to experiment, solve problems and turn ideas into a physical product.
- Students aged 13–17 interested in design, technology, engineering or product development.
- Students considering architecture, industrial design or engineering.
- Students who enjoy practical, hands-on and project-based learning.
- Students willing to sketch, test, adjust and improve their ideas.
- Students able to participate in conversational English and collaborative work.
Life on the programme
A look inside the campus, the classrooms and the moments in between.
Transparent, all-in pricing.
One fee covers the complete UK experience, including accommodation, academics, project materials, activities and transfers from Heathrow to Heathrow.
Programme fee
Covers the full eight-day and seven-night residential programme in the United Kingdom.
- Seven nights’ residential accommodation at the host school
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the programme
- Sustainable Futures: Waste to Worth academic project
- Design thinking, sketching and introductory CAD activities
- Materials-science and electronics sessions
- Supervised workshop manufacturing and assembly
- Recycled HDPE, LED and scheduled project materials
- Public-speaking, reflection and project-presentation activities
- Oxford or Cambridge visit, guided London experience and local sightseeing
- Scheduled entrance fees and all planned UK transfers
- Heathrow airport pickup and departure transfer
- Supervision, pastoral support, completed lamp and certificate
Optional extras
Items we don’t bundle in — either because they vary or because families prefer to choose.
- Return international airfare
- United Kingdom visa fee and associated service charges
- Travel insurance, unless separately included by the organising school
- Personal shopping, pocket money and purchases outside the itinerary
Structured payments
The next instalment is payable 60 days before departure and the complete fee 30 days before departure.
School-led enrolment
Students join through their school following a parent open house and formal programme introduction.
Seat deposit
A ₹1,00,000 deposit confirms participation and allows flight and visa planning to begin.
Your journey, step by step.
The enrolment journey is managed jointly by the participating school and Aspirational Editech.
School introduction & open house
The school shares a letter of intent. Aspirational Editech then explains the programme, host school, safety, inclusions and payment process to parents.
Registration & deposit
Interested parents complete registration and pay a ₹1,00,000 deposit. Flight options and visa appointment planning then begin.
Documents & instalments
Parents receive visa guidance, flight planning and programme information. The next instalment is payable 60 days before departure.
Final preparation
The full fee is payable 30 days before departure. Families receive the final itinerary, packing guidance, contacts and pre-departure orientation.
What students and parents tell us.
Seeing my sketch become a working lamp made me understand how many decisions sit behind even a simple product.
The students had to understand the material, use CAD, solve technical problems and explain why their design worked.
My child returned with a product he had built himself and much greater patience and confidence when solving problems.
Questions, answered.
Design it. Build it. Make it work.
Give students the opportunity to turn an initial idea into a working product through CAD, materials science, electronics and practical manufacturing.
Apply for a 2026 programme
Programmes are organised for school cohorts at Clayesmore School or Royal Hospital School. Contact our team to discuss availability and the parent engagement process.
Download the Design and Technology Programme Brochure
Explore the academic structure, design project, learning outcomes, inclusions and complete eight-day programme journey.
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