Button hoops for keeping spectacles safe, a system for identifying device chargers and cables, and acrylic circles that transform playing cards into sculptures.
These were just three of the ingenious designs shortlisted for the Design Museum’s annual Design Ventura prize.
The competition, which is supported by Deutsche Bank, challenges students aged 13 to 16 to meet a real-life design brief.
This year’s theme was “connect” and a team from Burnage Academy for Boys in Manchester hit on the idea of making laser-cut acrylic connectors that enable playing cards to be built into sculptures.
The clever design – called Kard’Lapse – scooped first prize and the team received their award at the Design Museum in London recently.
The team – Mushahid Ali, Muaz Wasti, Adil Ahmed, Saaqib Shehzaad, Ahmad Nurruedin and Healal Uddin – will now oversee production of their winning concept, including packaging, pricing and promotion.
It will go on sale at the Design Museum shop later in the year, with profits going to the school’s chosen charity.
“The Design Ventura project has been a great learning experience for our students,” explained Steve Bentley, head of design technology at Burnage Academy.
“The opportunity to apply real-world design and enterprise practice and venture outside the classroom has been invaluable.”
Sebastian Conran, a trustee of the Design Museum and chair of judges, said the shortlisted teams had come up with “exceptional ideas”.
He added: “The winners now have the opportunity to acquire valuable business experience and the excitement of overseeing their winning concept being turned into reality.”
Bishop Douglass School in Finchley won second prize for Spec Hoops, a button hoop for carrying spectacles on your shirt.
St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon won third prize for Socket Pocket, a pocket to hold mobile phones while they are being charged at a power socket.
Schools can enter the next Design Ventura from May 2015. For more details, visit ventura.designmuseum.org
CAPTION: Kard’Lapse: The winning Design Ventura team from Burnage Academy for Boys in Manchester (Photo: Design Museum)