Danville Girls' High Learners Tackle Real-World Design Brief At The Vega School At Emeris Umhlanga

Eighteen Grade 11 and 12 learners from Danville Girls’ High School recently stepped into the role of creative agency designers during a Generation V Workshop hosted by The Vega School at Emeris uMhlanga.

The hands on workshop gave the learners a taste of what studying at The Vega School at Emeris is like as they tackled a mini version of a real design brief used by students.

Accompanied by their Visual Arts teacher Sharde Osborne, the learners worked in groups and were guided through the challenge by Mickey Burnett and Vian Roos, The Vega School at Emeris uMhlanga IIE Bachelor of Communication Design lecturers.

"The workshop gave the learners firsthand experience of what a typical lecture session is like. The brief was practical and drew on some of the most important skills we teach - how to research, think critically and find practical solutions," said Roos.

Their challenge was to design the next iconic pair of sunglasses. Working against the clock, the learners researched their ideas, developed concepts, built prototypes and used ChatGPT to create professional mock ups before pitching their designs.

Osborne said the Generation V Workshop encouraged the learners to think creatively while solving a real design challenge.

"Having the learners work practically with a brief to solve a problem and use their creativity is the best experience in an excursion. They responded well to the activities and surprised themselves with what they created, especially without having to consider whether they were right or wrong. The workshop, together with the opportunity to hear from lecturers and learn more about the programmes, definitely sparked learner interest in creative careers and The Vega School at Emeris," said Osborne.

Grade 12 learners Madita Magtin and Kyra Hughes were selected as the winning team.

Roos said they presented a pair of sunglasses that was a technically well-made concept that showed careful consideration of both the user and the market.

"They designed sunglasses for high school learners who want eyewear for social occasions. Their design featured removable lenses for day and night use, with different lens designs to suit different personalities and occasions. The group presented their concept well, factoring the user, the market and the overall experience into their design," he said.

Roos added that he and Burnett were impressed by the learners' enthusiasm and willingness to embrace the challenge.

"These opportunities are incredibly important for any learner considering a creative career. It gives them a snapshot of the work they will be doing daily: receiving briefs and challenges, researching to understand the problem, developing solutions to address it and having fun along the way," concluded Roos.