Schools Design Prize 1980

Abstract

The fourth Schools Design Prize competition, organised by the Design Council and sponsored this year by Rolls Royce Limited, had its prizegiving ceremony at the Royal Institution on Wednesday, 12th November, 1980.

The annual Design Prize, established in 1977 under the sponsorship of G.E.C., has provided ample evidence that young people, when challenged to solve a problem or satisfy a need, can produce designs that show remarkable imagination, ingenuity and creative ability. The development of these talents is not only of great educational importance, but also vital to the future well being of British manufacturing industry, and this year one of the major features of the competition has been the close collaboration between the entrants and the sponsors. Mr. Donald Pepper, Vice Chairman of Rolls Royce, in his introductory remarks at the prizegiving described this collaboration in which design engineers from Rolls Royce visited over 100 schools to discuss design projects with entrants and to offer their expertise and guidance on specific problems. The liaison he insisted was as important for industry as it was for the schools, for the long term health of the nation is dependent on fostering the potential that exists in many school design departments.