From Classroom to Career: Alumni Workshop Challenges Design Thinking

It was a pleasure to welcome back one of our own this week as we hosted a bespoke Design Identity Workshop led by a successful former student, Aaron Robinson. Our aspiring designers were given a unique opportunity to step outside the standard curriculum and explore the commercial reality of “Brand DNA.”

The core question of the day was simple yet profound: What is design? As our guest mentor explained, design isn’t just about making something look “nice” it’s a problem-solving process that communicates the values and personality of a brand.

The Challenge: The Brand Flip

Students were tasked with a high-level creative challenge. They had to select one of six iconic global brands, each with a distinct visual language:

• Google: Playful, primary-colored, and minimalist.

• Polaroid: Retro, tactile, and nostalgic.

• Chanel: Sophisticated, monochrome, and luxurious.

• Lamborghini: Aerodynamic, aggressive, and high-performance.

• LEGO: Modular, vibrant, and geometric.

• Starbucks: Organic, communal, and textured.

The goal? Take an everyday object and completely redesign it as if it were a flagship product for their chosen brand.

The department was buzzing with activity as students reimagined household staples. We saw some truly “out of the box” thinking:

• Lamborghini Air Fryers featuring carbon-fiber finishes and sharp, angular vents.

• LEGO Smart Speakers that were entirely modular and customizable.

• Chanel Kettles that wouldn’t look out of place on a Parisian runway.

• Polaroid Headphones using vintage color palettes and analog switches.

• Google Water Bottles focusing on clean “Material Design” aesthetics.

It was fantastic to see students deconstructing what makes a brand recognizable whether it’s the curve of a silhouette or a specific shade of green and applying it to complex 3D forms.

A massive well done to all the students who participated. Your ability to pivot your thinking and apply professional design principles was impressive.

Finally, a huge thank you to our alumni student, Aaron, for giving back to the school community. Seeing a former student succeeding in the industry is the best inspiration our current cohorts could ask for. It serves as a brilliant reminder that the skills learned in our D&T workshops are the building blocks for exciting future careers.