Twenty enthusiastic Year 10 and Lower Sixth Product Design pupils recently returned from the first Queenswood Design and Technology Study Tour to New York. The group, along with many other schools, attended a specially arranged educational Seminar and Conference designed specifically for pupils studying Design and Technology.

Hosted by John Kenrick, a lifelong New Yorker and personal assistant to six Tony-winning producers, the seminars opened with a brief description of New York’s recent history – how it grew from an Indian settlement to the tourist, fashion and business and technological centre it is today.

Presentations were made by:

Jack Buchsbaum of the Port of New York and New Jersey, who presented some fascinating computer graphics and animations on how information and computer graphics builds the Ports facilities and makes them work.

Sheelagh Wylie of Madame Tussauds, New York, who lectured about the production and maintenance procedures at this exciting attraction. Her lecture included discussion about the designing skills, products and applications of materials and components used in the production of their exhibits.

A representative of the Lincoln centre reviewing Rachel Rowberry’s original artwork which is created in gouache, ink and gold leaf on paper. Of particular interest was seeing how these designs were transcribed through the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) to the finest silk with superb colour and engraving. Her products can be worn as wearable art forms or framed. Much of Rachel’s artistic style is influenced by neo classicism and the baroque style of Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, a time she believes was one of the most romantic in history for art and architecture.

Clear seminar conclusions and guidance were also provided for those seeking careers within Engineering, Architecture, Fashion and Product Design. Several thought-provoking questions were posed to speakers by the Queenswood delegation and the carefully crafted tour programme also gave us the chance to see at first hand some of the technological wonders of this cosmopolitan city.

The three day cross-curricular study programme also included visits to:

- The Museum of Modern Art
- The United Nations 
- The Statue of Liberty
- Ground Zero
- Times Square
- Grand Central Station
- The Guggenheim Museum

Pupils and staff alike enjoyed a range of extra-curricular activities which included outdoor ice-skating at night under the shadow of the Rockefeller Centre, eating dinner in a traditional American diner and also taking in the hit Broadway musical, Hairspray.

The overall theme of the tour related to the application of technology in today’s world and also showed how technology itself was changing and evolving to help stimulate the design of better, more durable and environmentally sensitive products.

Jon Welch, Head of Design Technology .