Design for the Future: Chester Design Students Collaborate with Industry Experts

How do you prepare the next generation of designers? At Chester, we believe in bridging the gap between education and industry, giving our students the chance to apply their creativity and technical skills to real-world contexts.

This approach was recently brought to life through a live brief, where our second-year students were challenged to design sustainable lighting. Students initially took part in a client briefing to get ideas flowing, before creating their designs and pitching their ideas. The structure of this experience was designed to follow the life cycle of a product, from concept to design, to commerciality and sustainability. This challenge was set and delivered by Bang Creations, a leading product design agency known for their strong commitment to sustainable and socially responsible design.

They work across multiple industries, from household energy-saving systems to inclusive products that support the elderly and individuals with learning difficulties. As a B Corp organisation, they ensure their work is not only commercially viable, but also environmentally and socially conscious. Their expertise made them the perfect client to inform our students’ designs!

A collaborative, sustainable challenge

The project started with an interactive online workshop, with peers from the Sustainable Product Design course at Falmouth University who were also working on the same brief. The session provided an opportunity for students from both Chester and Falmouth to brainstorm ideas and gain different perspectives from one another.

A highlight was exploring Bang Creations’ Design Compass, a new industry-standard tool that helps designers to balance profitability, sustainability and social responsibility. Our students learned how this tool supports better decision-making by embedding sustainable thinking into designing for manufacture, addressing the challenge of creating products that succeed commercially whilst minimising the impact on people and our planet.

Our Product Design students then went on to swap learning environments with students from Chester Business School as the next step in the live brief. The two subject areas took part in an interdisciplinary activity, where our Product Design students explored the commercial implications of their designs, while Chester Business School students developed their young enterprise business ideas using a design thinking approach.

Chelsea, who is currently studying Product Design, said: “This project helped me understand that product design isn’t always linear and balancing aspects such as user experience, sustainability, and business is crucial in creating a successful product.

One key takeaway from the project has been the importance of financial knowledge in product design. Before this experience, I had only really focused on user experience and aesthetics, but I now recognise that understanding costs, pricing strategies, and market positioning are just as critical. I also plan to explore more ways of including sustainable manufacturing processes into my designs.”

Learning beyond the studio

This live brief is just one of the many examples of how we encourage experience-led learning that goes beyond the traditional classroom. From day one, students are supported in building meaningful industry connections and developing a mindset grounded in practical design thinking.

Working alongside professionals, like Bang Creations, offers insights into the design industry and helps our students to develop the key skills, hands-on project experience, and confidence toelp them succeed both professionally and personally.

Rebecca Falcon, Product Design BA Couse Leader, said: “Design is a team effort, so it is critical that our students learn how to collaborate with others. Working with Bang Creations, and experts from the Business School prepares our students for the demands of industry, whilst experiencing the thrill of designing for an external client on a live brief. Using The Design Compass throughout the design process has given our students a far greater understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a professional Product Designer.”

Partnerships that make a difference

At Chester, we’re proud to maintain strong partnerships with key figures and organisations across the design industry. These collaborations provide opportunities that allow students to engage with masterclasses, studio visits, interactive workshops, and guest lectures led by professionals who are actively shaping the future of design.

Such opportunities don’t just enrich learning they provide the tools to help you stand out in the job market and the knowledge that contributes to solving real-world problems through design.

A special thank you to Bang Creations’ CEO Stefan Knox who travelled to Chester to hear product pitches, Simon Andrews and Evy Dutheil from Falmouth University, and Cheryl Sorenson and Connor Dangerfield from the University of Chester Business School for being part of this incredible experience for students.

Find out more

Want to learn more about studying Product Design at Chester and how it can prepare you for a successful, creative career? Be sure to visit our course page to learn more about how you can apply.