About Design Ventura

Design Ventura challenges students in years 9, 10 and 11 to design a new product for the Design Museum shop.

Design Ventura, the Design Museum’s flagship learning project, is an opportunity for students to develop design thinking, creative and business capabilities and employability skills. The project was launched in 2010 in partnership with Deutsche Bank, as part of the bank’s global youth engagement programme, Born to Be, and has seen over 108,250 students participate.

Teachers are offered training and resources to develop their own professional practice and to run the project in school with the support of design and business industry experts.

Students, working in teams, are asked to consider the whole process of design, from initial ideas to manufacturing and budgets to marketing and branding.

The top ten state school teams are invited to a pitching event at Deutsche Bank London head office. The winning team is announced at a Celebration Event at the Design Museum and go on to work with a professional design team to develop their idea and see it on sale the Design Museum Shop.

International and Independent schools are welcome to participate but compete for a different, separate prize.

For 2022-23 there will be a themed online mini challenge for students in years 7 and 8.

Register your school

Support and benefits for registered schools:

  • Supports the delivery of the Design and Technology curriculum, including the D&T GCSE specification (KS3 and GCSE mapping can be found here – you will need to be logged in)
  • Free teacher CPD sessions, including live online sessions, with pathways to Goldsmiths College MA in Design Education
  • Free workshops at the Design Museum, supported by design and industry professionals
  • Online resources, including workshop plans, films and step through process
  • Flexible project structure that can be run as an extra-curricular activity, a STEM/STEAM project or towards CREST awards or Arts Mark
  • Support from the Design Museum team
  • All participating students receive certificates
  • The top ten ideas are displayed in a public exhibition at the Design Museum
  • Winners will work with professional designers to see their idea manufactured and sold in the Design Museum shop

Who can take part?

  • Students in years 9, 10 and 11
  • UK state schools
  • 4-6 students per team
  • D&T, A&D, Business & Enterprise Students and related creative subjects
  • International and Independent schools are welcome to participate in the project but we are unable to offer free workshops and they will compete for a separate prize. For more details please contact the Design Ventura team.

Key Dates

Design Ventura Staff

the
DESIGN
MUSEUM

The world’s leading museum devoted to contemporary design in every form from architecture and fashion to graphics, product and industrial design. The Design Museum opened in its spectacular new location in the former Commonwealth Institute building on High Street Kensington on 24 November, 2016. The Museum is an international showcase for the many design skills at which Britain excels and a creative centre, promoting innovation and nurturing the next generation of design talent. Learning is at the heart of the museum with provision from early years through formal learning to adult courses and the varied public programmes of events.

Our values Plan your visit Find out more

The Shop

The Design Museum shop aims to sell the most beautiful, innovative, intelligently designed products and publications from around the world. It operates through two retail spaces at the new site in Kensington and through the online shop.

Find out more Shop website

The Collection

The Design Museum’s collection is an important record of the key designs that have shaped the modern world. It tells the history of mass production, from the manufacturing innovations of the nineteenth century up to the digital and making revolution of the last few years.

The Collection Design objects Designer Maker User
We're Nationwide
Hampstead School
St. Clements College
The Nelson Thomlinson School
King Edward VI Academy
Chipping Campden School
Willenhall E-ACT Academy
Beacon hill academy
Our Lady’s Catholic College
Stonehill International School
Fareham Academy
Poole Grammar School
Wallington High School for Girls
St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School
Comberton Village College
North Walsham High School
King’s School Bruton
Howard of Effingham
Gordano School
Kelly Garner
St. Olaves Grammar School
Thornhill community a ademy
St Lawrence College
Guru Nanak Sikh Academy
St. Andrews International School Bangkok
Dean Trust Rose Bridge
Hillhead High School
Maidstone Grammar School
Goldington Academy
Alder Community High School
Queen Marys Grammar School
Guru Nanak Sikh Academy
the king john school
King Edward VI Aston
Northwood School
Langley park school for boys
Perryfields Academy
Plumstead Manor School
Old Swinford hospital School
UTC Derby Pride Park
The Lenham School
Barton Court Grammar School
Hornsey school for Girls
George Spencer Academy
Milford Haven
Wimbledon High School
St Matthew Academy
Ark Pioneer Academy
Heckmondwike Grammar School
Haggerston School
Poppy Parry
Christ the King Academy
Abbeywood School
Trinity School, Newbury
Beaumont leys school
The JCB Academy
Kings Norton Boys School
Halcyon International School
Upton Hall School FCJ
Kingsmead School
Norwich High School
Lasswade High School
Brighton Hill Community School
Salford City Academy
Alderman Peel High School
Ben Turner
The King’s School
Orleans Park
Bishop Ullathorne Catholic School
Watling Academy
Parkside Community College
Spalding Grammar
The Winstanley School
Bishop Luffa School
Bohunt Wokingham
Ricards Lodge High School
Wren Academy
Maidstone Grammar School
Rainford High
Young Dancers Academy
The Burgess Hill Academy
Rainham Mark Grammar School
The Trafalger School at Downtown
2020 Winner - Heckmondwike Grammar School
2019 Winner - Twynham School Sopers Lane
2018 Winner - Simon Ball All-through School
2017 Winner - Weatherhead High School
2016 Winner - Harrogate Grammar School
2015 Winner - Finchley Catholic High School
2014 Winner - Burnage Academy for Boys
2013 Winner - Weald of Kent Grammar School
2012 Winner - Trinity School
2011 Winner - Walworth Academy
2010 Winner - Haberdasher’s Aske’s Hatcham College
2017 Winner – Weatherhead High School
2018 Winner - Simon Balle School
2019 Winner - Twynham School