What do you love about the subject you teach?
Product Design is a gateway for students to have a positive impact on people’s lives through design. Areas that students can progress on to include Product Design, Industrial Design, Architecture, Green Design and Environmental Design, Automotive Design and many, many more.
Products (which can ultimately be anything and everything that has been designed and manufactured by humans) have a constant impact on individuals, society, the planet and environment, plus so many more areas that people don’t realise.
The pressures on designers to think green and sustainable in order to meet the needs of legislation and the wellbeing of the planet and human race is immense. Designers in this day and age are not only developing products to sell in an economic business model, but are also having to consider the impacts their products will have on so many levels.
What qualifications do you have that are connected to the subject you teach?
BA Honours Degree in Industrial Design & Technology. PGCE in Secondary Education-Design & Technology. CAD/3D Modelling City & Guilds. Engineering City & Guilds.
What relevant industry experience do you have?
I have worked in Industry as an Industrial/Product Designer. This included liaising with blue chip clients and managing project teams in the design and manufacture of a whole range of products including scale model wind test models for the McLaren Formula One Team, Engineering prototypes for Sellafield/BNFL, architects’ models for housing development companies, working prototypes and interaction models for the National Trust to name but a few.
The experience was invaluable for teaching and to have had the opportunity to live and breathe the industry, working on bespoke projects with key clients and companies, allows me to pass on skills, experiences as well as to have the knowledge to make the connections between theory and the examination syllabus.
I also take pride in developing my students’ skills to a high level whereby they can access top level higher education degree courses and apprenticeships.
What is your message to students considering studying at Priestley College?
Priestley was actually my college when I was age 16. It provided me with opportunities to study a range of excellent courses, with specialist staff that are passionate about what they teach.
We have teachers who will stretch your ability, to get the best from you and we have excellent academic and wellbeing support available to cater for all students’ needs.
The opportunities for extra curriculum enrichment is mind-blowing. It helps make our students stand out from the crowd, especially when they are applying for competitive courses post-Priestley.
Not only is our academic support outstanding, but our pastoral support is second to none.
Do you have any interesting hobbies?
I am an England Karate coach and have studied Karate since the age of 9.
