A Glimpse into Real-World Design

Published 1st April 2025

As part of their continued exploration of careers in design and technology, a group of Year 13 students from Langley Grammar School in Slough visited Designworks, an award-winning design and engineering consultancy based in Windsor.

The visit offered students a unique opportunity to step inside a leading UK design studio and gain first-hand insight into the world of product development, modelmaking, and innovation across sectors such as medical, consumer, and digital.

The visit included an informative talk covering the company’s work, clients, and the wide range of career paths within the design industry. Students were particularly struck by the scale and variety of projects Designworks has contributed to—many of which involve high-profile clients and products they hadn’t realised were influenced by design studios like this one. Students feed back with some excellent comments;

“The trip was really informative. I didn’t know much about how design companies interact with other businesses, but I learnt so much. I found it really cool how studios like this are involved in major products.”

The highlight for many was the behind-the-scenes tour of the workshop, where team members took time to walk students through ongoing projects, prototyping processes, and the technologies used daily in the studio. From CAD modelling to hands-on modelmaking, students got a real feel for how ideas evolve into finished products.

“The tour of the workshop and what each member had to say about the projects was so in-depth. Everyone was welcoming and willing to share their time with us.”

The visit also opened students’ eyes to career paths they hadn’t previously considered, especially the intersection between design and other sectors like science and healthcare.

“It really opened my eyes to different roles within the company—particularly how medical devices bridge the gap between design and science.”

“Very insightful into careers in design. The talk and the structure of the visit were great.”

Designworks’ made a lasting impression on the students, who left the studio inspired and better informed about the many possibilities a future in design could offer.

The team at Designworks also benefitted from the experience. Designer Daniel Cane commented, " As a team, we love doing this kind of outreach. It’s not just about giving back—it’s energising for us too. It was great to see a large number of the students were female—it’s important to have diversity, especially when many of our products are designed for women.”

"There’s something really gratifying about watching a young person connect with something you love doing every day. They asked great questions—questions that made me stop and think. That kind of curiosity is what the industry needs more of."

Find out more about these kind of schemes by contacting: amelia.wright@designtechnology.org.uk.