Design Ventura

The full Design Ventura programme will take a temporary hiatus and although the competition will pause, we are actively exploring fresh ways to engage schools. We understand how much Design Ventura has meant to both students and teachers over the years. Rest assured, we remain committed to upholding its creative spirit throughout this transition. Thank you for your continued support and for being an essential part of the Design Ventura community.

For nearly 15 years, teachers have had access to a wealth of learning materials including workshop plans, films, webinars, and online content that support D&T, Art & Design, Business & Enterprise, and related creative subjects. These resources are free to access and can enrich your curriculum even outside of running the competition. No registration required. Find out more via the link below.

If you have any queries, please email the Design Museum Learning Team via learning@designmuseum.org

DESIGN VENTURA brings the business of design to life. The programme encourages participant school groups to answer a live brief to design a new product for our museum shop. The challenge gives students a real-world context for learning, providing them with first-hand experience of the importance of design in our economy and society, as well as sustainable design values and principles.

Launched in 2010 in partnership with Deutsche Bank, the Design Ventura programme has seen over 160,000 students from 3,400 schools participate and has raised more than £19,000 for charity.

Every year, Design Ventura provides support for school Design & Technology and Art & Design programmes by providing free online learning resources, workshops, webinars and live events, supported by industry professionals; and in the case for some schools, provide the only access point to Design & Technology and creative learning.

COMPETITION
Taking a competition format, students are challenged to design a new product to be sold at the Design Museum Shop. Teachers deliver the project in their schools, giving students the chance to tackle a real-world design brief and develop creative thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and enterprise skills, aligned to the national curriculum.

EXHIBITION
Each year, the top ten shortlisted schools are invited to pitch their product ideas to a panel of expert judges. The winning idea is then made and sold in the museum's online and onsite shops, with all proceeds going to the winning team’s chosen charity. The shortlisted projects are displayed in the museum alongside the winner idea.

• Free teacher CPD sessions

• Free online resources, including workshop plans and films

• Free museum workshops supported by design and industry professionals for UK state schools

• Free online workshops led by museum educators for UK state schools based outside of London

• Flexible project structure that can be run in lessons, as an extra-curricular activity, a STEM/STEAM project or towards CREST award or Arts Mark

• Support from the Design Ventura team

• All participating students receive certificates

• The top ten ideas are displayed in a public exhibition at the Design Museum

• The winning team will work with professional designers to see their idea manufactured and sold in the Design Museum shop

• Separate International and Independent Schools Category

Background image: Design Ventura 2024–2025 display at the museum's atrium. Photography by Richard Heald © Design Museum.