Please note that the Design Kitchen will be closed on Thursday 4 December. The Design Cafe will remain open.

DESIGN MUSEUM ACADEMY Children's Workshop

Design Camp: Stop Motion with Clay for 8 to 11 year olds

Inspired by the fascinating stop motion films of director Wes Anderson, children will create characters, shape clay models, and animate their own stories.

Priority booking for members.

What to expect

Children will enjoy a fun day inspired by design, storytelling, and filmmaking, filled with creativity, frame by frame. Using Wes Anderson's film Fantastic Mr. Fox as a reference, participants will discover the director's distinctive visual style and meticulous attention to detail. No previous experience is required – just curiosity, imagination, and a desire to learn a new creative skill.

Throughout the workshop, participants will explore the fundamentals of stop motion animation, learning how to plan narratives, design characters, and construct miniature worlds. Working collaboratively, they will experiment with cinematic techniques and bring their ideas to life through hands-on filmmaking.

The session encourages creative thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork in a relaxed environment. Each child will take home their character sketches, handmade clay puppets, and their very own stop motion film.

Please note:

  • This workshop is suitable for children aged 8-11. All participants must be dropped off and picked up by an adult. You can find additional information in the sections below

  • Capacity is limited, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment

  • All equipment and materials will be provided, but participants will need to bring a packed lunch

Director Wes Anderson and Mr. Fox puppets at Wes Anderson: The Archives exhibition. Photo: Luke Hayes

Photo © Animating Education

Photo © Animating Education

Photo © Animating Education

Photo © Animating Education

Photo © Animating Education

Wes Anderson: The Archives. Isle of Dogs puppets. Photo © Luke Hayes

Facilitators

Sophie Burrows

Sophie is a film and animation practitioner with over fifteen years of experience teaching young people and adults. She holds a BA in Film and an MA in Animation, which shape her hands on approach to storytelling and stopmotion. Sophie has worked with organisations including the BFI and Northampton University, focusing on making animation accessible, creative, and engaging. She inspires participants to develop technical skills, creativity, and confidence while bringing their own stories to life.

Lucy Whitehead

Lucy is a film and animation facilitator with more than sixteen years of experience in education and creative projects. She studied film and media at Sheffield Hallam University which inform her practical, playful teaching style. Lucy delivers engaging animation workshops for children and young people, helping them develop storytelling, character creation, and stop motion skills. She co-founded Animating Education to nurture creativity and empower the next generation of filmmakers.

Book Online

Booking information

Young person: £81

Young person (Early bird): £73

Members*: £65

Early bird until 26 January 2026.

Check the Design Museum Academy refunds and cancellations policy.

*Information on Design Camp tickets for Members:

• Membership Plus and Family members
The member’s discount applies to up to 3 Child or Young person’s tickets.

• Access, Student, Individual, and Members & Guest members
The member’s discount applies to 1 Child or Young person’s ticket only.

• Requests for Carer tickets for Design Camps: Please email DMAcademy@designmuseum.org in advance if your child needs additional support.

Additional information

  • All participants must be dropped off and picked up by a parent, carer or responsible adult. A member of our team will greet you on arrival and sign participants in

  • We ask all bookers to provide an emergency contact name and number. Please ensure this person is available for the duration of the session

  • The workshop content is tailored to a specific age group. Participants outside the advertised age range may find the session less accessible or engaging

  • If there’s anything we can do to support your child’s participation, whether around mobility, communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation or anything else, you’re welcome to let us know at checkout. Sharing access needs is entirely optional and helps us prepare the session in the most inclusive way

  • This session has capacity for up to 20 participants, led by one or two facilitators, with a typical adult-to-child ratio of 1:10

  • If your child receives additional support in their education setting, you are welcome to bring a supporting adult with them at no extra cost. Please note that we are not able to provide one-to-one support ourselves

  • If you have any questions or want to discuss specific access requirements, please get in touch with the team at DMAcademy@designmuseum.org

Related exhibition

Wes Anderson: The Archives

Delve into Wes Anderson’s extensive archive in this first retrospective exhibition devoted to his distinctive cinematic output, produced in collaboration with la Cinémathèque française.

What's On

Discover more Design Camps

Learn more about our programme of activities designed for young people to get creative.

Background image: © Animating Education