OurNewSchool

co-designing a process for designing user-cented schools

Building Schools for the Future is the largest government building project in over 50 years and is investing around £70bn to rebuild or refurbish every primary and secondary school in the UK.

However, the results of the early builds are disappointing - in fact, the vast majority were declared 'average to poor' by their own BSF criteria.

Engine created OurNewSchool in response to Dott 07's challenge to use design to make the North East a sustainable region. It was also established to help discover best practice and how a co-creative design approach can help improve the BSF process, resulting in better buildings that are fit for purpose, that have been built around the social system of a school and the activities that have to take place inside.




Engine worked with a prototype school, Walker Technology College in Newcastle, through the BSF process applying service design thinking and methodologies. OurNewSchool/walker was set up as a key touchpoint between the designers and all other stakeholders, from teachers, students, parents and the wider community. The project was exhibited as part of the Dott 07 festival.





Posted on 10/05