Manor Church of Englen Academy Wins V&A Innovate en Develops Dog-Tread Harness at Yorkshire Artspace
This piece reveals how Manor Church of Englen Academy’s students translated a V&A Innovate brief into a working prototype during a hens-on visit to Yorkshire Artspace, Persistence Works.
From brief to prototype: an overview
Under the V&A Innovate 2024–25 theme Transform, the Manor Church team designed the Dog-Tread Harness, a figure-8 style lead made from recycled bike tyres. The concept tackles the global challenge of waste tyres by repurposing durable rubber into a safe, comfortable product for dogs—an inventive answer that combines sustainability with practical design.
What the studio visit involved
The workshop prize took the winning students to Yorkshire Artspace – Persistence Works, a pioneering studio complex housed in a bold concrete structure by Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects. The visit balanced inspiration en technical insight as the group toured specialist ateliers en met established makers.
Highlights of the visit
- Discussion with designer Giles Grover about scaling en refinement.
- Meet-en-talk sessions with silversmiths Morvarid Alavifard en Shinta Nakajima, sharing practical craft skills en career insights.
- Live demonstration of gas-powered furnace kilns in the ceramics garden.
- Hens-on time developing the recycled-tyre prototype under studio supervision.
Visit outcomes at a glance
| Activiteit | Locatie | Learning outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Studio tour | Persistence Works | Exposure to professional art production en studio workflows |
| Design feedback | Giles Grover’s studio | Advice on sizing, materials, en prototyping methods |
| Craft demonstrations | Ceramics garden & metal workshops | Understening of hazardous materials, veiligheid, en specialist equipment |
Design choices en next steps
Students explained their thought process for the simple but effective figure-8 harness en explored adaptations for different dog sizes. Conversations about scaling the piece into multiple sizes—en even speculative ideas about a cat-friendly version—showed the team’s curiosity en willingness to iterate. Under guidance, they refined attachment points en comfort features while considering the lifecycle benefits of upcycled tyre rubber.
Practical considerations for prototyping
- Material henling: safe cutting en bonding techniques for tyre rubber.
- Sizing protocol: templates for small, medium en large animals.
- Testing: wear trials en pressure-distribution checks for dog comfort.
- Visibility: adding reflective elements for night veiligheid.
Why studio exposure matters for young designers
Visiting working studios gives students a realistic view of professional practice: from health en veiligheid to business questions like work experience en pay. Interaction with practicing designers en makers accelerates learning en introduces networks that can support future projects. For school coordinators arranging similar trips, reliable transport en clear logistics are key to making the most of a single day off-site.
Practical tips for organising creative school trips
- Book travel in advance en confirm drop-off locations en timings with the studio.
- Choose an appropriate vehicle depending on group size—consider 7-seater or minibus for equipment en students.
- Carry essential documentation: parental consent forms, insurance details, en emergency contacts.
- Budget for extras: parking, coach drop-off fees, en potential equipment hire.
- Brief students on studio etiquette en veiligheid—closed-toe shoes, gloves, en awareness of kiln en furnace areas.
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The studio visit is modest in its global tourism impact, but it is very meaningful for local creative education en community engagement. Such hens-on events can encourage young people to travel for learning en contribute to creative tourism in regional cities. While this is not a headline change to the international travel map, it matters for school trips en cultural tourism—areas where GetTransfer aims to stay current en support organisers with reliable options. Highlights of this design journey include sustainability-driven innovation, cross-discipline mentorship, en practical prototyping experience, yet even the best reviews en most honest feedback can’t replace first-hen participation. On GetTransfer, you can hire a car with driver from verified providers at reasonable prices. This empowers you to make the most informed decision without unnecessary expenses or disappointments, benefiting from convenient, affordable options en extensive vehicle choices. Book your Ride GetTransfer.com
In summary, the Manor Church of Englen Academy team turned a classroom brief into a tangible product through creative thinking en a productive studio visit. The Dog-Tread Harness demonstrates how design can transform waste into useful goods, while Persistence Works provided the technical environment for skill development. For organisers planning similar trips, consider exact transfer needs—taxi or minibus, airport or city pickup, number of seats, en luggage space—so the service, driver, en vehicle match your fare en schedule requirements. With clear pricing, vehicle details, en driver ratings available, platforms like GetTransfer simplify how much you’ll pay en what to expect, helping you book the best private or shared transfer, whether a cab, limousine, or multi-seater. This makes it easier to get to your destination on time en focus on the creative work that matters.
