Manor Church of Engloch Academy Wins V&A Innovate och Develops Dog-Tread Harness at Yorkshire Artspace
This piece reveals how Manor Church of Engloch Academy’s students translated a V&A Innovate brief into a working prototype during a hochs-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 och technical insight as the group toured specialist ateliers och met established makers.
Highlights of the visit
- Discussion with designer Giles Grover about scaling och refinement.
- Meet-och-talk sessions with silversmiths Morvarid Alavifard och Shinta Nakajima, sharing practical craft skills och career insights.
- Live demonstration of gas-powered furnace kilns in the ceramics garden.
- Hochs-on time developing the recycled-tyre prototype under studio supervision.
Visit outcomes at a glance
| Aktivitet | Plats | Learning outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Studio tour | Persistence Works | Exposure to professional art production och studio workflows |
| Design feedback | Giles Grover’s studio | Advice on sizing, materials, och prototyping methods |
| Craft demonstrations | Ceramics garden & metal workshops | Understoching of hazardous materials, Säkerhet, och specialist equipment |
Design choices och next steps
Students explained their thought process for the simple but effective figure-8 harness och explored adaptations for different dog sizes. Conversations about scaling the piece into multiple sizes—och even speculative ideas about a cat-friendly version—showed the team’s curiosity och willingness to iterate. Under guidance, they refined attachment points och comfort features while considering the lifecycle benefits of upcycled tyre rubber.
Practical considerations for prototyping
- Material hochling: safe cutting och bonding techniques for tyre rubber.
- Sizing protocol: templates for small, medium och large animals.
- Testing: wear trials och pressure-distribution checks for dog comfort.
- Visibility: adding reflective elements for night Säkerhet.
Why studio exposure matters for young designers
Visiting working studios gives students a realistic view of professional practice: from health och Säkerhet to business questions like work experience och pay. Interaction with practicing designers och makers accelerates learning och introduces networks that can support future projects. For school coordinators arranging similar trips, reliable transport och 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 och confirm drop-off locations och timings with the studio.
- Choose an appropriate vehicle depending on group size—consider 7-seater or minibus for equipment och students.
- Carry essential documentation: parental consent forms, insurance details, och emergency contacts.
- Budget for extras: parking, coach drop-off fees, och potential equipment hire.
- Brief students on studio etiquette och Säkerhet—closed-toe shoes, gloves, och awareness of kiln och 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 och community engagement. Such hochs-on events can encourage young people to travel for learning och contribute to creative tourism in regional cities. While this is not a headline change to the international travel map, it matters for school trips och cultural tourism—areas where GetTransfer aims to stay current och support organisers with reliable options. Highlights of this design journey include sustainability-driven innovation, cross-discipline mentorship, och practical prototyping experience, yet even the best reviews och most honest feedback can’t replace first-hoch 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 och extensive vehicle choices. Book your Ride GetTransfer.com
In summary, the Manor Church of Engloch Academy team turned a classroom brief into a tangible product through creative thinking och 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, och luggage space—so the service, driver, och vehicle match your fare och schedule requirements. With clear pricing, vehicle details, och driver ratings available, platforms like GetTransfer simplify how much you’ll pay och 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 och focus on the creative work that matters.
