Designed for Life

Tony Ryan CEO Design & Technology Association
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Education for Kids

This is the official podcast of the Design and Technology Association. 'Designed for life' aims to entertain, inform and inspire, bringing the worlds of business and industry together. Design and Technology is a wide-ranging curriculum subject that, along with qualifications in other facilitating subjects, can open doors to students across an ever-increasing breadth of career. England was the first country in the world to introduce this subject to its mainstream curriculum offer in 1988. Where we led others, have followed and in various guises, it is now taught in countries around the world including India, Australia, China, USA, France and Finland. This podcast consists of a series of short, informal conversations with people from across the worlds of education, industry and design. The intention is to help to link business, industry and education, as the solutions to tomorrows problems are being educated today!

  1. 3 days ago

    Designed for Life - In conversation with Goldsmiths University - Part 1

    Goldsmiths, University of London is one of the longest-established providers of D&T teacher education in the country and, over the years, has been instrumental in helping shape the subject that we now know. In this short mini-series of two episodes, we spent a day at Goldsmiths talking with Alice Hellard, who leads the PGCE programme at the university and some of this year's graduates who, at the time of recording, were just days away from completing their course.  At a time when trained D&T teacher numbers are at a record low following years of under-recruitment and a central neglect of the subject's curriculum value, this seems as good a time as any to get 'under the hood' of one of our major teacher training organisations and see how things really are and, just as importantly, how they feel to the new teachers about to enter schools as Early Career Teachers (ECTs).  As you hopefully relax on your well-earned summer break, I hope you can find time to grab a cold drink, sit back and listen to Designed for life - In conversation with Alice Hellard and graduating PGCE students from Goldsmiths University London.  Alice Hellard completed her PGCE in Design & Technology at Goldsmiths, University of London almost 20 years ago before teaching in two south London schools. She is now back at Goldsmiths where she leads the PGCE D&T programme. In these podcasts we also hear from students on the programme: Josie Beardsmore, Nikki Blustin, Steve Cheung, Tyla Garrett, Rajinder Kalsi, Patrick Readings, Ed Thomas, Nick Thomas and Noah Thompson. https://www.gold.ac.uk/pgce/secondary-design-technology/?https://www.gold.ac.uk/&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23383165810&gbraid=0AAAAADF9-XDCJh-u42U6ADj7hpY1fdMdD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjb3SBhDgARIsAMKiWzjwgb20eW9Alyla9YqQrNCAzA1MixdXYmxs1y1djagUpKf_BuX3oNsaAg91EALw_wcB

  2. 13 Jul

    Designed for Life - In conversation with Jasmine Allen

    At the end of 2025, I was privileged to be asked to visit the JLR plant in Gaydon in the West Midlands to attend their Creative Showcase. I don't hide the fact that I am a car enthusiast, so I must admit that letting me loose amidst the creativity, design and engineering excellence on show was a little akin to letting a child with a sweet tooth free in a sweet shop.  One of the highlights of the day for me was meeting a group of apprentices from a range of creative disciplines. As far as I am aware, these good people put their hands up and volunteered to meet with me to explain their roles at JLR and how they got there. I added one request to the conversation before we started: "Please tell me what your experience of D&T was at school, good or bad, and did this have any influence on you wanting to do what you now do at JLR?" One by one, every young person in the room told me of a D&T teacher that had connected with them, and all of the students confidently stated they would be very unlikely to be doing what they do today, were it not for the influence of the named teacher and Design and Technology.  One of those young people was Jasmine Allen. Jasmine is a second-year Creative: Technical, Studio Engineering Graduate who, in her own words, works at the intersection between design and engineering, and whose task it is to make sure those two disciplines work in harmony.  In this podcast, we follow Jasmine's journey from school to earning a 1st Class Honours in Product Design and Technology (BSc) at Loughborough University, and find out a little more about her role at JLR and how she successfully applied for it, without a plan B.  This was a really easy and guest-led podcast which I hope you will not only find interesting, but which I feel has the potential to help so many young people currently at school or university and considering a creative career, possibly with a multi-national company such as JLR.  So grab the dog, grab a coffee and a comfy chair, take us to the gym, or maybe to a sun lounger this time of year and enjoy Designed for Life, in conversation with Jasmine Allen.

  3. 21 Apr

    Designed for Life - In conversation with Ilā Kamalagharan

    Ilā is a British artist, producer and vocalist. When you are approached by an agent stating, "Would you like to speak with an artist who operates at the intersection of quantum computer music,  AI and the human voice, well, you kind of say yes straight away! I spend a lot of time researching my guests. If someone is good enough to give up their time to be a guest on the podcast, then the very least I can do as the host is spend some time getting to know them a little before we actually meet. I have to admit to being intrigued by Ilā's background. The education that could so easily have led to an academic career has instead led to a career in which creativity takes precedence, barriers are explored, and walls are knocked down.  There is no doubt that music is the major influence in their professional life. But in talking with Ilā, it became clear that there are no categories, sectors, or topics that are off-limits; curiosity feeds their professional development, and there is definitely an element of, say, "yes" and work out the details later. In this podcast, we cover education, music, and creativity, their importance in a technologically driven world, and the importance of helping instruct young people on how to use AI responsibly as an assistant to learning.  Towards the end, we discuss Ilā's contribution to the BBC Bitesize guide to AI for young people, which is both timely and comprehensive. At a time when education's response to AI and its use by students ranges from "You won't be using that here" to "We welcome students to use AI so long as they reference where and how it has been used, this feels like a very timely conversation.  I loved our hour in conversation, and I believe you will too. So get those ear buds in and enjoy Designed for Life, in conversation with Ilā Kamalagharan. BBC Bitesize guides to AI can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/groups/cgk3rj0kl55t Thanks to Arachne.digital for their continued sponsorship of the podcast, which allows us to bring these conversations to you. Contact Arachne https://www.arachne.digital/ or us for a free evaluation of your school’s cybersecurity.

  4. 19 Apr

    Designed for Life - In conversation with Leia Milburn

    Leia Milburn is an industrial designer working at Tone Product Design in London. Leia was born in London but grew up in Hong Kong and Singapore. Her father is a D&T teacher and trained as a furniture designer, so she was raised around strong design influences, but has developed her own unique identity as a designer through her degree at Loughborough University and subsequent work at Tone.  In this podcast, we follow Leia's journey from her school education and parental influences to where she is today, what is important to her as a young designer, the comparative isolation of being a woman in a still-male-dominated sector, and what she is proactively doing about it.  It's a flowing and very informative conversation that I feel has much to offer everyone listening, from students, through teachers, to professionals.  So give yourself 50 minutes, put those earbuds in, and listen to Designed for Life in conversation with industrial designer Leia Milburn.  Leia's LinkedIn profile:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/leia-milburn Leia's design Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/design.byleia And if you want to learn more or get involved in the female designer community (Revision), then follow the links below:  REVISION LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revision-design/ REVISION Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revision.bydesign Thanks to Arachne.digital for their continued sponsorship of the podcast, which allows us to bring these conversations to you. Contact Arachne https://www.arachne.digital/ or us for a free evaluation of your school’s cybersecurity.

  5. 16 Jan

    Designed for Life - Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

    The countdown is on – the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition closes on 1st February 2026!  This podcast takes on a different format as we talk to Jessie Soohyun Park, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility for Samsung Electronics UK,  about the Solve for Tomorrow initiative, why a multi-national company such as Samsung believes this work is so important, and how design and technology education naturally fits the knowledge base, skillsets and design curiosity required for the competition.    Bring this challenge into your design and technology classroom and give students aged 11-18 the chance to tackle real-world problems, think creatively, and see their ideas make a difference. @SamsungElectronicsUK have ready-to-use resources, expert mentoring and the Imagination Lab to guide every step.   Students could be designing and prototyping tech-for-good solutions, building confidence and future-ready skills. At the same time, your school could win Samsung technology, mentoring, work experience opportunities, and even national recognition, with your students seeing their work splashed large on Piccadilly Circus.  Short on time? Your students’ NEA or STEM Club coursework may be eligible for submission. We’re proud to be supporting this flagship education programme. Opportunities like this don’t come around every day! Enter before the 1st February 2026 to make sure your students don’t miss out 🔗 www.SolveforTomorrowUK.com   Huge thanks to Archne.digital for their help and continued support, which enables us to continue to bring these conversations to you. Reach out to them today to arrange a free audit of your school’s cybersecurity.

  6. 1 Jan

    Designed for Life - In conversation with Brad Scott, Principal Designer at Applied Design Works, New York

    On the first day of 2026, and if we are honest, a touch later than planned due to the Christmas break, we are delighted to open the New Year with a conversation with the Co-founder of Applied Design (https://helloapplied.com), one of New York's leading branding and design agencies. A short while back, Applied Design was commissioned for what, at first, appeared to be a relatively straightforward and exciting branding brief. Braille was 100 years old (a fact tI find challenging to comprehend in itself), and to mark the centenary, the Braille Institute of America (https://www.brailleinstitute.org) commissioned Applied Design to carry out a rebrand.  As the design team at Applied dug into the task, they were unable to find a typeface that was both functional and exciting enough. With the Braille Institute's permission, the team took on the task of designing a new and exciting typeface.  Following extensive research, testing, and development, Atkinson Hyperlegible emerged as the typeface emanating from the identified design task. A typeface that the Braille Institute waived all claims to ownership of early in the process; a visible demonstration of the charitable cause taking over from any desire to create profit.  Google, Microsoft, Canva, and others have since adopted the typeface. It is estimated that Atkinson Hyperlegible is now downloaded at least 70 million times per week, being utilised by blind, partially sighted and able-sighted alike.  In this podcast, we talk about the processes that led to the creation of Atkinson Hyperlegible, the importance of design education for all young people, AI adoption, why we shouldn't fear it, and more. Thanks to Brad's willingness to dig deep on these subjects, this is a deep and fascinating conversation that I know you will enjoy.  So, start the New Year as you mean to go on, grab those earplugs, give yourself 56 minutes to yourself and enjoy this episode of Designed for Life.  Thanks to Arachne.digital for their continued sponsorship of the podcast, which allows us to bring these conversations to you. Contact Arachne https://www.arachne.digital/ or us for a free evaluation of your school’s cybersecurity.  Links to Atkinson Hyperlegible: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/freefont/ https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Atkinson+Hyperlegible https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Atkinson+Hyperlegible+Next

  7. 05/12/2025

    Designed for Life - In conversation with Amazon Mechatronics Engineering Apprentice Olivia Lane

    One pattern that has repeated across the 108 podcasts published since Designed for Life launched in the summer of 2020 is the role of serendipity in aligning people and their careers.  Today's podcast is a case in point. Driven by a primal desire to help people, Olivia set her heart on a career in medicine. School and academia did not come easily to her, and she realised at a very early stage that if she were to have any hope of following her dream, she would need to roll her sleeves up and work harder than most.  With this in mind, this is precisely what she did, sacrificing aspects of her social life and doing whatever was asked of her at school to achieve her goals, and more. Outstanding GCSE results followed, with Olivia being featured on her school's website front page as a success story. Here, the rhetoric changed as teachers now looked upon her as an 'academic' and as such, started to point her towards A Level success and University.  Some careers are no doubt easier to enter if you come from the middle or upper classes. Finance is a factor if you want to enter architecture, medicine, law and many other career pathways; who you know and your access to work placements and internships are also significant factors.  Olivia took a year out to rethink her future and, at first, saw Amazon as a way to earn money while she refocused. She is now a Mechantronics Engineering Apprentice at Amazon and is in her flow state in this position.  I first came across Olivia at a recent Women in Manufacturing Conference, where she was on a panel alongside equally impressive fellow apprentices, and I had to ask her to share her story on the podcast. There is so much to learn from both her journey and where she is today. So sit back, take an hour for yourself and enjoy Designed for Life - In conversation with Olivia Lane.  Huge thanks to Arachne.digital for their support that makes this podcast possible. To get a free check on your school's cyber security email contact@arachne.digital For more information, please see Girls Gone STEM on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@girlsgonestem?_r=1&_t=ZN-91udctoZ8WE. Or check Olivia's LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-lane-02bb802a2?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

  8. 23/10/2025

    Designed for Life - In conversation with Julie Brierley (Head of Learning and Engagement, RAF Museum, Midlands).

    You can cover so much learning within the confines of the classroom, but with design & technology education, whether at the primary or secondary level, a carefully planned educational visit can add so much. At the Design & Technology Association, we are always seeking potential visits to recommend to teachers and their students. With this in mind, we are delighted to talk with Julie Brierley, Head of Learning and Engagement at the excellent RAF Museum, Midlands.  In this podcast, Julie takes us back to a mixed experience at school. Loving her primary school experience, and then finding secondary school to be less than welcoming to a shy, introverted student. Design and Technology education proved to be a sanctuary within this environment, and being one of the few female students was not a barrier to her loving the subject. Set on a career in nursing, she surprised everyone (parents included) by leaving school as soon as she could and joining the RAF as an apprentice flight engineer. Here she found her 'tribe' and was immediately at home, but as we will hear in the podcast, this was before equality of opportunity reached the forces. As a woman, there were several challenges to overcome. Julie is now Head of Learning and Engagement at RAF Museum Midlands, a perfect setting to study all things D&T, maths, science and across most of the curriculum.  This is a tale of perseverance, about finding what you love, sticking with it, and finding a working role that plays to your strengths and brings you fulfilment and joy! I loved the conversation, and I think you will too. Thanks to Arachne.digital for their continued support, which enables us to bring these conversations to you. Please reach out to request a consultation to secure your school's cyber presence by emailing contact@arachne.digital or visiting arachne.digital https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/midlands/schools-and-colleges/ https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/midlands/schools-and-colleges/learning-events/

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About

This is the official podcast of the Design and Technology Association. 'Designed for life' aims to entertain, inform and inspire, bringing the worlds of business and industry together. Design and Technology is a wide-ranging curriculum subject that, along with qualifications in other facilitating subjects, can open doors to students across an ever-increasing breadth of career. England was the first country in the world to introduce this subject to its mainstream curriculum offer in 1988. Where we led others, have followed and in various guises, it is now taught in countries around the world including India, Australia, China, USA, France and Finland. This podcast consists of a series of short, informal conversations with people from across the worlds of education, industry and design. The intention is to help to link business, industry and education, as the solutions to tomorrows problems are being educated today!

Information

  • Creator
    Tony Ryan CEO Design & Technology Association
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    115
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Designed for Life
  • Show Website
    Designed for Life

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