V&A DesignLab Nation

Time

During Shipley open hours, Tuesday - Saturday, 10am-4pm

Price

Free

DesignLab Nation is a national schools programme delivered by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). 

The programme brings together secondary schools in partnership with regional museums, designers, industries, and the V&A to inspire the next generation of designers, makers, and innovators through in-depth design projects.

The title of this year's project is 'Chairs for Change: Designing for outdoors'.

Between November 2025 and May 2026, students from Benfield School and Heworth Grange School worked with North East Museums and local installation artist, sculptor and designer, Victoria Franka, on this year’s DesignLab Nation design challenge. 

Inspired by the historic and contemporary chairs displayed at the Shipley Art Gallery, students were tasked to rethink what sitting together could mean in their own community by designing seating for their outdoor school spaces. 

Students worked in groups to experiment with form and structure and explore organic shapes and materials inspired by the collections at the Shipley Art Gallery and V&A. They also heard from a range of design professionals to consider ergonomics, sustainable material durability and accessibility.

The display showcases the imaginative prototypes created by the students for sustainable outdoor social seating. The designs reflect how young people in the North East envision comfort, connection, identity and community in the spaces they share. 

The team would like to extend a special thanks to Allison Macleod - Landscape Officer, Newcastle City Council, for generously giving her time to speak to students about designing public seating, and to lead teachers N. Purvis, S. Moutter and K. Wood for their support and dedication in co-designing the project this year. 

DesignLab Nation was made possible through the support of the Adobe Foundation and Sarah Nichols.