Boys win design award with architectural puzzle game

A GAME designed by students from Wargrave has won a national schools competition.

Five boys in year 9 at the Piggott School beat thousands of other students to win this year’s Design Ventura competition, run by the Design Museum in partnership with Deutsche Bank.

Kit Jeary, Jack Forsaith, Harry Kendall, Kye Maree and Harvey Manning designed STACK IT!, a 3D architectural puzzle which challenges players to create different designs and objects.

The competition brief was to create a product with “a sense of place” that could be sold for under £15 in the museum’s shop.

The boys attended an event for shortlisted teams in London in March where they had to pitch their idea to a panel of judges.

The finalists were then invited to the museum where they took part in design workshops and had discussions with industry professionals. In the evening, the Piggott team were announced as the winner of the competition at an awards ceremony in front of their teachers and parents.

Kit said: “I was overwhelmed with joy and surprise. I was shaking and felt proud of what we had done.”

Harry said: “It was unreal because I didn’t really expect it. I felt quite proud of myself and really happy that we won.”

Harvey said: “It felt amazing to win.”

Matt Smith, head of design and technology at the school, said: “The boys were over the moon. They were counting down from 10 and when it got to number two they knew they had won and they had to hold in a little cheer.

“Their parents were there and I think they were probably more nervous than the kids. I’m extremely proud. It’s an amazing achievement and they were absolutely buzzing. The experience they’ve had has been fantastic.”

The boys will now work with professional designers to develop and manufacture the product, which will go on sale in the autumn with the proceeds going to Cancer Research UK, their chosen charity.

Design Ventura has been running since 2010 and more 128,000 students have taken part.

A group of students from Piggott School was also shortlisted in last year’s competition.