This article is brought to you in part by Garden International School Kuala Lumpur (GIS).

Design Technology subject in schools has been evolving over the years. Garden International School adopts the strategy of contextualising learning to show students the value of the subject in industry links that highlight possible future career paths.

In Design Technology, each year group has at least one project where students produce work that is directly linked to a real-life client, such as Aquaria, WWF, SketchDrive, JW Marriott hotels, and Vagler. Students study and work on projects commissioned by real companies who will be assessing students’ designs. Students are offered professional advice and opportunity to showcase their work. Children love seeing their work displayed on classroom walls or in cabinets and so when this work is showcased in stores and to the general public and they are given the opportunity to explain what they have done in person, it makes it even more special.

We are also lucky to have a designer-inresidence who works from our classrooms once or twice a week. Johnno Ellison is a product designer who mainly uses CAD for his designs, which gives him the luxury of being able to work in any location with internet access. By having a professional designer on-site, students can speak with him and see some of his work that is permanently showcased whilst he offers his opinions, advice, and skills in lessons as appropriate.

Follow GIS Design Technology twitter at @DTatGIS for regular updates.

Written by Ryan Ball, Head of Design Technology of Garden International School.

This post was originally published in The Expat Magazine (March 2016) which is available online or in print via a free subscription.