Hosting a National Saturday Club Masterclass

On Saturday the 11th of May in partnership with Virgile + Partners we hosted a ‘Masterclass’ at the Imagination studios with the National Saturday Club, an educational charity that provides extra-curricular programmes for 13-16-year-olds in the UK.

The Masterclass is a key part of the programme, connecting Clubs with a network of industry experts, giving members and tutors rare access to some of the UK’s most creative minds. It also showcases how the skills developed at a Saturday Club can be applied in the real world. For many members, their Masterclass experience is the moment they realise that their passions and interests have the potential to develop into fulfilling and rewarding careers.

The Masterclass was themed around Sustainable Approach to Interior Design, aimed at understanding and implementing eco-conscious principles in interior design. Modular design has recently emerged as a focal point within interior design, emphasising its role in sustainable architecture by enabling the re-scaling, dismantling, and reusing of spatial elements.

Following a presentation of work and principles of interior design, including the environmental implications and solutions of the sector, Students embarked on a hands-on workshop to create a 3D modular surface - a tangible embodiment of sustainable design principles.

Each student was provided with a tile module pattern and sustainable materials to work with to produce one to two tile modules that at the end connected together with pins to create a modular surface. Connecting the modules of all students produced a large 3D surface that could act as a space divider, a building cladding or a window screening. Providing students with an understanding of design thinking and showcasing how a 2D sketch turns into a 3D element and eventually how it can formulate space. It also demonstrated how modularity can produce intriguing, playful and seemingly complicated designs.

As the day drew to a close, students departed with newfound knowledge and tangible reminders of their creative endeavours - taking home the tile modules they had crafted. The Masterclass served as a catalyst for fostering a deeper understanding of sustainable design practices and inspiring future innovation in the field of interior design.

We’re very proud to have a long-standing relationship with the Trust and as a creative agency, believe in the importance of supporting young emerging talent, showing the possibilities of potential career paths within the industry.

More about The National Saturday Club

The National Saturday Club is a charity that gives young people across the UK the opportunity to study a subject they love for free at their local university, college or cultural institution. Over the past 13 years, more than 12,000 13–16-year-olds have taken part. With a particular focus on engaging young people from underrepresented communities, the model works to develop young people’s skills, nurture their talents, encourage their creativity, and support their understanding of future career pathways.

Masterclasses take place in the Spring/Summer Term and connect Clubs with industry experts, showcasing the way in which the skills developed at a Saturday Club can be applied in the real world. For many members, their Masterclass experience is the moment they realise that their passions and interests have the potential to develop into fulfilling and rewarding careers.

You can read about this year’s Masterclasses here.