Deepbridge Horizon International College is elated to share the inspiring success of our students at the European Youth Design Biennale in Milan, where a talented group from our Creative Arts and Design Programme took home the bronze award in the sustainable urban design category. Their project, a modular outdoor bench inspired by natural honeycomb structures and crafted from recycled ocean plastics, not only wowed the judges but also encapsulates our school’s philosophy of merging artistic expression with environmental responsibility. It’s the kind of creative pursuit that reveals education’s unpredictable side—sketches that evolved from crumpled napkin doodles during lunch breaks, or prototypes that warped under unexpected humidity—but these quirks are what infuse our work with authenticity and drive iterative improvement.
The biennale, a celebrated platform uniting over 300 young designers from high schools and academies across Europe, invites participants to reimagine everyday objects through the lens of sustainability, innovation, and cultural relevance. Our Year 10 team—Sofia Brandt, Luca Moretti, Amara Patel, and Nils van Dijk—focused on urban public spaces, developing a bench design that promotes community interaction while addressing plastic pollution in Dutch waterways. Drawing from Amsterdam’s canal-laden landscape and our Science Park’s emphasis on bio-mimicry, they emulated the hexagonal efficiency of bee hives to create interlocking modules that adapt to various configurations, from solitary reading nooks to group gathering spots. Sofia, the team’s conceptual artist, recounts the genesis: “We were strolling by the Amstel during a field trip, noticing discarded plastics floating by, and thought, why not turn waste into welcoming seats? Our first clay model crumbled spectacularly in the kiln, but that failure pushed us to experiment with 3D-printed molds instead.”
Guided by Ms. Freya De Smet, our Programme Lead for Creative Arts and Design, the students blended aesthetic principles with practical engineering. Ms. De Smet, whose expertise in bio-inspired designs has influenced numerous student portfolios, steered them towards sustainable materials: “We prioritised ocean-bound plastics sourced from local Dutch recycling initiatives, treated with UV-resistant coatings for longevity. Nils’s sketchbook iterations—dozens of them, some smudged from rainy outdoor tests—evolved the ergonomics, incorporating subtle curves for comfort based on anthropometric data.” Luca contributed digital rendering skills, using software like Rhino and Adobe Illustrator to simulate wind resistance and modular assembly, while Amara’s focus on colour theory led to earth-toned palettes that blend seamlessly with Amsterdam’s green spaces. Their prototype featured embedded solar panels for subtle lighting, a nod to energy efficiency, and was assembled in our design studio amid lively critiques where opinions clashed over armrest heights—imperfect debates that ultimately strengthened the final piece.
The judges highlighted the project’s multifaceted appeal: its scalability for urban planners, low production carbon footprint (calculated at 40% below traditional benches via lifecycle assessments the team conducted), and inclusive design elements, such as adjustable heights for accessibility. In a competitive field showcasing everything from textile innovations to architectural models, Deepbridge Horizon’s entry earned praise for integrating cultural motifs—subtle engravings inspired by Dutch Golden Age patterns—while adhering to circular economy principles. This bronze accolade includes a €1,500 materials grant and an invitation to exhibit at a follow-up showcase in Brussels, marking our school’s second recognition in the biennale; previously, a textile design team received honourable mention for eco-fabrics derived from agricultural waste.
This triumph is deeply rooted in Deepbridge Horizon’s curriculum, which champions creativity as a catalyst for change. From Year 9, students in the Creative Arts and Design Programme explore mediums through studio workshops, digital fabrication labs equipped with laser cutters and 3D printers, and excursions to Amsterdam’s design districts like the Dutch Design Week venues. We draw inspiration from global exemplars, adapting elements from programmes at institutions like the Rhode Island School of Design’s youth initiatives, but tailoring them to our science-infused environment. For instance, the bench project collaborated with our Advanced Sciences Programme peers for material testing—analyzing plastic degradation under UV lamps—and Technology and Engineering students for structural simulations using CAD software. Our diverse student body, hailing from more than 35 nationalities, enriched the design; Amara incorporated motifs from Indian mandalas for the engravings, adding a global flair that resonated with judges. Challenges were plentiful: sourcing consistent recycled plastics led to colour variations that required creative camouflaging, and group dynamics occasionally flared during late-studio hours, but these trials fostered empathy and problem-solving, mirroring professional design studios.
In the Netherlands’ context, where design education thrives amid a commitment to sustainability—think national policies promoting circular materials in public infrastructure—this achievement aligns perfectly. Our Science Park locale provides unparalleled access to resources: the team consulted with bio-material experts from nearby labs, refining their honeycomb matrix through microscopic analysis of natural samples. We also integrate ethical considerations, discussing fair trade in recycling chains during class critiques. Principal Kali Swinton articulates the deeper value: “Our students didn’t just craft a bench; they sculpted a vision for harmonious urban living, embracing the wobbles and revisions that make design human. In an era of rapid urbanisation, they show how youthful creativity can pave sustainable paths, flaws and all.”
The project’s legacy is already unfolding. With the grant, the team is prototyping variations for school grounds installation, incorporating feedback from user trials where passersby tested comfort levels—some sessions interrupted by curious squirrels, adding a touch of whimsy. They’ll host a design charrette at our annual Innovation Fair, inviting younger pupils to brainstorm add-ons like integrated planters for biodiversity. Community engagement extends further: partnerships with Amsterdam’s municipal parks department for potential city-wide pilots, and workshops for local primary schools on upcycling plastics into mini-models, complete with hands-on sessions that might involve a bit of glue mishaps to keep things real. Alumni are chiming in; one former student, now at the Design Academy Eindhoven, has offered critiques on scalability, sharing her own tales of early prototype pitfalls.
Moreover, this win has catalysed cross-programme synergies at Deepbridge Horizon. Humanities students are now examining the social history of public seating in urban planning essays, while Modern Languages peers translate design proposals for international submissions. We’ve enhanced our curriculum with ‘failure forums,’ where teams dissect what didn’t work—be it a warped joint or mismatched hues—to demystify the creative process. In a school where art meets science, these integrations ensure students graduate not just as designers, but as versatile innovators ready to tackle global issues.
Deepbridge Horizon International College continues to be a nurturing ground for such visionary talents, blending Amsterdam’s artistic heritage with forward-thinking education. We warmly invite prospective families, mentors, and collaborators to discover our programmes—perhaps through a studio tour, where the spark of an idea can blossom into award-winning reality.
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