b'Partner News Spring 2021 15AcademicThe Creative Connection Project atScience, Engineering Design, Film, Fine Art, Staffs is funded by The Royal AcademyGames Design, Graphics, Industrial Design, of Engineering Visiting Professor Scheme,and Mechanical Engineering) took part in our Visiting Professor of Innovation isa two day virtual challenge and pitched Professor Andrew Lawrence from thein Dragons Den style to a panel of judges award-winning brand consultancy Elmwood.including Andrew Lawrence (Executive Creative Director Elmwood), Jean Milton The aim of the Creative Connection is(Museums and Gallery Manager), Bev three-fold: to develop and deliver innovativeReardon (Mentor Spitfire Project), Associate teaching and learning practices, to increaseDean Professor Jess Power (Project Lead) student learning; to build sustainableand Professor David Hawkins (Dean of The networks and to develop employabilitySchool of Digital, Technologies and Arts). skills for the next generation of engineersChallenge commented, The challenge was and designers. Its widely recognised thatgreat because it allowed us to meet newAndrew Commented, Having a subject engineering and design graduates need topeople from other courses and developmatter like the Spitfire, with so much be exposed to stimulating environmentsour team working and presentation skills.history and heritage, provided rich that promote entrepreneurial mind-sets,It was an extremely valuable experiencepickings for the teams during their ideas cultures leading to novel ideas to exposeas well carry the skills on into the future.generation. It was great to see the teams creative flair, sustainable networks andIt has also been very worthwhile toworking together and creating idea connections to bring ideas to fruition. have input from different backgroundsplatforms that could evolve over time (courses) as we seemed to complementkeeping the exhibits fresh and engaging.A year into the project we have connectedeach other; it has been a privilege to work over 150 Individual Engineering Studentswith such a great team to contribute toThe competition brought Staffs students through integrating interdisciplinary designa display for such an iconic aircraft. together from Engineering, Computing, Art challenges, partnering with not-for-profitand Design. The top spot was awarded to and commercial organisations within theFor others it provided the pathway intoSpitfire Gallery Pilots Logbook, created by region. Some of the highlights includeHigher Education, the most recent Designa team of four included Level 6 BEng (Hons) Creative Challenges with UniversityChallenge partnered with The PotteriesMechanical Engineering student Matthew Hospital North Midlands, StaffordshireMuseum & Art Gallery in Hanley, Stoke- Lunt, BSc (Hons) Engineering Design County Council, VX Fiber and most recentlyon-Trent to celebrate the iconic Spitfirestudents level 5 Ash Johnson and level 4 The Spitfire Gallery (due to be openedcreated by the designer Reginald J. MitchellLucy Archer, and Laura Williams (level 4) Spring 2021). The value to these extra(born and educated in north Staffordshire).who is completing a BA (Hons) in Fine Art.curricula interdisciplinary networking experiences is second to none. Teams came together to explore meaningfulDuring the last year, engineering narratives around the Spitfire by utilisingstudents who participated in the Matthew Lunt a final year BEng (Hons)technology, historical material andinterdisciplinary challenges reported that Mechanical Engineering student andexperiences. Students from nine areas leadership, communication, creativity, part of the winning team for the Spitfire(Aeronautical Engineering, Computerproblem solving, and presentation skills improved significantly. Furthermore, their networks grew and they felt more interconnectivity, in terms of spotting opportunities, building inspiring visions but most importantly in terms of social responsibility by giving back to the region.Image 1: Image Courtesy of The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (PMAG)'