Design and Technology students at Bishop Laney Sixth Form, part of Ely College and Meridian Trust, are celebrating an exciting win and the arrival of a brand-new laser cutter, thanks to Year 12 student Emily Butler’s award-winning giraffe-inspired jewellery stand.

The national competition, run by Laser Script, invited schools across the UK to design a nature-inspired product that could be laser cut and assembled into a 3D object. Emily’s unique and creative entry impressed the judges and secured first place, winning not only national recognition but also a valuable piece of equipment for the whole department.

Emily said: “It was amazing to hear the judges thought my design was unique and even cooler to see it come to life properly after all the hard work.”

Rebecca Leatherland, Design and Technology Teacher at Ely College, shared: “I have seen such a boost in confidence from the students since participating in this. They truly believe in themselves now and it is wonderful to see!

“Winning the laser cutter will have a lasting impact at Bishop Laney Sixth Form. It means more students will have access to this exciting technology, not only in Sixth Form, but also in GCSE and lower school projects to explore more hands-on learning. All this has been made possible thanks to Emily’s fantastic design and further supports our Trust Value of providing a High-Quality Learning Environment.”

Students initiated the project by researching existing products and creating mood boards to help generate their ideas. As part of the design process, they also developed their skills in Adobe Photoshop and learnt how to communicate their ideas through layout, colour, highlights, and digital sketching techniques.

Once their initial concepts were formed, students moved on to Autodesk 2D Design. Here, they picked up new advanced tools and techniques to prepare their creations for laser cutting, a brand-new challenge for many. After digitally designing their products, they tested their models using card, learning about the importance of testing and tolerances in real-world design.

An exciting addition to the project was the use of New Arc AI. Students uploaded their sketches and prompts, generating rendered images of their designs. These digital visualisations were then enhanced in Photoshop, helping students, especially those less confident in drawing, to visualise and refine their ideas. This step gave every student a chance to see their vision come to life.

To complete the competition entry, each student produced an A4 design sheet that showcased their final concept, colour and material choices, and a written description of their product. The range of designs was incredibly creative, from Emily’s giraffe-shaped jewellery holder to a wolf diorama lamp and a tree sculpture with removable berries.