About the project
Over the last 3 years the staff from the Warrior Preservation Trust Learning Team have been working with us to deliver an enterprise project for Year 11 students attending Redwood Park School in Portsmouth. The project has taken place each year in the autumn and spring terms with workshops taking place both at the school and on board HMS Warrior. Students were commissioned to develop block printed designs inspired by HMS Warrior and this year the 30 students participating in the project were challenged to develop a tea towel design that could be digitally printed and then sold. Following practical printing workshops; background research about Port and Lemon; visits to HMS Warrior to inspire their designs and market research, each team developed a design that they felt best represented the ship, would be attractive to visitors and would fit alongside Port and Lemon’s product range. Representatives from each team then had to present their final design to a panel of staff and volunteers from the Warrior Preservation Trust and ourselves. The original intention was for the panel to select one winning design however the quality of the students work was such that the panel was unable to select a final design and the decision was made to have all three printed and then sell the tea towels as a pack of 3 designs. As well as having the opportunity to work with professional designers and the experience of creating a commissioned product the students also had the opportunity to work towards their Bronze Arts Award, a nationally recognised accredited qualification. The tea towels are now available to purchase either at HMS Warrior or on line at www.portandlemon.com.
About HMS Warrior 1860
Warrior, launched in 1860 and the world’s first iron hulled armoured warship, was the pride of Queen Victoria’s fleet. Powered by steam and sail, she was the largest, fastest and most powerful ship of her day and had a profound effect on naval architecture. Warrior was, in her time, the ultimate deterrent. Yet within a few years she was obsolete. Restored and back at home in Portsmouth, Warrior now serves as a ship museum, monument and visitor attraction. Each year they offer a variety of activities, workshops and projects for children and young people including history, science and technology, photography, film, textile design and drama to name but a few. For more information please contact learning@hmswarrior.org
Earlier this summer we were invited to HMS Warrior to meet HRH Princess Alexandra, the Patron of the Warrior Preservation Trust, and present the project with Michael, a former pupil of Redwood Park who was also doing work experience on board the ship. Here’s a couple of photos from the day.
