Technology
Year 7 Textiles
The last few weeks have seen a buzz in the air for Year 7s as they started their journey of making a sustainable reusable bag or cushion. They created their design options, explored patterns and colour through biomimicry and Aboriginal art.
They have now started working on their block printing, tie-dye and digital embroidery. Each Year 7 group is at different stages, and the creativity this year is through the roof!
Students have eagerly embraced the chance to experiment with a range of surface decoration techniques, and it’s been inspiring to see so many unique interpretations of their chosen themes. The textiles room has become a hive of activity—splashes of colour from tie-dye tubs, intricate lino stamps being printed, and machines humming away as digital designs come to life.
What makes this project so special is the sense of ownership students have over their outcomes. Each bag or cushion will be a meaningful reflection of their own style, values and exploration of sustainability in design.
Year 9 Textiles
Our latest project has taken a stylish turn as students imagine they've just scored tickets to the iconic Coachella Festival—set in the hot, dry Coachella Valley desert in 2026! With the scene set, students are designing their ultimate festival wardrobe, starting with a fashionable yet sun-smart bucket hat.
Inspired by Boho and Hippie fashion trends, students began by sketching their hat designs while soaking up the festival vibes—watching live performances from the 2025 Coachella lineup. The atmosphere was electric as creativity flowed from the stage to the sketchbooks!
They then rolled up their sleeves and got hands-on with tie-dye, preparing fabric for their one-of-a-kind hats. This was a fantastic opportunity to explore colour theory, dyeing techniques, and how natural fibres respond to different treatments. The results were a vibrant celebration of individuality and self-expression.
With dyed fabrics ready to go, students moved on to constructing their bucket hats—an exciting (and sometimes tricky!) step that tested their skills in pattern-following, accurate cutting, and machine sewing. Armed with a step-by-step demonstration and a helpful sewing guide, they confidently pieced together panels, brims, and tops, showing great focus and determination.
Stay tuned to see these bucket hats come to life!
VCE Product Design and Technologies
There’s so much happening in VCE Product Design & Technologies (Textiles) that it’s hard to know where to begin! This term, students are preparing to dive into the construction phase of their Unit 1: a fully customised bag designed for a teacher of their choice. After weeks of research, consultation, and thoughtful designing, students are ready to bring their ideas to life, each one tailored to a specific user's needs, aesthetic preferences and practical considerations.
But what’s been just as exciting is the way students are engaging with the future of design. As part of their folio development, students explored the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence in the creative industries. Using their own carefully crafted descriptive language, they wrote prompts to guide an AI image generator, aiming to visualise their design ideas.
The results? Absolutely mind-blowing 🤯.
Students were genuinely astonished at how accurately—or unexpectedly—the AI interpreted their words. This became a powerful learning moment. It pushed them to think deeply about how to communicate design intent clearly, the potential of emerging technologies in product development, and the ethical responsibilities of using AI tools in a meaningful way.
This activity not only strengthened their folio work but also sparked rich, thoughtful discussions about the evolving landscape of the design world. It was a brilliant reminder that while sewing skills and creativity remain essential, our designers of tomorrow also need to be savvy, reflective, and ethically aware.
I can't wait to see how their final bag creations come together—each one a combination of technical skill, thoughtful design, and future-focused thinking. Watch this space!
Top Designs Trip – A Day of Inspiration
This week, our VCE Product Design and Technologies Textiles and Timber students ventured to the Top Designs exhibition at Melbourne Museum—and what an inspiring day it was!
Students had the opportunity to view some of the most outstanding VCE Design and Technologies folios and final products from across the state. These works, created by last year’s top-performing students, showcased an incredible level of creativity, problem-solving, and craftsmanship.
From innovative sustainable fashion pieces to highly functional timber designs, the exhibition gave our students a real taste of what excellence looks like in Unit 3 & 4. They explored detailed folios, analysed material choices and design solutions, and hopefully walked away with a few fresh ideas for their own work.
It was a fantastic day out, filled with conversation, curiosity, and connection—and we’re excited to see how this experience shapes their own design thinking going forward.
Year 8 Food
Food Technology, students took part in a fun and engaging activity over the last couple of weeks, inspired by Boost Juice, one of Australia’s most recognisable health-focused brands. We explored Boost’s brand values and discussed how they make smoothie and snack choices that align with their image of promoting health, energy, and sustainability.
Students then put their own creativity and food skills to the test by developing a range of smoothie and bliss ball options that could sit proudly on a Boost menu! They each made a delicious smoothie and two types of bliss balls, considering flavour, texture, presentation, and how their products reflect Boost's values. Students also explored using the food processor and blender.
Recipes below if you’d like to give them a try:
Nut-free Weet-bix brownie bliss balls
Ingredients (makes 8)
•1/2 cup pitted prunes, roughly chopped
•2 Weet-Bix, crumbled
•1 tbsp cocoa powder
•1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
•1 tbsp rice malt syrup/honey
•1 tbsp and 1 tsp cup desiccated coconut
•1 tbsp and 1 tsp moist coconut flakes, finely chopped (could be substituted for desiccated coconut)
Chewy No Bake Coconut Date Energy Balls
Ingredients (makes 10)
•8 Medjool dates (pitted*)
•1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
•1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (could be substituted for desiccated coconut)
•2 Tbsp raw honey
•1 Tbsp coconut oil (room
temperature)
•1/8 tsp salt
Berry Smoothie
Ingredients (serves 2)
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup berries (we used frozen raspberries today)
• ½ cup yoghurt
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
•1 tbsp honey
