Schools

Design is everywhere and affects all aspects of our everyday lives. Exploring design helps us understand the world around us. It encourages us to be curious and ask questions.

Our Schools Programme has been designed to support pupils and educational staff from the early years to the end of secondary school. Interactive and fun, it gives pupils the opportunity to explore design in an inspirational setting.

Our Learning Team have been prototyping National 5 and Higher level Art & Design resources in collaboration with subject teachers. This is an ongoing project and we’re looking for your advice and input to complete them. They are aimed atpupils who are currently studying Nat 5 and Higher, and relate to the written elements of the exam paper.

If you would like to help, please send us your feedback on elements that work, and those that need additional development to Schools@vandadundee.org

If you would like our Learning Team to run your next In-Service day, please get in touch. We can support through a range of practical design tasks, as well as providing a variety of learning provocations inspired by objects in the Scottish Design Galleries.

We also have a Thinglink resource page for anyone wishing to know more about our past and current exhibitions.

Our schools tours are free and are led by practising designers. They last approximately one hour and must be booked at least six weeks in advance.

Discovering Design: The Scottish Design Galleries

An introduction to the Scottish Design Galleries, this tour tells the story of Scotland’s design heritage and explores the impact Scots have had, and continue to have, on the world around us through their creativity and innovation. Discovering Design will include a variety of design disciplines across our collection from fashion and textiles, to architecture and engineering to digital.

Discovering V&A Dundee: The building & the architect

Inside and outside, upstairs and down, take a tour of our magnificent building keeping an eye out for some unusual architectural features. Find out how the architect, Kengo Kuma, came to design such a unique building and how an architect thinks and works through the design process, from an idea sketched on a scrap of paper to a finished building.

For advice about visiting or to book one of our sessions contact bookings@vandadundee.org

Discovering our temporary exhibitions

Guided tours of our temporary exhibitions are free for school groups but must always be booked at least four weeks in advance. Led by experienced museum educators, this will be a fantastic opportunity to find out more about our blockbuster shows.

We offer a range of exciting practical design workshops to complement each temporary exhibition.

Our practical workshops have been designed with and tested by school pupils and teachers. They are open to nursery, primary and secondary schools and are tailored to meet the needs of your group. Each will last two hours and these cost £100 for groups up to 33 students and £3 for each additional student.

These must be booked at least six weeks in advance.

Designer-led workshops

Using objects from the collection as inspiration, pupils are encouraged to be curious and creative in order to solve a design problem. In a practical, hands-on activity in our fully equipped learning studio, they will be guided through the design process.

As V&A Dundee hopes to influence and support career choices in the creative sector, our designers include information about their own practice as part of each workshop. Their specialisms will be matched as closely as possible to the content.

Choose from the following workshops:

• Graphics and illustration
• Game design
• Architecture
• Fashion and textiles
• Product design

Hack-intosh workshop

Charles Rennie Mackintosh is one of the most important designers of the 20th century and his individual style has become recognised globally, putting Scottish design on the map. The Mackintosh Oak Room is the heart of the Scottish Design Galleries and was originally a tea room.

In this Hack-intosh workshop, pupils "hack" an iconic piece of Mackintosh design supported by our designers: groups will explore, reimagine and transform his designs in an innovative and creative way using a range of materials.

For advice about visiting or to book one of our sessions contact bookings@vandadundee.org

Design isn't just about making things; it's also about thinking and sharing new ideas. It can even be used to change the places we live, learn and play in.

We are inviting schools in Dundee, Angus, Perth and Kinross and Highland regions to take part in our new Schools Design Challenge.

To find out more about our facilities, including coach parking and our picnic room, take a look at our visitor information.

Our aim is to be fully inclusive and responsive to your needs. For ASN groups we can arrange a quiet space for lunch and changing facilities if required.

Please specify any access needs and discuss health and safety requirements when booking.

For advice about visiting or to book one of our sessions, contact bookings@vandadundee.org

For information about our travel subsidy or any other enquiries, contact schools@vandadundee.org