The latest Global Classroom group in London were briefed on their integrated project by Limkokwing London Academic Coordinator, Mehrdad Borna on the second day of the programme.

They will be working together to create an innovative product or brand which meets the needs and requirements of ‘human-centred design’.

Human-centred design is a process that has been used for decades to create new solutions to design challenges.

The title of their project is ‘Future Design for Future Needs’. Mehrdad explained to the students that the goal of this multidisciplinary integrated project is to bring students from various streams together, and inspire them to design a prototype product or service. This prototype must meet every day human needs and have the potential to be marketed as a viable business.

He went on to emphasise the importance of the product or service having human-centred design to meet the needs of users, rather than relying on technology alone.

The integrated project will give students first-hand experience of building a brand from scratch. They will also need to analyse market trends and produce sample lines based on their analysis.

In order to have a comprehensive project outcome, students from various programmes with diverse expertise were grouped together. Each group was placed under an experienced supervisor who will guide them through their project.

On the final day of the Global Classroom, each group will present their product. They will be assessed and marked on how well they are able to sell their product to a review panel.

After lunch, students were brought to The Crystal, located in the Royal Victoria Docks and the centre of London’s new Green Enterprise district.

The Crystal is the world’s largest exhibition dedicated to ‘sustainable urban development’. Students were given the opportunity to explore and learn about the challenges faced by modern cities in adapting to the ever-changing world. They also learned about the technologies and solutions that can help to improve urban life and sustainability.

After that, the group went for a ride on the Emirates Air Line, a cable car link across the River Thames in London, connecting the Royal Docks and the Greenwich Peninsula.

The day ended with a visit to the nearby O2 entertainment district at the Greenwich Peninsula.