Discover the design stories behind iconic Northern products – then come up with your own idea to launch.
The Northern Design Quest
Products, brands and beautiful objects feature heavily in our everyday lives but have you ever stopped to think about how they were designed?
Join us on a journey through the creative process that allows you to be the designer and your product to be the end result.
Start your design quest at Great North Museum where you’ll receive your brief and be inspired by a display of great Northern design.
Get creative at Northumbria University, find out about all of the different designs that were thought up for the humble cats eye, and see if you can come up with as many ideas for your invention.
Learn about how Joseph Swan created the light bulb in Gateshead, and the importance patents in protecting his invention and research your own ideas at Newcastle City Library.
See how Mamas and Papas put the customer at the heart of their design at the Toffee Factory, and pick your best product idea to create a storyboard about, and learn how to build your own prototype with the story of how Meccano was created.
Hear about the evolution of the Barbour brand and take part in our branding quiz at Northern Design Centre before creating a brand for your own product, and finally you’ll get the chance to showcase your creation alongside iconic Northern products including Meccano, Mamas and Papas and Barbour.
You can complete the whole quest in one day, experience it all over a couple of days, or use our handy online guide to do some bits at home before you visit!