Students steel themselves for design competitions

24th May 2013

Schools in Sheffield are being given the chance to make their own artwork inspired by the centenary celebrations of Harry Brearley's invention of stainless steel.

Sheffield Hallam University is running two design projects for schools and colleges, to mark the 100-year anniversary celebrations of the Sheffield engineer's ground-breaking discovery of the metal. The University's 'Designs of Steel' competition, for primary, secondary and post-16 students from eight different institutions, has given students the opportunity to design awards and trophies for their schools. The winning designs are being made by Sheffield Hallam's metalwork experts, and will be exhibited in the Sheffield Institute of Arts gallery during the University's Creative Spark exhibition in June. Metalwork lecturer Jeff Durber said: "As part of our Centenary of Steel celebrations, we asked pupils to design trophies and awards for their schools, and they've come up with some fantastic ideas, including an art award and a student of the year trophy. "It's interesting to see how they think about stainless steel, and they were surprised at the different effects and textures that can be applied to it. Most people just think of stainless steel cutlery, but it's actually a very versatile metal." Two metalwork graduates from Sheffield Hallam are also working with teams of year 12 students from three Sheffield schools and colleges, to help them design their own artistic stainless steel objects. Silversmith Owen Waterhouse and sculptor Coralie Turpin, both Sheffield Hallam graduates, are working with the students on their designs, which explore the Centenary of Steel using a range of materials. The designs will be displayed on the Moor on Monday 27 May.