Workshops

Holiday workshops: Digital Designs to Physical Products (Year 5 and 6)

A workshop exploring the exciting connection between math, coding, and manufacturing to create embroidered patterns.

Image credit: Ri

How do we use computers to turn digital designs into real-world products? In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore how maths, coding, and manufacturing can come together to create their own embroidered patterns!

Using TurtleStitch, a beginner-friendly programming language, participants will design geometric patterns with simple programming commands. They will then see their ideas brought to life as a digital embroidery machine stitches their designs onto fabric they can take home with them.

Along the way, participants will learn how engineers use software to design, measure, and manufacture products. From simple shapes to complex patterns, this workshop offers a practical introduction to how digital designs become real-world objects - just like in industry.

For children who have just completed Years 5 or 6 this term - please book based on your child’s current/most recent school year, not their new year group from September. This typically corresponds to children aged around 9–11 years old. We reserve the right to refund or deny entry to those who are not in the correct year group.

Refunds can only be issued for tickets cancelled at least two weeks (14 calendar days) in advance of the event date. Please note that this supersedes our normal event terms and conditions. Please also note that Eventbrite adds a small booking fee to the amount paid for each ticket option.

About the speakers

Margaret Low works with young people encouraging them to become creators as well as consumers of technology in her role as Director of Outreach and Widening Participation for WMG, University of Warwick. Margaret’s interactive workshops explore creative aspects of technology. She collaborates with organisations and communities to explore inclusive, creative learning experiences using technology. Margaret uses TurtleStitch as an approach to physical computing. It bridges the world of programming and textiles in a way that is accessible to young and old alike, bringing a very creative and practical dimension to computer programming.

Phil Jemmett trained in chemistry but left the lab after realising that talking science and inspiring young people to consider STEM careers was more fun. He has delivered events in libraries, museums, community groups, schools, universities, and once in someone’s lounge. Phil works at WMG at the University of Warwick with experts on cutting-edge technologies, sharing their stories with young and old to build trust in science and engineering. After all – if people don’t trust the researchers making innovations possible, the products won’t make it out of the university. Phil believes inspiring the workforce of the future to go into engineering is key to building a green future for everyone to live in.

About our workshops

Holiday workshops at the Royal Institution give students a hands-on experience of STEM topics (science, technology, engineering, maths) beyond what they learn at school. Working in groups or pairs, students will get hands-on to complete activities, challenges or projects which help them look deeper at the subject they are exploring. These workshops don’t follow the school curriculum but instead show students the many real world uses of STEM topics, expanding their horizons beyond the classroom to see the amazing possibilities science can give you. Sessions are led by experts from across industry and academia who will share with the students their excitement and knowledge of their areas of expertise.

For any queries regarding this workshop please email events@ri.ac.uk.

Event terms and conditions