September 2023

Etty Winser found the measure of rivals when her laser-cut bamboo rulers won the top award in the 2023 Heritage Design Challenge.

The contest, supported by Maidstone Museums’ Foundation (MMF) in partnership with Maidstone Museum, attracted entrants from schools across the area. It challenges young people to create a product that will sell in the museum shop for less than £10.

The awards presentation, by the Mayor of Maidstone Gordon Newton, was enjoyed by teachers, pupils and their families, Museum Friends and MMF trustees in the MMF’s Friends’ Shop in Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, on Thursday September 28.

Etty, a Year 7 pupil at Wrotham School, based her design on objects seen in the Museum, adding a dinosaur and other symbols to the end of her rulers. Made from sustainable bamboo, they cover a timeline of 66 million years to the end of the First World War in 1918. Etty and her school share the top prize of £200.

Four runners-up each share £50 with their school. They are Evie Little from Maidstone Girls Grammar School for her Japanese-inspired wooden hair comb; Nkengbeza, Sonika, Diana and Hannah from Highsted Grammar School, Sittingbourne, for their Japanese-inspired tote bag; Corey Walters from Wrotham School for his museum-themed keyrings; and Max Newby from Wrotham School, for his Japanese-themed storage box.

The Mayor praised the talent shown by all the entrants, many of whom had to make a Dragons’ Den-style presentation about their product to judges from MMF and the museum. The next Heritage Design Challenge will be held in 2025.

Read a full report on Projects page