With a class of 18 students, the HSC success in Design and Technology at Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay in 2024 was exceptional.

2024 HSC graduate, Travis King, achieved First in Course, his classmate, Jude Crawford, was ranked 8th in the state, and three others entered the Distinguished Achievers List.

Teacher Elyte Blansjaar, who taught the subject for the first time last year, puts the success down to the passion of the students themselves.

“All the students were very determined to create their ideas,” she said. “They put in the effort and worked hard to refine their initial ideas to produce strong projects at the end.”

Starting from a desire to make clocks, Travis’ final problem-solving project was a mobile phone lock box to remove digital distraction.

Travis’s design includes a mechanical flower which blooms at the end of a preprogrammed period. The bloom lets the user know they can access their mobile phone.

Speaking of his First in Course achievement, Travis credits the time and effort he put into the project for his success.

“I didn’t think I’d be first in the state, which is pretty exciting,” Travis said.

Heading to UNSW to study mechanical engineering, Travis said part of the appeal with the subject was being able to design on computer and then make a physical object as a result.

“It’s the most hands-on subject I did, plus we got to use cool technology like laser cutters and 3D printers,” he said.

“I’m also interested in the manufacturing aspects of product development which is why I’m interested in mechanical engineering.”

Ms Blansjaar believes that creativity and passion and a willingness to work independently are keys to success in Design and Technology.

“Students need to be willing to dive deep into the research rabbit hole and to have an open mind,” she said.

“One of the hardest aspects of the subject for students is finding something they really want to do which also meets the problem-solving nature of the brief. They also need to not be afraid of making mistakes.”

Fellow student Felix Howard-Griffiths, who scored a band 6, impressed with an architecture project – a flexible, sustainable design for student accommodation which could be built as a greenfield site or retrofitted into an existing site.

Ms Blansjaar notes Felix’s approach exemplified the passion needed for success which will see him study architecture at UNSW.

“Even though we don’t have the architectural skills in our staff, Felix’s passion and independent effort got him through,” she said.

Ms Blansjaar said that the summer period was the perfect time for students to be thinking hard about their major project so, when school returns, they can start prototyping and refining from day one.

“The earlier they start refining and prototyping, the stronger their project will be in the end,” she said.