Shaping Spaces, Shaping Futures: Junior Design Week at Steelcase

Behind the scenes of Design and Creativity

This summer, six young people joined Steelcase for a week long Junior Design

Work Experience, giving them an exciting introduction to the world of design and

innovation.

From day one the programme was designed to be interactive. Students were welcomed

into the Steelcase team, encouraged to share ideas, and challenged to think like

designers. They explored the principles of design methodology, tackled complex client

style briefs, and discovered how creativity can be transformed into practical solutions

that meet real needs.

“Every single time we do this, the team gets such a buzz. As one person mentioned afterwards, it’s hard to tell who gains more, the students or us. The students’ level of learning has been phenomenal and will keep inspiring us until we do it all again next year.” - Jacqueline Davies, Steelcase, HR Business Partner

The group also had the chance to meet professionals at different stages of their

careers. These conversations were eye opening, showing that there are many routes

into the design industry and that no two journeys are the same. Hearing honest stories

about first jobs, career changes, and overcoming challenges helped students see that

ambition, resilience, and curiosity can take you a long way.

A week of Growth, Learning and Inspiration

By the end of the week, each participant confidently presented their own project work,

applying the skills they had developed with creativity and insight. Watching them grow

from hesitant introductions on Monday to confident presentations by Friday was

inspiring for everyone involved.

What makes opportunities like this so valuable is not only the chance to learn new

skills, but also the confidence that comes from being taken seriously in a professional

environment. Many students shared how the experience helped them realise that

design is not just about imagination, but about creating solutions that can shape the

way people live and work. The Steelcase team, in turn, spoke about how impressed

they were with the group’s energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.

We are hugely grateful to Steelcase for opening their doors and investing their time in

the next generation. Experiences like this do more than build knowledge, they broaden

horizons, spark ambition, and show young people that their futures can be as

innovative and creative as the spaces they helped design

To see how work experience can change a young person’s future, read more about our programmes here.