Briggs Hillier delivers university module to Architecture & Design students at Manchester Metropolitan University

2024 “Live Design Brief” Module: Briggs Hillier x Manchester Metropolitan University

Following our collaboration with the University of Lincoln earlier this year, Associate Creative Director, Adam Price, and Senior Designer, Rheanna Heath, delivered two half day workshops to Interior Architecture & Design students at Manchester Metropolitan University as part of a “Live Brief” module.

Snippet of the brief:

“You will be allocated, at random, a brand that is about to launch new product. Based on this brand, you are required to design a small-scale, temporary, experiential space that displays your given brand’s new product launch. The design proposal should consider details, materiality, and usability, as well as the environmental impact of your temporary scheme, in terms of ‘disobedient materiality’, construction, and after-life…”

Constrained to designing within a 9m2 footprint with a maximum height of 3m, students are marked on their ability to consider design detail and materiality, demonstrated via a presentation of…

• Research, ideation, testing, sketching, notes, planning, modelling, detailing, analysis and reflection
• A considered and curated concept board containing a mix of indicative materiality, key images and evocative words
• A model of the proposed design at a suggested scale 1:20 or 1:50, using any material and process of choice
• And a technical detail drawing of one key component or detail using Vectorworks, referencing material specification with product names, supplier information (if applicable), and digital images

As part of the visit to the university, Adam shared some case studies with the students of some shop-in-shops that have been designed in our studio, including a shop-in-shop for L’azurde, strategically designed to ensure multiple categories can be displayed coherently together and facilitate an evolving jewellery range.

Adam explains, “Over the course of the day, we delivered presentations of past work and a company history to the Interior Architecture and Design students who were working on a retail pop-up project where, based around six brands, they were required to envisage a space over the course of a few weeks.

“The students presented their in-progress work on which we were able to feedback, advise and steer in both an advisory role and a mock client role. Students were really receptive and we had lots of in-depth conversations about the role of a designer in these sorts of situations, how to get the best out of a project, and how to come to a design conclusion which could be shared with a client.

“The key takeaway is that the students were able to learn and understand how a real-world agency approaches a project.”