I continue to teach problem-solving and design approaches to secondary school students across Ealing, West London — the borough where I grew up and went to school.

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Working with forward-thinking Ealing Council on its Urban Hack programme, I help young people tackle real-world challenges through a week of intensive, practical learning. Students develop design skills by understanding people’s needs, defining a challenge, generating ideas, testing possibilities and communicating a clear proposal.

 

Each Urban Hack ends with students presenting their projects to senior members of the Council — in itself a reflection of the value placed on their ideas and the programme. But the presentation is only part of the outcome. Urban Hack builds confidence, curiosity and collaboration, alongside the ability to approach complex problems with structure and imagination. These are portable skills that students can carry into school, work and everyday life.

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Urban Hack has been delivered in schools across the borough, creating space for young people to see themselves as capable contributors to the places and systems around them. 

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It is work that I am deeply proud of, reflecting a longstanding belief that problem-solving skills should be available to everyone. Design offers a practical way for people to understand challenges, develop ideas and take action — regardless of their background, age or previous experience.