Students honour Remembrance Day through creative designs

A group of 3D and Mixed Media Design students from Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) have been developing their creative skills by building a range of handcrafted and digitally produced items to raise funds for the Royal British Legion.

This year, the brief was to create products that could display poppy pins in a meaningful way. Students were encouraged to build on previous designs while incorporating new technologies such as UV printing and 3D printing, blending traditional handcrafted methods with modern techniques.

Students have created a range of products in response to the brief, including over 50 hand-crafted ceramic bud vases with poppy designs, along with 3D-printed planes designed to hold poppy pins. They have also produced 100 soldier sculptures using a combination of 3D printing, laser cutting and UV printing. Each sculpture represents a different service theme, brought to life through watercolour designs – navy pieces feature water motifs, pilot designs include sky and cloud imagery, and soldier sculptures carry a traditional poppy theme. 

Uniformed Services students will now sell the remembrance themed products alongside poppies in various locations across Burton Town Centre, including ASDA, Tesco, Morrisons and the marketplace, with all proceeds going to the Royal British Legion. They will officially launch their fundraising efforts on Friday 24th October in Coopers Square with representatives from the Royal British Legion. Each display table will also feature a bespoke centrepiece created by 3D and Mixed Media Design students.

In preparation for the project, students researched their own family histories, with many discovering relatives who served in the military. This personal connection helped deepen their understanding of the importance of Remembrance Day and inspired their designs. Mark Smith from the British Legion also visited the College to speak with students about the charity’s mission and the significance of their contributions. 

Bill Moorley, Course Leader at BSDC said: “We’re proud to support the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal again this year. Our students have shown incredible creativity and dedication, not only in their designs but in their personal engagement with the meaning behind Remembrance Day. This project continues to offer valuable real-world experience while making a positive impact in our community.”

Additionally, Uniformed Services students are set to participate in a remembrance parade and service to mark Armistice Day on Tuesday 11th November. Students will march in uniform through the Memorial Gardens outside the College, followed by a two-minute silence and the laying of a wreath at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.