Earlier in February, some of our Primary 7 pupils embarked on an exciting week of enterprise, one that fostered creativity, collaboration, and a deep sense of community. The ambitious brief saw pupils design engaging and enjoyable games for elderly residents at Rubislaw Park Care Home. This project wasn’t just about fun and games; it was about real life learning in context, understanding the needs of others, applying design thinking, considering the commercialisation of products from design to market, and recognising the profound value of community connections, bringing joy through games to a wider audience.

The week began with inspiration from Dougal Grimes, a toy inventor and proud former pupil from the Class of 2000, who travelled from New York to share his expertise. Dougal's session ignited the pupils' imaginations, guiding them through the stages of game design: from initial concept brainstorming and prototype creation to planning and idea refinement. He emphasised the importance of empathy, encouraging the children to truly consider the preferences and capabilities of their target audience.

Dougal shared: “I was amazed at how well the Primary 7 entrepreneurs embraced the challenge of game design. We spent time understanding the goals for inventing games and how you could take this to market. A key part of this was thinking about our target audience and was excited to see first hand that they wanted to help elderly people and the school's nursery children.

“I hope beyond this week the pupils continue to explore their creative side and be ambitious about product design and entrepreneurship.”

To further deepen their understanding of the design process, the pupils were invited to visit Maritime Development Ltd’s offices and production yard. Witnessing firsthand how products evolve from initial concept to reality and touring the facility to see how the products are produced. A highlight of their visit was meeting the company founders, Derek Smith and George Mackintosh, who provided invaluable insights into their journey over the last 25 years. The afternoon brought another exciting opportunity, as former pupil James Stanyer, Class of 2017, from CodeBase, welcomed the pupils to ONETech Hub. Here, they delved into the world of website design, gaining a glimpse into the digital side of product development and online sales, further reinforcing the theme of real-world learning and industry connections.

Building on these experiences, pupils spent the following days working on their designs and prototypes. The classroom buzzed with creativity as ideas took shape translating visions into practical, playable games with intergenerational engagement in mind. A visit to the RGC Technology department, proved instrumental where the pupils again utilised their network of expertise. Mr Cumming and Mr Lamplugh provided expert guidance and support in bringing their ideas to life.

The culmination of the week was a visit to Rubislaw Park Care Home. The pupils, brimming with excitement and a touch of nervous anticipation, presented their games to the residents. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and shared joy as the pupils and residents played together, testing the games and celebrating their success. This social exchange underscored the true value of community in education - showing pupils firsthand how their work could make a meaningful impact.  

Mrs Proctor, P7 Teacher, shared: “The week aimed to provide a different  style of learning experience that gave our pupils insight into the world of design, product development, and the entrepreneurial mindset. Our pupils have had a great experience, as they learned about the importance of empathy, the intricacies of the design process and the satisfaction of creating something meaningful for others. Most importantly, they discovered the power of collaboration and the joy of bringing smiles to the faces of the elderly residents. 

“We have been so grateful to everyone who has made the week a success. The Robert Gordon’s community has such talented alumni across the world who are generous in the time they give to support pupils. Meeting Dougal and James has been hugely exciting for Primary 7 pupils, and they loved visiting MDL and ONE Tech Hub, which provided excellent insight into how companies work and what the future holds. Our pupils have gained a lot from this week, and it has been exciting to see how they have built upon the skills gained throughout the week.”