“Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life!” was former Warwick Academy student Sam Dill’s inspirational message to children at the school.

The Brunel Product Design graduate gave an assembly talk outlining how he developed his interest in design into a future career path. He told students how working in his grandfather’s workshop led to projects including building skate and BMX ramps to a fibreglass, multihull speedboat in year 12.

As Stem and Steam (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) continue to gain popularity as an educational innovation, he said arguably they had always existed in the context of design.

Mr Dill, who graduated with a first in Product Design earlier this year, was selected for the New Designers 2016 exhibition at London’s Design Centre for his “eyeassist” modular wireless camera system and involvement with the “Made in Brunel” initiative — a “student led collaborative platform focused on showcasing good design from Brunel University London”. Mr Dill has run workshops, spoken to students in assemblies and was, on Monday, part of a trial run of a year 13 Design Technology presentation, offering his advice as part of a “Dragon’s Den”-style event that saw a collaboration between staff and students in the Practical Arts and Business studies departments.

Gathered in the renovated Barber Hall 6th form common room, Business Studies students, led by IB co-ordinator and Business Studies teacher Mrs Sara Jackson, listened to product pitches before questioning the students’ designs and considering how they could be marketed.

In the New Year, Mr Dill aims to work with design giant Dyson.