Jubilee clock
Juliarna Mitchell
Gisborne Girls' High School
Year 11 Materials Technology, Half-year project
Teacher: Heather McIntyre
Juliarna chose to make a clock for the Gisborne Girls' High School 50th jubilee – a project that was certainly apt for those reflecting on the passing of time. She wanted to make something that people would use every day and that would challenge her during development, as she hadn't done this sort of thing before.
Juliarna's initial plan was to design a clock as a souvenir and mass produce it for sale at the jubilee; she thought people might be more likely to purchase an object which was useful and memorabilia of the weekend. However, mass production proved too difficult, so Juliarna decided to produce a one-off working prototype and give it to the school as a memento of the event.
For her design Juliarna looked at different styles, shapes and sizes of clocks, and surveyed current and ex-students and teachers on their preferences. This consultation determined the square shape in her design.
When she considered materials Juliarna's main concern was durability and aesthetic appeal and decided that aluminium satisfied both criteria.
Juliarna was aware that the clock, as a souvenir item, needed to reflect aspects of the school history. She did this by using the school colours – red, black and white – and including a poppy, a reference to the school motto: 'Tall Poppies Bloom Here'.
Juliarna says that working on this project has made her more confident in using tools in the workshop, and that she has learnt new skills doing this – such as different ways to make the metal shine. She also feels more confident in her communication skills, having had to talk to her stakeholders, many of whom were adults, about different aspects of the project. She is pleased that she has made something that people use every day, especially now that it is placed in the staffroom as a constant reminder of the jubilee.
"I have learnt what I am able to achieve if I am prepared to put in the work. I have gone on to make my own clock and my teacher thinks I am going to make one for her too!"
Teacher comment
Juliarna's clock is ticking away nicely in the staffroom. She not only produced a useful item, but we have a lasting memory of the school jubilee. Although it was not one of Juliarna's goals, she has helped to promote Technology in the school by having a publicly visible item that was made by a student.
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