Project Description

Bringing CAD to Live with Auchmtuy High School 

At the beginning of 2023, Mr O’Brien in the CDT department at Auchmuty High School launched a ‘Sign Design Competition’ for the S4 Graphic Communication pupils. The aim of the competition was to encourage the young people to use their Computer Aided Design (CAD) skills to design an eye-catching sign for the entrance way to the department. 

Three teams took up the challenge and they worked from a brief to come up with an initial paper design which was then transferred into a 3D model on CAD.  Two of the teams completed the challenge by meeting the briefing specifications and from this the winning design was chosen. 

After the competition winner was chosen, the Auchmuty CDT team reached out to local business who could help support the manufacturing of the winning sign.  

With the support of DYW Fife, John Penman from Fife Fabrications very kindly offered to manufacture the winning design for us using their Trumpf Fibre laser cutting machine.  

On the 22nd February, Fife Fabrication invited the winning team, Fraser Anderson and Euan Mearns, to the factory to see their sign being manufactured. The boys had a great day and really enjoyed seeing their design come to life. 

A huge thank you to Kevin Luke and John Penman from Fife Fabrications for making this happen. The pupils and teachers are very grateful for their support and this final stage of the competition gave our young people the experience of seeing how the skills they learn within Graphic Communication at school directly relates to the skills requires in the world of work. 

Both pupils had a fantastic day with Fife Fab, Euan said “it was great to see our design in real life rather than just on a CAD screen”. 

Fraser said “I really enjoyed the experience of designing the sign on CAD but it was great to see our design come to life and seeing it being made in a factory”