Pupils Design Badge for Greenfield Academy

The new school badge for Greenfield Academy has been revealed.  

V&A Dundee has supported a committee of primary 7 pupils from all feeder schools for Greenfield Academy to become designers of their new school badge.  

During the project they have learnt how to distil information and collaborate with their peers. The pupils have co-designed along with the expertise of designers Cara Rooney and Linsey McIntosh, and the assistance of Dundee City Council.  

The pupils have created icons to represent the Greenfield Academy school values of Love, Ambition, and Perseverance.  

• The Dandelion was central to capturing the spirit and values of new school – growing in the most unlikely of places and thriving, transforming on the inside and outside over time, being deep rooted and spreading their seeds(ideas), signalling the change of seasons and next phases.  
• Herons – Two proud likeminded creatures, coming together to create a new school.
• Book – Achieve your goals, gain knowledge and feel proud.
• Love heart and roots - Respect given and shown to whole school community- helping those who need help.
• Star- being ambitious and not giving up.  

The co-design process has empowered the pupils to make critical design decisions ensuring their badge is fit for purpose and communicates a visual values story.  

Children, Families and Communities Convener Stewart Hunter said: “It’s great to have the future pupils of the school involved in creating the badge and playing such a huge role in shaping the future identity of the school.  

“I want to thank everyone involved who worked with the pupils, providing them with a valuable opportunity to learn more about design and working as part of team.”    

Greenfield Academy is part of the new £100 million Drumgeith Community Campus, which is the largest investment in education, sport and community provision in the city and will deliver state-of-the-art facilities and services to the area.

The current Braeview Academy and Craigie High School will come together to form the new school, which is set to open in August this year.

Cara Rooney, illustrator said: "It was a joy to collaborate with the future pupils of Greenfield Academy, to co-design this badge that will symbolise the new school and its community for many years to come.  

“The ideas the pupils created through the process of the workshops were so inspiring, and it was wonderful to work with them to establish a design combining the values of the school. It has been so rewarding to see their reactions to the final design, and how proud they are to have ownership of its development."    

Linsey McIntosh, Designer said: "Co-design is fantastic because it opens up the process to everyone. The pupils involved from the various primary schools made new friendships as they worked collaboratively for the first time, while learning design skills for decision-making and creativity. The story behind the badge design is really meaningful as their abundance of thoughtful ideas are woven through it.  

“There’s a brilliant legacy to this project as the badge will be used to represent Greenfield Academy for many years to come. The young people involved should be hugely proud of what they’ve achieved together, and the positive impact that will have on shaping the new school community through the use of design.”

Johnny Lothian, Drumgeith Community Campus Leader, said: “We set our young designers the brief of creating a school badge that would communicate who we are and what we value as a learning community. Our young designers have exceeded all expectations in providing us with an identity that I find to be authentic, positive and striking."

Pupils involved in the design process helped in the launch.  

Mirren Ritchie from Ballumbie Primary said she was excited about showing the badge to her class and added; “I’m proud of it, it was a good experience.”  

Ava Mills, also of Ballumbie Primary, said: “I did really enjoy coming to the V&A to do the badge and meeting the people.  

“I learnt a lot about the steps of design.”  

Gary Jamieson, V&A Dundee Schools Development Officer said: "V&A Dundee is an invaluable resource for our city’s communities and schools, offering a space where design comes alive through real-world relevance.  

“It empowers young people to explore creativity, contribute their voices, and actively shape their environments through co-design. By placing design education at the heart of community learning, we’re helping the next generation see themselves as changemakers."