Nurburgring Table

Nurburgring Table

Design & Technology |  A Level Project

The Nurburgring Project has been one of my personal favourites. As much as this project has been challenging, it’s been a prime opportunity to explore new design elements such as modelling and sketching, as well as using new tools and machinery, which has allowed me to create this project. I’ve had huge encouragement from my practical lecturer in ensuring that I constantly achieve the best I possibly can, especially when boosting my confidence with machines I’ve never used before!

This project is based on my passion for motorsport, so it contains an interest which is very important to me. My ‘client’ holds a driving career within the Porsche GT3 Championships (another element of motorsport which I also love to watch and attend). My ‘client’ requested a coffee table that was a symbol of his career within the sport, so, I began by researching existing products to determine ideas that have not been created before to make my project unique to my client.

After many sketches and lots of research, I began creating a table which seemed to catch my peers’ attention quite rapidly. Inspired by resin-filled furniture, the table consists of an inside setting of the track (the table itself being the shape of the Nurburgring circuit). The different stages of this project have been particularly fun when it comes to investigating a topic I find incredibly meaningful. My father has been the main figure who has brought me into the world of motorsport with open arms. Since I was a child, I’ve watched motorsport with a sense of excitement and thrill, and as I’ve aged, that thrill has grown stronger. 

Although this project is still ongoing and the table is still under construction, I am constantly learning new methods and opportunities to make this project better. Documenting a change of idea within the design’s development has always been my number one priority in any project, not just this one. Documenting shows your thought processes throughout a project, showing how I solve any issues that occur or any improvements that could be made during the process.

This project also holds relevance to interior design; the production of furniture is a key component of the industry, as well as identifying current trends within furnishings (this being a key part of research and investigation in my Nurburgring project). Including this project as part of my portfolio was key to demonstrating a range of my capabilities, from designing a whole external structure to furniture that fundamentally determines a style and theme within a room. Showing these skills is, in my opinion, a key aspect of showing my passion for both interior design and architecture. 

Project Sketchbook

Below is a selection of pages from my Nurburgring Table project sketchbook, illustrating the progression of my ideas through research, experimentation, and through material exploration over the course of the project.

Project Gallery

Reference

“I am pleased to provide this reference for Molly, who has been studying Design and Technology. Throughout the course, she has produced work of a consistently good standard, particularly in practical and project-based tasks. Molly approaches hands-on work with enthusiasm and confidence, and she is usually keen to try out new techniques, tools, and materials as her projects develop.

Molly shows a strong work ethic and a positive attitude towards learning. She engages well in lessons, responds constructively to feedback, and shows a clear willingness to refine and improve her work over time. Her project outcomes are well planned and executed, demonstrating a balance of creativity and sound technical understanding.

Alongside her practical strengths, Molly is making good progress in the theoretical elements of the course. She has a secure grasp of key concepts and is becoming increasingly confident in applying theory to justify and inform her design decisions. Based on her current level of commitment and performance, she is on track to achieve a good grade.

Overall, I believe Molly is well-suited to further study within a creative or design-based field, and I am confident she would be a positive addition to any university course.”

Philip Ainsworth  |  Design & Technology Lecturer