Little Inventors
Children’s Invention Ideas Made Real | Sculpture | Stop Motion
‘Little Inventors is a creative education organisation that inspires imagination by taking children’s ideas seriously.
We challenge skilled experts and makers to work with children to turn their ideas into reality, from the practical to the fantastical, no limits.
We showcase children’s inventions online and in books and exhibitions to inspire tomorrow’s inventors, scientists, makers and problem-solvers to believe in their ability to make a difference.’
Little Inventors approached me having come across my work for the Discovery Museum and asked me to make prototypes of a couple of invention ideas from the 15 winners of their Pioneers Energy Challenge.
I have since had the absolute pleasure of doing a couple more, one which was exhibited at the UN! It is a joy to speak with the clients (that’s the kids), hear about their inventions.
Putting together a model and often an accompanying bit of stop motion to try to fully express their incredible hope-filled and bonkers plans for our world.
Continue down to explore the inventions I had the pleasure of prototyping in more detail for my incredible clients:
Lainey (10), Ruth (11), Harrison (10) and Rosie (9)
It’s a shame they’re not in charge.
The Seasweeper 1000
Lainey | Age 10 | Darlington UK
‘Lainey's ingenious invention tackles several environmental issues. It harnesses wave energy to create and store energy but it also collects refuse from the ocean, all the while being careful not to harm or scare sea life through its fish design and built-in sensors. Lainey was inspired after watching David Attenborough and Blue Planet and she wanted to help. She represents her ideas through wonderful drawings with great artistic flair.’
The Pumper Footer
Ruth | Age 11 | Hexham UK
‘Ruth had only returned from Malawi to Northumberland a few weeks before taking part in the challenge in her local library in Hexham. While living in Africa, her school uniform included socks and shoes so her feet were understandably too hot and uncomfortable. Ruth designed the ingenious Pumper Footer that refreshes your feet with fresh air at every step. The pressure of putting down your foot creates a blast of air in the shoe. Well done Ruby for finding a way to harness the energy of walking!’
The Compost Bee
Harrison | Age 10 | East Looe UK
The Compost Bee was exhibited as part of the Climate Champions Exhibition held at the United Nations Office in Geneva alongside 9 other shortlisted ideas.
Little Inventors, and their partners in this challenge CRIN (Child Rights International Network), wanted the ambassadors and directors from around the world to truly listen to children and involve them in climate decisions. The exhibition ran for ten days to showcase the children's ideas that could save our planet. You can read more about it here.
“The Compost-Bee is a portable collection device that allows each household to fill up the bee with their compost type objects. When the bee is full it flies to the large compost area and deposits it. It uses solar power and a wind turbine to power the bee. Then another bee returns in its place so the family can continue to contribute to the compost areas. The compost is then used to help crops grow and help reduce waste.” - Harrison
Floral Turbine
Rosie | Age 9 | South Shields UK
“This invention is for the environment. It helps by creating electricity while making the air fresher and helping the environment. To turn it on, you press the button on the bottom and it will spin forever.” - Rosie
Workshops
I’ve been devising and running workshops alongside Little Inventors and their partners since 2020. From in person events at cultural venues or schools in the North of England to workshopping sessions with students in Edinburgh on the product design course at Napier University. I’ve also filmed and edited online workshops and devised technique videos to help children with their own prototyping adventures at home. Many of these can be found over on their YouTube channel.
If you want to see some examples of workshops I have created you can find a small selection of images and examples of the illustrated making guides that accompany them for both Little Inventors and a plethora of other clients over here.