V&A Innovate Winners Tour Blast Studio's Circular Design Lab
Team Planet Plush from Newstead Wood School has been named the Overall Winners of the V&A Innovate 2025-26 competition. Recently, they participated in a workshop at Blast Studio in London, focusing on their project that repurposes unwanted soft toys. During their visit, they learned about converting discarded coffee cups into Cupsan®, the material for competition trophies. The students also created mycelium bowls and explored 3D modeling techniques. At Minerva Studios, insights on transforming waste materials into useful products were shared, further inspiring students to consider careers in design. Registration for the 2026-27 Innovate National Schools Challenge is now open.
Key facts
- Team Planet Plush from Newstead Wood School won V&A Innovate 2025-26.
- The prize was a workshop visit to Blast Studio in London.
- Blast Studio was founded in 2018 by Paola Garnousset, Martin Detoeuf, and Pierre de Pingon.
- Cupsan® is made from discarded coffee cups in London.
- Students made mycelium bowls, cooked at 70–90°C for 3–6 hours.
- Blast Studio uses a repurposed car assembly robot arm.
- Prashant from Rescued Clay demonstrated repurposing waste at Minerva Studios.
- The 2026-27 Innovate National Schools Challenge is open with themes Simplify, Empower, Nurture.
Entities
Artists
- Paola Garnousset
- Martin Detoeuf
- Pierre de Pingon
- Prashant
Institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Blast Studio
- Newstead Wood School
- Minerva Studios
- Absolute Beginners
- Rescued Clay
Locations
- London
- Acton
- England