Bridge Building Podcast Episode 96: Datta Podcast: Communicating Design Thinking, Food & Fibre Futures, and the Future of Trades

The 2026 DATTA Queensland Conference brings together educators and industry experts who are helping shape the future of Design and Technologies education. In this episode, Stephen Anderson speaks with three conference presenters about their upcoming sessions and the practical ideas they will be sharing with teachers. Claire Rackley discusses how students can effectively communicate design thinking through stronger sketching, visual refinement and reduced reliance on written explanations. Her workshop focuses on helping teachers understand how students can demonstrate complex thinking within modern assessment constraints. Luciano Mesiti highlights the opportunities available for teachers to incorporate food and fibre contexts into Design and Technologies programs. Through curriculum-aligned resources and sustainability-focused activities, Luciano demonstrates how these topics can become engaging and meaningful learning experiences for students. Nathan Edwards explores how emerging technologies are reshaping trades and manufacturing careers. His session examines the changing relationship between humans and technology and what students need to know about the future workforce. Whether your interest is visual communication, sustainability, food and fibre, engineering, manufacturing, or workforce pathways, this episode offers valuable insights and ideas to take back to your classroom.