Although participating in this competition is great fun and produces visually exciting results, the most important aspect
of the competition cannot be overlooked - what is learnt.
Learning objectives Ideally, on conclusion of participating in this competition, students will have:

· Worked successfully as a team - delegating, discussions, democratic decisions
· Pooled ideas, skills and resources
· Sourced various unusual, alternative and inexpensive waste materials.
· Learnt about problem solving and design constraints.
· Learnt more about formal artistic elements- structure, colour, shape, etc.
· Persisted with an idea or adapted it to suit given constraints
· Identified with designers and experienced the design process.
· Tried many different construction techniques

· Learnt how to source inspiration and create a mood board or notebook of ideas.
· Documented and compiled a visual presentation of each stage of the project with drawings, colour swatches, sample materials and written accounts.
· Articulated the concept, inspiration and development behind the costume.
· Used knowledge and skills derived from other subject lessons in construction.
· Chosen an appropriate piece of music and performance to present the costume.
· Ultimately learnt how to develop an abstract idea and bring it to fruition - the finished fully constructed costume

Why the competition works:

· Bottom-up model of Curriculum Development: As the competition was created in the classroom and continues to be evaluated by the participating teachers and students, it ensures that the aims and objectives of the competition remain realistic.

· Multiple Intelligences:
It offers students a multidimensional approach to creativity. Tapping into Gardner's "multiple intelligences" to devise a holistic approach to each project that enters the competition. Through teamwork, interpersonal skills are developed, and students' intrapersonal abilities heightened through their achievement.

· Cross-Curricular Activity:
The competition can be anchored in any school department and the various stages of the construction process necessitate that the students collate relevant information from other sources/departments within the school

· Facilitates Constructivist pedagogy and
pupil empowerment:
Due to the fact that the competition is all about students making their own choices it engages their imagination and they generally become self-motivated and self-regulated.

Some Endorsements
The TYCSS in The Department of Education, Rep. Of Ireland.
"Students who take on the challenge of designing and creating a costume for "The Coca-Cola Form and Fusion Design Awards" will have the opportunity to participate in a rich learning experience. Students will use and develop their intelligences in a holistic way &The young people will grow in confidence learning to work independently and as part of a team. The opportunity is there, the challenge is yours."
The LCASS in the Department of Education, Rep. Of Ireland.
"The Leaving Certificate Applied Support Service would like to endorse this competition as a task idea in the Craft and Design Specialism. The overall group process of student centred learning with plenty of cross-curricular activities is ideal for Leaving Certificate Applied task. When students are self-motivated by the possibility of an end product such as these shown overleaf, the educational value of the process is enhanced even more."
The Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA, Northern Ireland)
The Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) firmly believes that creative minds are the cornerstone of our future. We believe that through education young people should be encouraged to develop as individuals and contribute to society, the economy and the environment. The Coca-Cola Form and Fusion Design Awards are a wonderful opportunity to develop all of these ideas, mixing design with dance and enterprise with empowerment - it is truly a 21st century initiative that deserves success. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to be part of something that is not only good fun but a great learning experience.
Inter Education and Library Board Advisory Panel for Art & Design, Northern Ireland
The Form and Fusion Design Awards prove to be a challenging and rewarding experience for pupils and teachers alike. A unique opportunity for unprecedented exchange of ideas, skills and creativity. An opportunity to excite, inspire, a celebration of creativity, an ambitious challenge, an opportunity for refreshed inspiration. Education should inform and inspire young people from all backgrounds, encouraging new ways of thinking. As educationalists we need to explore imaginative initiatives which will greatly enhance this.

The competition is also endorsed by "The Department of Education and Science", the former Minister for Education and Science (now Minister for Health and Children), Mr Michael Mairtin TD. The Education Department at UCC and The ASTI and TUI Teachers' Unions and such Art and Design institutes in Ireland as NCAD, Crawford and LSAD.