News story

New Wallace & Gromit ‘Cracking Ideas’ competition

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and Aardman have launched a new Wallace & Gromit ‘Cracking Ideas’ competition.

The nationwide competition is open to individuals and groups ages four to eleven. The invention loving duo, Wallace and Gromit, are the masterminds behind the Techno Trousers and the 525 Crackervac and have been making ‘life better’ with their inventions for over 30 years. This is the 14th competition and a continuation of the unique partnership, which started with ‘Wallace & Gromit Present a World of Cracking Ideas’ exhibition at London’s Science Museum.

This year Wallace and Gromit are asking young inventors to help them on their mission to make the Wrong Trousers right. The duo need help to reinvent the trousers and turn them into something that can do good for our planet. Can they help plant trees? Can they collect rubbish in the sea? Are they made from recycled materials?

Can you pick up a pencil and help the duo reinvent the “Techno Trousers”? The trousers will need a new name, logo and design, and they will need to be kind to our planet!

The competition aims to introduce children to the concept of Intellectual Property (IP). Children will learn how important it is for inventors to receive credit for their designs.

The winners will receive an Aardman model making session for their class or group and an eco-friendly, STEM-inspired ‘Techno Trousers’ kit gifted by the Build Your Own team, who recently had their kits featured on ITVS This Morning. Runners up will each receive a goodie bag and all entrants will be able to download a certificate of participation as a thank you for their contribution.

Entrants are asked to share their design journey on social media by using #CrackingIdeas and #WrongTrousersAt30 or tag the IPO Education social media accounts. The nationwide competition hopes to show the world what a cracking bunch of inventors the next generation are!

Download your competition resources online.

Published 23 March 2023