The Victoria and Albert Museum has announced that acclaimed writer and narrative designer Rhianna Pratchett will join the judging panel for the upcoming V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge 2026–27.
Pratchett, widely recognized for shaping some of the most prominent video game worlds and narratives of the past two decades—including Tomb Raider, Mirror’s Edge, and Overlord—brings a wealth of creative industry experience to the education initiative. The national challenge encourages young people to apply design thinking to real-world problems, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and innovation among state school students across England.
A Career Shaping Iconic Virtual Worlds
Pratchett’s career in narrative design spans various creative mediums, though she is best known for her profound impact on the video games industry. Her journey began as a story editor for the role-playing game Beyond Divinity. Following that foundational project, she quickly established herself as a leading voice in interactive storytelling.
In 2007, her creative contributions to the action-adventure game Heavenly Sword earned her a prestigious BAFTA nomination. The following year, she received the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Best Videogame Script award for her work on the spirited action-RPG Overlord. Beyond her extensive portfolio in gaming—which also includes her celebrated work on the reboot of the iconic Tomb Raider franchise and the dystopian runner Mirror’s Edge—Pratchett has collaborated on storytelling projects across other entertainment sectors, including work with Film4, 03 Productions, and the Jim Henson Company.
Insights on Design, Creativity, and Youth Perspective
As part of her new role on the judging panel, Pratchett sat down to discuss what it means to evaluate the next generation of creative thinkers and why the principles of design remain deeply important to her professional and personal life.
Reflecting on the upcoming submissions from students, Pratchett expressed genuine enthusiasm for the fresh perspectives that young people bring to complex challenges. She noted that she is frequently astonished by the ingenuity of students, observing that they often perceive possibilities and solutions that adults routinely overlook.
When discussing the fundamental purpose of design, Pratchett offered a clear perspective rooted in accessibility and empathy. To her, design is fundamentally about making things simpler to understand and use, providing people with the confidence and practical tools necessary to make a meaningful difference, and approaching creation with genuine care for individuals and the wider world.
She emphasized that good design holds the power to transform how humanity perceives and experiences daily life. According to Pratchett, effective design can actively solve persistent problems, unlock entirely new possibilities, and ensure that everyday objects and environments function better for everyone.
A Personal Connection to Design Innovation
Asked about a design object that has had a profound personal impact on her life, Pratchett pointed to an everyday medical innovation: her contact lenses.
Recalling her childhood, she shared that she first received contact lenses when she was eight years old, following a lifetime of wearing National Health Service spectacles colloquially known as "bottle-bottom" glasses. At the time, she was the youngest person at the Bristol Eye Hospital to be fitted with them.
The transition was initially dramatic, requiring her mother to insert the lenses for her—an experience she humorously recalls as having traumatized them both. However, once she learned to apply them independently, the change felt like true liberation for her and an enormous relief for her mother, illustrating how small design interventions can drastically change an individual’s daily life.
Advice for the Next Generation of Innovators
With registration now open for the 2026–27 challenge, Pratchett offered direct guidance to the participating students, encouraging them to embrace unconventional thinking and collaborative exploration.
She advised students not to be afraid of ideas that might seem a little strange at first glance. True innovation, she noted, frequently emerges from exploring concepts that others might prematurely dismiss as too odd or entirely impossible. She urged teams to listen closely to one another, continuously ask "what if?", and keep in mind that the most effective solution is rarely the most obvious one. Furthermore, she reminded students that what initially appears impossible can often become surprisingly simple once approached from an unexpected angle.
Registration and Participation Details
The V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge for the 2026–27 academic year is officially open for registration and entry submissions. The competition invites student groups in Years 7, 8, and 9 from state schools across England to pitch their creative concepts.
The core themes for this year’s competition are Simplify, Empower, and Nurture. To support educators and students throughout their creative journeys, the V&A website provides a dedicated theme inspiration pack, alongside comprehensive Teacher and Student Toolkits designed to assist with both the design process and final submission requirements.