Unsolved on Purpose: Reflections on the Rubik’s Cube and the Curriculum and Assessment Review for D&T

Abstract

This reflection explores the evolving pedagogical and curricular landscape of Design and Technology (D&T) education in England, drawing on recent dialogues with the Department for Education and collaborative academic work. It challenges conventional, linear interpretations of designing, making, and evaluating by proposing alternative frameworks (ideating, realising, and critiquing) alongside key processes such as communicating, researching, and satisficing. Using the Rubik’s Cube as a metaphor, it argues for a curriculum that embraces complexity, ambiguity, and interdependence, resisting the urge for uniformity and predictability. The article advocates for intentional diversity in teaching approaches, encouraging educators to foster creativity, autonomy, and critical thinking in learners. Ultimately, it calls for a shift from a “solved” curriculum model to one that remains productively “unsolved,” reflecting the dynamic and iterative nature of real-world design