YACreates
Interactive Maps & More
Developing an EdTech Prototype


 
This project was funded by
This project was supported by
About YACreates
YACreates Ltd is a dynamic innovative contemporary design business established in 2015.


Based in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter we specialise in combining the latest digital manufacturing practices with traditional crafting techniques.


We create  accessories, eventware, gifts, jewellery, homeware, map puzzles & merchandise using CO2 lasers, digital cutters & handcraft. 


Through our love of human geography and culture, the majority of our work incorporates themes based on symbolism, nature, contemporary design and urban living.
We aim to delight and inspire through creativity, innovation, education and fun.
Meet Our Founder
Having worked for many years for Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery funded programmes. Yejide Adeoye, founder of YACreates Ltd has a solid background of supporting and developing creative and cultural programmes focused on Creative Learning (Creative Partnerships programme), Carnival Arts (Carnival Village Trust) and Contemporary Curatorial Practice (Royal College of Arts and Culture&).


Yejide is a self taught jewellery maker startting her beading journey in South Africa, in 2007 and has developed her work in areas such as chainmaille and lasercut pieces.


Since buying her first CO2 laser machine in 2015 she has been developing her digital design and manufacturing skills, showcasing and selling her work across the UK.


Yejide is a STEAMhouse member and the Committee Lead for Digital Manufacturing at Fizzpop Makerspace, in Digbeth.
Project Overview
Imagine being immersed in a digital interactive world where animals come to life and rivers flow; you can feel the vibrance of colourful continents, countries and cities; and learn about the ecosystem of deserts, rainforests and so much more. 


The Interactive Maps & More (IMM) project's aim is to not only help you imagine it but actually bring this experience to life by developing a prototype that will combine digital crafting, storytelling, immersive technologies and gaming.


By activating a dissected 2D map puzzle piece using interactive software, geographical and cultural learning content will  be delivered to our target end users, children aged 5-7years old, via mobile devices.
Project so far
In October 2021 YACreates Ltd was 1 of 100 winners of the InnovateUK Creative Industries Fund: Fast Start Business Growth pilot award.


With a brief to create a market facing prototype within 6 months and within a £25K budget we had a lot to achieve in so little time!


With an additional £2.5k funding from STEAMhouse and extensive support from Birmingham City University and Innovate UK Edge, we worked collaboratively with local creative businesses to embark on this whirlwind journey.


By combining the use of the latest technologies such as Mixed Reality, 3D animation and AI with gaming, digital manufacturing and traditional storytelling we created a App store ready prototype application that brings a dissected wooden map puzzle to life.


Using marker based scanning, country specific cultural and geographical audio visual content can be delivered to the user’s device.
Moving Forward
By working in a collaborative and co-creative manner with academics, business support organisations, local businesses, schools, tech professionals and cultural/creative institutions this project aims to create an innovative EdTech offering that can enhance geographical and cultural learning for primary school aged children. 
Career Opportunities
The IMM project is constantly evolving and will require a lot more work to get it to full stage development.


With this in mind we will be providing opportunities for young people to join us on this journey to help develop the app and get it market ready.
Work Experience
Our work experience placements provide, creative, technical and networking experiences that will provide students with an insight into how a business like ours operates.


We believe there is much value in undertaking work experience in a creative, nurturing and inspiring environment and this is what we specialise in delivering.
Talks
We deliver school talks about the process we have gone through so far with the IMM project.


We also offer students the opportunity to try out the prototype and provide feedback on it.
Mentoring
We have mentored over 15 young people over the past 5 years & are happy to provide mentoring for your students too!


The majority of our mentoring is delivered through work experience, however we can provide it as a standalone offering. 
Click the button to express an interest in any of the career opportunites mentioned above.