RS DesignSpark celebrates 15 years of innovation, ingenuity and impact

Since its launch on 6 July 2010, DesignSpark has helped members accelerate time-to-market and bring ideas to life through technical know-how, educational initiatives, design challenges, and competitions. Today, it is a global engineering ecosystem with over 1.4 million registered members, offering free access to professional-grade design tools, technical resources, and a vibrant community that fuels creativity and collaboration.

"DesignSpark was created to democratise engineering design and support creators of all levels - from students to professionals," said Pete Wood, Director of RS DesignSpark. "Fifteen years on, we're proud to have built a platform that not only delivers powerful tools but also fosters a truly collaborative and inspiring community."

As part of its anniversary celebration, DesignSpark is highlighting some of its most impactful projects, milestones, and innovations from over the past 15 years:

DesignSpark Mechanical and DesignSpark PCB:Professional-grade design tools that help engineers move from concept to prototype with ease. Version 13 of DesignSpark PCB is set to launch in September 2025.

Mission Responsible Podcast: A flagship podcast series shortlisted in the British Podcast Awards 2023. Hosted by Dr. Shini Somara and Dr. Simon Clark, it explores how responsible innovation can tackle global challenges from sustainable cities to space debris.

Superman Project: Together with Mattel Italy, this playful yet inspiring mission launched a Superman action figure into near space using a weather balloon, showcasing the power of creative engineering.

Environmental Sensor Development Kit (ESDK): An open-source platform developed by DesignSpark, enabling engineers and communities to monitor air quality using customisable sensors for pollutants. Impactful projects have included: air mapping in Lagos; the Breathe Better Bear in Malta, which is helping school children across the island understand pollution; and the Mindful Droid in the UK, a mobile robot, raising awareness of environmental data in public spaces.

Radio Globe: A 10th-anniversary, award-winning open-source project blending physical and digital design. It encompassed a 3D-printed globe that lets users explore 2,000+ radio stations worldwide, simply by spinning the globe and promoted curiosity and cultural connection during times of isolation.

SeaQuest: A community-driven challenge, in collaboration with Imperial College London's Advanced Hackspace, to build a 3D-printed, autonomous boat capable of crossing the English Channel. The project highlighted sustainable design, open-source collaboration, and was documented in a 10-part YouTube series.

Gravity: In 2016, Richard Browning set out to redefine human flight with his jet-engine suit, Daedalus. DesignSpark helped get Gravity Industries 'off the ground' by launching his journey on DesignSpark and donating essential tools and components.