Glorious Light Academy
How we trained 50 secondary school students in design and web development — and sparked a new generation of digital creators.
Company overview
Meet Glorious Light Academy
Glorious Light Academy is a forward-thinking secondary school in Osun committed to raising well-rounded students who are prepared for the modern world. Beyond core academics, the school actively invests in extracurricular skill-building and technology exposure for its students.
Recognising that digital literacy is no longer optional, the school's leadership sought a partner who could deliver practical, industry-relevant training — not just theory from a textbook, but real skills from real practitioners. They needed someone who could take complete beginners and leave them confident enough to build something real in just a few days.
We brought the studio to the classroom.
The challenge
What we were solving for
Glorious Light Academy came to us with real credibility and a clear vision. What they needed was the infrastructure to back it up.
Most students had never opened a design tool. The curriculum needed to start from absolute zero without being patronising or slow.
The programme had to fit within the school's academic calendar — meaning everything from Canva to HTML had to land in three intensive days.
50 students ranging from tech-curious to completely new to computers — the training had to be flexible enough to keep everyone engaged at every level.
A one-off workshop that students forget in a week is a waste. The school wanted an experience that would genuinely change how students see their own career possibilities.
The solution
Day 1: Introduction to Design Thinking
We kicked off with the fundamentals — what design actually is, why it matters, and how it shapes everything from the apps on their phones to the billboards on their commute. Students got hands-on with Canva, creating their first real design projects: social media posters, event flyers, and personal brand logos.
The solution
Day 2: Introduction to Web Development
Day two was where things got technical. We introduced HTML and CSS from scratch — what a browser actually does, how websites are structured, and how to write your first lines of code. By the end of the session, every student had built a basic personal webpage with their name, bio, and styled content.
The solution
Day 3: Build Day and Presentations
The final day was all about applying what they'd learned. Students worked in small teams to combine design and code into mini-projects — personal portfolio pages, fictional brand landing pages, and school event websites. The day closed with project presentations in front of their peers and teachers.
The solution
Curriculum & Resource Pack
We didn't just show up and leave. We developed a custom curriculum guide and resource pack that the school can reuse and build on for future cohorts — including exercise files, cheat sheets, and a curated list of free learning platforms for students who want to keep going.
The results
Three days. Fifty students. A permanent shift in perspective.
What started as a training workshop ended as something much bigger. Students who had never written a line of code walked out having built their own web pages. Students who thought 'design' meant Microsoft Word discovered an entirely new creative vocabulary. We also worked a project to design and print the billboard banner right in front of the school — exposing students to a real-life use case of design from concept to finished product, and giving them a genuine sense of pride in what they'd helped create.
We also:
"When 1204 Studios came in, I expected a standard ICT talk. What we got was something completely different. Our students were building real websites by day two. The energy in that room was electric — students who usually struggle to stay engaged were the ones asking to stay back after the session. This is exactly the kind of exposure our children need, and we're already planning to bring the team back for a second cohort."
Omisakin Odunola
Director of Student Affairs, Glorious Light Academy
Start a project