Practicality, composition and overall execution were some of the key factors Seasons Living residents considered when they voted for the best clay teapot made by Mango Hill Secondary College students.

The whimsical-themed teapots were displayed at the Seasons Mango Hill retirement community, where residents were given an opportunity to vote for which Visual Art student should win People’s Choice.

It was ultimately Year 10 student Nia Thomas who claimed the victory for her traditional, yet innovative design, which was inspired by Japanese Anime.

“My design was based off a cartoon called One Piece, about a dragon ruling a kingdom,” she said.

“The most challenging part was painting the teapot, as the paint was thick, and the colours didn’t turn out as I expected.”

Seasons resident Carla Rees said her decision was influenced by her emotional connection to the winning teapot.

“My late husband loved his cups of tea and that looked like a traditional but still unique teapot, so he would have loved it,” Ms Rees said.

“It was very sentimental to me, so I voted for that teapot in his memory.”

It took about four weeks for the 20 high school students to complete the art project, with many of the young creatives taking their work a step further, by constructing their teapots in a specific way, so they could be used for their intended purpose.

The initiative also gave the residents and students and opportunity to connect when the Visual Art class visited the community for a morning tea.

Research from Intergenerational Learning Australia reveals that interactions between seniors and young people have positive mental and physical health impacts, reduce social isolation and may increase feelings of purpose.

Studies by the Stanford Center show that intergenerational connections can also enhance longevity and offer support for teenagers whose parents work full-time.

Seasons resident Laurelle Hounslow who struggled with the voting process due to the quality of all the teapots, reflected on the broader impact of the showcase.

“(Meeting the students) makes you feel alive,” Ms Hounslow said.

“Being able to interact with the younger generation has been just lovely and these students are so well behaved.

“They all deserve credit and should be proud of their hard work and it was nice to see so many male students involved in the arts.”

As a token of appreciation, Seasons residents gifted the winning student handmade gifts including a stunning crocheted blanket.