13.12.12 Alt/Shift

On the 13^th December 2012 FdA Course Leader, Derek Yates realized his dream of creating a conference designed to explore the potential of ‘Learning with industry’. The conference took place at the headquarters of the world’s largest Digital Agency – LBi and was the first of what will be a series of Alt/Shift events. It brought together friends and associates from some of the projects that he has worked on over the last 5 years. These included Shane Walter (onedotzero); Matt Wade (Kin); Russell Holmes (Ico); Joe Macleod (ustwo); Nat Hunter (RSA) and Will Hudson (It’s Nice That!). Together they set out to explore the principles that are driving development and innovation in the creative economy and celebrate educational models that inform and respond to them. It was hoped that the event would open the doors to a frank and honest exchange of views between education and the creative industries, and help us work towards an educational environment that encourages engagement with the ideas and principles are shaping the contemporary world in order to influence its future development.

Here are some of the ideas that were put forward on the day

> Unstructured, informal, non-auditable education can build robust, practical creativity.

> We need to design for a circular economy

> ‘Bottom up’ rather than ‘top down’ educational models build better employability skills.

> H.E should talk to/ learn from/ inform tertiary & secondary levels.

> We should take care not contaminate the beautiful bubble of art & design education.

> We need to defend our secondary & tertiary creative education NOW or lose it.

> Primary level education is by its nature collaborative and cross disciplinary. HE could learn from this primary example.

> Industry does not want students who try to fit in with industry.

> Education needs to prepare students for industry not as it was or as it is – but as it might be.

> It is possible to be aware of commercial constraints and challenge those constraints.

> More cross college/ cross-curricular/ cross disciplinary practice needs to be encouraged.

> Beware of the economic rationale! Education is about more than employability.

> Education must be more dynamic – it’s time to embrace change.

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