Derek Yates represents Camberwell at the D&AD Graduate Academy

Recently, Derek Yates, Course Leader of the FdA in Graphic Design, was asked to contribute to the D&AD Graduate Academy. From the 22nd to the 26th of August, eighty students took part in a ‘Graduate Boot Camp’ at the Rochelle School in Shoreditch designed to to bring their education-based skills into a work setting. Working with Sophie Walter from onedotzero and Kevin Palmer from Kin Derek wrote and presented a mini ‘Cascade’ brief and chaired discussion seminars with Sanky, the President of the D&ad. Responses to the brief were presented to a panel of leading practitioners from agencies such as Mother, AMV, Dave, Iris and the Partners at the studios of Iris Nation on the South Bank. Derek and Sophie then helped select 50 students for placements at some of the UK’s leading creative companies.

Live Projects

Many of our students work on live briefs while on the course. A project for NYJC is described elsewhere in the blog and other clients have included American Express, Constable & Robinson, BJ Industries, Widening Participation UAL, the Federation of Irish Societies and the Stone Roses. Over the years we have come to realize that students should approach live projects with caution. As a rule we now try to ensure that they are paid a professional rate for any work done for private sector clients and that work with ‘not for profit’ organizations is clearly credited and overseen by staff from the course.

Placements

Over the last seven years FdA students have done placements at studios that include the Design Studio; Johnston Works; AIG (now Applied_espi); 300Million; Bear; Draught Associates; Coley Porter Bell; Creative Leap; Dazed & Confused; FiveFootSix; Kino; Moving Brands; Peepshow; Showmedia; Showstudio; Vogue; Saatchi & Saatchi; Dutch Uncle; Vivid Brand; TwobyTwo; Bibliothéque, No Brow Publishing and Thomas Matthews. They analyse their experience through a learning journal, some of which are pictured above.

Work Based Learning 02

At the beginning stage 02 students are given an opportunity to engage in a sustained period of work-based learning. This allows them to re-visit their initial contact with the design industry and produce a body of research that examines at how their practice might relate to the professional context. This is achieved through a range of primary research activities that include: first hand interviews, work shadowing, email questionnaires, placements and internships.

Credentials

Students prepare an approach to employers and take part in a series of workshops that provide guidance in the preparation of an online portfolio, professional CV and Emailer.

Work Based Learning 01

At the end of stage one of the FdA students at Camberwell are required to do some detailed research into a particular aspect of current practice within the creative industries. They make direct contact with practitioners and reveal first hand insight into the key issues of contemporary practice and their findings are then distilled into a bound report. This process has a series of employability benefits. Firstly, students start to build a network of professional contacts and learn how to engage in conversation at a professional level. They also start to develop an understanding of current industry practice and learn how to present this information in an appropriate form.