Ethics discussion forum

On the 11th of March 2008 we organized the Ethics discussion forum with the help of John L Walters. The aim of this day was to examine how ethical issues are being addressed within the creative industries. We invited key writers, designers and thinkers to present their thoughts and take part in discussion with staff, students and representatives from industry. Speakers included: Ken Garland, Anne Odling Smee, Rick Poynor, Rathna Ramanathan and Noel Douglas. Calverts Co-operative ethically printed promotional material for the event on waste paper using waste ink.

Eye Magazine

Eye Magazine is the highly respected ‘International Review of Graphic Design’ edited by John L Walters and art directed by Simon Esterson. FdA Course Leader, Derek Yates was asked to sit on the Eye Magazine Education Panel in 2007 and this connection has led to a number of innovative discussion based events organized in partnership with the journal.

onedotzero Cascade

In 2008, Course Leader, Derek Yates was involved in the development of the Cascade education platform with onedotzero. The Cascade programme ‘aims to promote collaboration and convergence amongst young people, students and graduates from different creative disciplines to test and respond to the creative opportunities offered by cross-disciplinary working and new technologies’. Cascade is now in it’s fourth year and Derek is integral to it’s continued success. Outcomes from Cascade are presented during the onedotzero ‘adventures in motion’ festival at the BFi and students from the FdA are invited to take part each year.

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.