6 reasons design education is failing the creative industry

Not enough practical emphasis
«I would like to see students better prepared for the practical aspects of working as a designer,» suggests Holly Karlsson, director of Shillington School (US). «I’d train students to brainstorm a dozen viable ideas in 30 minutes, not two weeks. «Government should be funding – not penalising – art and design education. For him, the problem is deep-rooted: «In a word: university. Illustration: Tommy Parker
What do you think is wrong with design education today? Lack of Government support
According to Neville Brody, dean at the School of Communication, Royal College of Art, design education needs more support from the Government. These are just three of many huge questions marks hanging over design education in the UK. Is design education failing its students? Though these skills might not be of immediate concern for a junior, they are fundamental to the industry.»
06. This article first appeared in Computer Arts issue 232, a design education special packed with insight, inspiration and behind-the-scenes access to the world’s most exciting creative minds. Most of us learnt these lessons as we went along, learning from our mistakes. He’s also a part-time lecturer. Then our youngest talent can use education for its true purpose: to imagine and create better alternatives.»
03. Education isn’t the same as experience
Filmmaker and author Paul Wyatt is an advocate of real-world experience: «There’s isn’t anything ‘wrong’ with design education,» he reasons. We need to stop pretending it isn’t. How big is the gulf between education and industry – and are graduates equipped to hit the real world running? We should engage with science, engineering, technology, information design, art, society, communication and commerce. Only students with the appropriate aptitude and attitude would progress beyond year one.»
04. Here, six leading creative professionals debate what’s wrong with higher education – and suggest what they would do to fix it…
01. Make the first year of study free – teach drawing, colour, composition and basic design skills, five days a week, studio-based, attendance mandatory. We have the knowledge, history, vision and adventure to innovate, so let us grab the opportunity!’
02. «Design is key to our economic and cultural future, and must be taught at every level of education,» he says. «It’s just that it can’t replicate the motivating fear of a client deadline, or the experience of working in an industry with people of different ages, abilities and opinions.»
Watch Paul Wyatt’s film The Workshop which documents an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and the creative industry. Students aren’t prepared
Hamish Muir is co-founder of 8vo and British studio MuirMcNeil. And in some other words: professional educators; pedagogues; quality assurance; a funding model that inhibits studio-based activities.»
«Re-establish independent design schools.