I was shocked to read an article in Design Week re: redundancies of part time staff members at the Royal College of Art, in favour of full time lecturers. As a design student, I found the tutors that were within industry, and shared their time between professional practice and lecturing, the most effective tutors.
People with real industry experience, in an industry that doesn’t stand still, are a highly valuable resource. “..the restructure: “effectively jettisons the crucial role of practitioner-lecturer at the RCA, which is also a core principle of art and design education.”
For those interested in the field of design, pursuing a degree at a university used to provide numerous advantages and open doors to exciting career opportunities, but with this new take on design education, are there any advantages to looking at a university degree vs. an apprenticeship? I can only see three advantages left, but let’s explore them anyway…
- The ability to stretch your wings early as a designer. The world is your oyster like never before. Universities offer a structured program that covers various aspects of design, including graphic design, industrial design, interior design, fashion design, and more. This diverse range of courses allows students to explore different areas of design and discover their true passion. It also forces you to develop creativity within constraint, but equally explore anything in the design sphere that you really want to do. A luxury that few have time for once the working week beckons.
- Access to State-of-the-Art Facilities. Design is a hands-on field that requires practical skills and experience. Universities typically provide access to state-of-the-art facilities, including design studios, computer labs, and workshops equipped with the latest technology and tools. This access allows students to experiment, refine their skills, and bring their creative ideas to life. You may be able to use equipment apprentice designers could only dream of.
- Portfolio Development. A strong portfolio is crucial for designers to showcase their skills and attract potential employers. University design programs emphasise portfolio development, allowing students to compile a collection of their best work throughout their studies. Faculty members provide feedback and guidance to help students refine their portfolios, ensuring they are well-prepared to enter the job market. However, there are numerous social resources available to have peer-to-peer feedback and also have people in the industry themselves helping you out in real time.
Some of the most important aspects from when I was at university; expert staff with real jobs in our industry, industry connections, networking and collaborative opportunities are clearly taking a backseat. These do not prepare the student for ‘real world’ design. University education seems to be a different beast to what it was and moves like this surely just widen the gap between further education and the working world.
As someone that was looking to complete a research masters in design and go in to teaching alongside my design career (to ultimately better serve my students) I find this a worrying turn of events.
What are your thoughts? Contact us at Jili Allen Creative.
