Don’t let good minds go to waste – encourage them

I was surprised by the comments made by Ian Cochrane (‘Students urged to avoid design’, www. designweek.co.uk, 29 January), who is encouraging graduates to give up their ambitions to work in design as the ‘sector does not want them’.

Especially at a time when the digital design industry has the chance to demonstrate its value to businesses, and with the shortage of experienced talent, we cannot afford to let good minds go to waste.

Not only should we encourage design students, particularly in the digital design industry, that this is the right career path for them. We should also encourage students who have creative talents, and who may not have considered a career in digital design before – there are career opportunities for them that suit their skills.

Fiona Proudler, Creative services director, Realise, Edinburgh, by e-mail