Scots come up with new IDEAS

The schools of design in Scotland are collaborating to launch a national initiative aimed at creating greater links between design education and industry.

Called Industry and Design Education Action Scotland – IDEAS – the new programme is currently being developed for a launch conference in October. The conference is billed as “the first step towards creating a collective design research strategy”. Its ultimate aim is to provide design and manufacturing industries with an opportunity to liaise with institutions offering design courses.

Academics participating in the conference, which is hosted by the Association of Scottish Schools, will “offer their experience and expertise to industry to evaluate, disseminate and initiate fundamental research into manufacturing and research problems”, says an IDEAS spokeswoman.

“While the conference will provide a much needed link between industry and education, it will also help to develop the design schools’ research profile and a higher design awareness within industry,” she adds.

Participating schools include Napier University, Duncan of Jordanstone College, Glasgow School of Art, Grays School of Art, Edinburgh College of Art and Scottish College of Textiles.

IDEAS is supported by the Glasgow Development Agency, Scottish Design and the Chartered Society of Designers.

Its aims include the establishment of a strategic approach to collaboration and research in design to enable the formation of strategies for the future. It is also concerned with establishing a design education profile for Scotland and creating a plan of action which identifies the requirements of industry for designers who are graduating.