D&AD launches Graduate Academy

D&AD is launching the Graduate Academy initiative, which aims to help design graduates find work and gain industry experience.

The organisation has partnered with computer manufacturer HP for the scheme, which launches on 28 March and will kick off with a five-day ‘creative bootcamp’ for the top 100 entrants.

The initial week-long workshops will feature industry specialists from groups including Onedotzero, Tag Worldwide and Real World to ‘create a platform that uses creative design and technology to foster multi-disciplinary learning’ and help graduates network with potential employers, according to D&AD.

This stage will be followed by paid work placements of between one and three months for the top 50 pupils at UK creative agencies.

Tim O’Kennedy, D&AD chief executive, says, ‘The academy will provide a vital learning bridge between student and working life, and the battle-ready academy graduates will greatly benefit creative employers too, with a pool of new talent immediately able to function in the hurly-burly of professional life.’

O’Kennedy adds, ‘Initiatives like this one will be increasingly important as the full impact of educational spending cuts takes effect.’

The scheme is eligible to all successful entrants to this year’s D&AD Student Awards, and final-year students and recent graduates can register online at www.dandad.org/talent to answer a brief set by HP and D&AD.

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