About education
As we start 2013 I wanted to thank you for your support.
For everyone who is part of D&AD, last year was an absolutely amazing year, and having celebrated our anniversary we have now put ourselves into a great position to help shape the next 50.
Neville Brody speaking at the D&AD Foundation Auction
When we were developing the identity for the 50th, I was conscious that it should be about looking ahead. Fifty forward was the theme that ran throughout – how will D&AD look, act and feel in fifty years? How will it get there?
In announcing the D&AD Foundation we are really starting on that path. We want the Foundation to be the vehicle that better realises D&AD’s charitable purpose and mission. Our exciting ambition is for the Foundation to be providing material support to education and talented individuals within 18 months. I trust you’ll support it, and I’ve attached a donation form here for you to hopefully contribute and directly help ensure its success.
It’s good to know that the purpose of D&AD is as relevant now as it was when it was established in 1962
Of course, what we couldn’t see a year ago was that this coalition government would be willing to sacrifice the routes into creative education so easily. With the announcement of the English Baccalaureate, we are finding out that creative subjects will no longer be included. For an industry tasked with helping the economy to recover it would seem very shortsighted to hamstring it in such a way.
As a result, England and Wales are heading into a ‘perfect storm’ that will potentially have a devastating effect on the creative industries.
Students now face increased costs and reduced support for creative education and soon they won’t even be allowed to consider those options at school. Institutions and teaching staff are discovering that support for creative courses is being cut along with funding.
With a market driven education model being built here in the UK, the removal of the creative industries from this equation will diminish our ability to produce world leading creative practitioners.
On the surface it would seem to be a uniquely English problem. But, there are many education systems modeled on ours, so regardless of where you are in the world, we need your support to ensure that creativity is valued everywhere.
Institutions and teaching staff are discovering that support for creative courses is being cut along with funding.
In 2013, we at D&AD will be continuing the fight against the English Baccalaureate and we will be calling upon you and the rest of our membership to support that. Over the next month we’ll write to you with more information about how you can get involved.
So whilst we’re leaving a memorable year it’s good to know that with the challenges we face, the purpose of D&AD is as relevant now as it was when it was established in 1962.
With sincere best wishes,
Neville Brody
D&AD President
