The State of Design Education in Nova Scotia
November 25, 2008 | 5:35 pm
I am extremely interested in all aspects of the design profession, from how it's taught to how it is practiced, especially as it relates to online or 'new' media.
It seems that our local educational institutions are largely out-of-touch with the skills, design processes and requirements of the the interactive industry as a whole. Through the teaching that I have done at NSCAD, I've tried to bring a standards-based approach to the classes I'm putting together, but this isn't the norm across all of the Universities and Colleges found locally. Recently, May Chung (a tenured professor at NSCAD) and I have been discussing how to better equip our grads for the current economic and work environment. We'd like to create a a curriculum that benefits everyone from students, to faculty and the businesses who employ designers.
I put out a call on Twitter the other day to see what people would be looking for in a design program. I heard from industry folks, recent grads and others. Last night, at a GDC event, I spoke with a number of young designers, all of whom felt like they were not being properly prepared for the working world. Now, don't get me wrong, NSCAD has never been about giving designers the 'hard' skills, it's a school that is about teaching the design process. However, interactive design isn't even being taught in that capacity. And let's face it, if we don't give designers some skills in HTML and CSS they're not going to know how to integrate with the businesses that are leading the way in the new media space.
One thing a former student mentioned was the need for a more intensive studio-level course in web design. I couldn't agree more. A dedicated course in web typography (perhaps combined with print typography is also absolutely essential. Typography and grid-based design are one of the most sorely lacking skills I see in not just new designers, but web designers in general.
So what are designers to do if they're not getting the education they need while in College or University? Perhaps continuing education courses would help? A quick look at the NSCAD and Dalhousie (PDF) con-ed listings reveals that the courses being taught here use outdated methodologies, with no focus on web standards and the Dal courses even use software that is three versions old!
The NSCC con-ed program is much better. Many of their programs focus less on the technical aspects but instead on the theory of web-standards based design. In all honesty, I think that NSCAD and Dal could learn a great deal from how the NSCC is teaching web design.
So what can we do? As industry members we have a responsibility to push our educational institutions to provide up-to-date and appropriate courses for students. We're the ones who will reap the benefit. Just the other day I sat in the office of the president of a major local web developer who was crying for at least two web designers with front end coding (XHTML/CSS/Javascript) capabilities. I was able to think of only one person and he's not even from our city. Industry groups like the GDC and ACIMA also need to get more involved in the students side of things, and the student side of ACIMA is something I'm going to be working towards next year. The GDC doesn't seem to have much interest in the web at all, but if enough of us got involved, maybe we could change that.
In addition, industry needs to put forward talented designers and developers who can teach part time. Getting fresh blood into our universities and colleges is the only way that current techniques and methodologies are going to be spread. It's an incredible learning opportunity for both you and your students, and it's also a chance to find out who the hot young guns are before anyone else gets a crack at them. And hey, the pay sucks, but at least the hours are long. We owe students at least this much. Get out there and get involved. At the very least, offer to give a presentation to students on what you're doing to help inspire them to seek out the correct techniques on their own time.
What do you think? How can we improve design education?
education
Some of my friends study in Nova Scotia and they are absolutely satisfied. As for me I've got my diploma in the USA and do not regret. If you are going to live in the US, European education seems to be useless.
Sally,
Alierra Custom Web Design Services
I'm a bit late in this
I'm a bit late in this conversation but I'll throw in my two cents as someone who is planning on going to school soon for web design. I live in Halifax now and so the first places I looked for a program were NSCC, NSCAD, and Dal. None of the schools had the right program for me. NSCADs offerings are to 'artsy' for me, and NSCC and Dal's programs appear to be less web specific and more general computer skills.
Because the schools here don't have what I'm looking for, I looked elsewhere and came across the Interactive Design Certificate program at Capilano College in Vancouver - http://www.capilanou.ca/programs/interactive-design.html. I think programs like this are the way to go; giving a good mix of technical skills, with the creative side encouraged as well. And it's all based around the idea of creating standards compliant, well organized, and good looking websites.
Something like this could be what a joint NSCC/NSCAD program could offer (as George suggests above).
Great comment, Dave. I agree
Great comment, Dave. I agree that it makes perfect sense for NSCAD and NSCC to perhaps join forces and offer a 4 or even 5 year diploma and degree program. This could offer the hard skills of design and development as well as the creative and design process oriented side of things that NSCAD is so good at.
Good luck at Capilano College.
Hi Jeff, I appreciate the
Hi Jeff,
I appreciate the kudos you lob toward the NSCC con ed department but our full-time graphic design program also incorporates web standards. Now, because our course, to date, is only one year, we don't have the luxury of time to really focus on web design. We elect to focus on other employable design standards such as layout, typography, concept development and production skills that can be transferred to web design. But web standards and CSS is all I drone on about during semester one.
Web Design I remains the hardest course I teach due to the constant shifting of the industry and my reluctance to be left behind. So, I'm trying not to bristle at being lumped into your scathing review of local design education. Or rather, being left out of it—come to think of it.
If you or anyone for that matter is interested in the NSCC graphic design program we welcome inquiries!
The only reason I didn't
The only reason I didn't mention your program is because the course descriptions for Web Design I and other web courses on the NSCC site do not even mention anything other than Photoshop.
I'm thrilled to hear that you do in fact cover standards and other modern design and production methodologies. However, the majority of grads I'm seeing resumes for from NSCC are not even mentioning the web at all. They have no sample projects to show and generally are more interested in print design. I can't really fault them for wanting to stick to what they love, but maybe there needs to be an even bigger push or concentration in web design/development?
I had a rant prepared based
I had a rant prepared based on two bad experiences with NSCAD grads and web design, but I can condense it to these two points:
- 95% of all skills taught in any university program are redundant or marginally applicable in their eventual career. It is simply a test of someone's desire to be in that field. What I do expect from a graphic designer is an interest in using the web as a form of creativity. In my opinion the failing the instructors have is in presenting the web as an interesting medium for creative people…as interesting as print or painting or textiles. A person who appreciates the medium will learn limitations, tools and methodologies on their own in their professional career providing that the seed of interest has been planted in the classroom.
- Secondly, and perhaps contrary to my last statement, 'Photoshop'. If you are in any branch of creativity I think this is a must. The same semester a student learns introductory drawing, they should learn Photoshop.
I took Dreamweaver and
I took Dreamweaver and photoshop through Dal Cont. Ed - it was shameful rip off.
Terrible teaching, out of date software, bad IT equipment, poor room set up - I came away from these two-day courses with very little to show for the money I spent.
I've been learning PS, Dreamweavere and other IT skilz through Lynda.com which is relatively cheap and allows learning to be selected and paced.
This is something that
This is something that worried me while finishing up my degree at NSCAD a couple years ago. I could sense they were falling behind and no one was doing anything about it. Thank god there are people like you and May Chung, aiming to smack some sense into what's becoming an aging and out-of-touch school.
I said it then, and I'll say it now. There needs to be a joint program between NSCC and NSCAD. Those 'Hard' skills are vital no matter how you're informed otherwise. Plus, working through the mechanics of a problem, being constrained by the machine's limitations, may help get some people down off their high horses.
If a student can't write CSS and cobble together a decent webpage by graduation they really shouldn't be considered graphic designers. Sure, they'll be applications that don't require it, but when the primary vehicle of communication has changed we must adapt. I think you, and the readers of your blog, understand this and want to help make a change.
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