Laura Krantz’s Post

For a future where creativity and innovation will be one of the most important human skills, it’s depressing how our education system is going in utterly the opposite direction.

Academics rule OK? For the last 14 years we have been driven towards a content-driven, skills-free curriculum, started by Michael Gove and sustained by Nick Gibb. Key stage 3 and 4 offer little for those who want to do practical subjects. Schools with declining budgets have to opt for the subjects that don't cost much, which is not true of technical subjects. Teenagers not that interested in the Ebac subjects vote with their feet and those that make it to the sixth form are offered T-levels as NVQs are squeezed out. As teaching jobs in technical subjects disappear, ITT courses cannot fill places. A depressing downward spiral. I hope the new government will review the curriculum - and start with the lived experience of students who are not in the group who aspire to university. I've been told that, on a recent visit to a Year Six class history lesson, Nick Gibb asked a pupil to tell him the names of all the kings and queens of England. When the pupil got to King Charles, he was told "Now do it backwards". After a long pause, the flustered pupil offered: "driht selrahc?" #engineering #design #manufacturing #innovation #creativity #making #textiledesign #becausedesignmatters #teaching

Big problems grow from little errors that do not get fixed. Creative subjects are being removed from schools or watered down to enable a focus on core subjects (maths, English, science). That isn't necessarily a problem I hear you say, but think of it another way: everybody is different. We all need schools and education to engage a wide range of children to ensure they see a way forward and a path to an engaged future after school. For some, that direction comes in maths, for some it's art. for those that cross boundaries, it's design and technology. The slow eradication of creative and technology subjects is well reported, and the long lasting effects on UK innovation, design, development and productivity will be the long lasting problems we will struggle to fix. I'm happy to support anyone who puts creative and hands on subjects inline with the usual core subjects because without one, the other doesn't benefit in the long run. Example, if it wasn't for the artist, who understood physics, we wouldn't have helicopters. The same guy painted some nice pictures. A benefit to a wider audience. #education #design #technology

D&T could be gone from national curriculum in four years, business leaders warn 😮 ....We all need to sit up and take notice of this !! We need to be shouting about this far more, the consequences are far reaching. We already have a shortfall of engineers. I've seen first hard the impact of being exposed to D&T has on engineering apprentices. No other subject exposes young people to vital employability skills like problem solving, resilience, creativity like this subject does. Please support The Design & Technology Association and Tony Ryan MIET FRSA #designandtechnology #ukmfg #engineering #Manufacturing #Apprenticeships Chris Corkan Kerri-Anne Mruk John Parkes Enginuity Andrea Bull Joshua McLaughlin FRSA Ben Courts Charlotte Horobin Andrea Wilson Rowan Crozier MBE

What is it that designers bring to the table when designing in the public sector? I'm looking forward to present the paper that I wrote together with Nynke Tromp next week at the DRS2024 Boston conference! In this paper we try to articulate what it is that designers bring when working on complex issues in the public sector. Design labels such as social design and policy design, qualities such as user-centered or empathic, or process models such as the double diamond do not really capture well what designers actually do when working on complex issues and thus the value they can bring. Hence we focused our attention on four distinctive core competencies: integrating, reframing, formgiving and orchestrating. Through several examples we show how these competencies feature in the design process, and how they can be used to identify various different design approaches to complex issues. Interested in more? The full paper can be found here: https://lnkd.in/e9SqcYX5 TU Delft | Industrial Design Engineering Systemic Design Lab ⎟ TU Delft De Publieke Ontwerppraktijk (PONT) #designthinking #design #complexity #competencies #publicsector #designforpolicy #designandpolicy

💬 What do #designers do? Research found that single labels might be confusing or too general. Therefore, below explainer summary and detailed research paper suggest five clusters to include in your verbal and written communication: 👁️🗨️ From: input 🎁 Of: output ✅ For: criteria 🛠️ By: method 💼 In: setting Tip: combine your input of above five clusters into one compelling long label that only you own! 💪 #designcompany #creativebusiness #designindustry #pitch #USP #valueofdesign #creativecompany

There's a saying that goes, "Nothing is new under the sun." And, yes, it applies to all fields, including #ProductDevelopment. In design and engineering, creativity is about merging science, art, imagination, and technicality. Creativity sparks inspiration and feasibility. When combined with academic knowledge, it helps in formulating ideas that meet standards and requirements. Take, for example, the concept of wheels. The credit for the development of the wheel can never truly go to one person. However, today, there are countless wheel types, designs, and revisions available, each tailored to a specific application. But the wheel is just one example. As engineers and designers, finding inspiration in product design means: - keeping an open mind - staying curious - constantly exploring new possibilities. #Engineering #Creativity #Innovation #ProductDesign #Inspiration #Curiosity #DesignThinking Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki P.S. Have you ever worked on a project that challenged your creativity? Share your story below!

Unlock Your Future: Why Rebranding Your Design Skills as Engineering Design is Imperative! In a bold and necessary move to elevate the status of Design and Design Technology programs, it”s important rebrand them as Engineering Design! It’s imperative to embrace this revolutionary shift to truly reflect the interdisciplinary nature and 21st-century skills you need to thrive. In my opinion we should say goodbye to outdated vocational labels and hello to cutting-edge innovation and career opportunities! We can transform school spaces to be future ready with Engineering Design – where creativity meets technical excellence and disciplines converge. #EngineeringDesign #21stCenturySkills #Innovation #FutureOfDesign #DesignTech #CareerUpgrade #InterdisciplinarySkills #TechSavvy

Almost two weeks ago, we were fortunate to be involved in an article concerning the plight of design and technology education that was featured in The Observer https://bit.ly/3RHoJtt. A few days later, this was followed by the official launch of a report compiled by the Design Council: A Blueprint for Renewal of Design & Technology Education https://bit.ly/4cG09Br. This report was compiled following over twelve months of work by a wide range of design colleagues. The resulting LinkedIn posts on this have been somewhat overwhelming, with companies, big and small, reaching out and asking what they can do to support the subject and help save it from possible extinction from the school curriculum. Here is our response and call to action. To help save design and technology education nationally, you can take one (or more) of the following three steps – 1)   Sign up to our manifesto: https://bit.ly/3zxE0a0 This demonstrates your support for the subject and the Association’s prescribed actions to help reimagine design & technology education. It costs nothing and makes a massive difference to our campaigning. 2)   Join our new Low-cost/minimal time commitment School Business Partnership (SBP) initiative https://bit.ly/4eIXU1X. This has emerged through discussions with design leaders who want their business directly linked to curriculum delivery in at least one school 3)   Join our ‘Gold Standard’ education/industry initiative Blueprint 1000 www.Blueprint1000.org.uk and maximise your company’s impact nationally on design and technology education. Your support online and in person has been amazing; now, we need to show a new government how much this subject matters. Please act today to show your support, and let’s protect the future of the next generation of designers, engineers, manufacturers, problem solvers and innovators. Please share widely! #design #creativitymatters #engineering #manufacturing #teaching #education

JUST LAUNCHED | Introduction to Socially Engaged Design Learn about the Socially Engaged Design framework created by U-M experts Shanna Daly, Charlie Michaels, Kathleen Sienko, and Steven Skerlos. This framework strengthens the connection between an engineer's design work and its impact on individuals, societies, and the environment. Don't stop there. 👉 view the catalog of online offerings here > online.umich.edu #EquityAnalysis #HumanCenteredDesign #ProductDesign #DesignModelComprehension #Ideation #engineering #engineer #engineeringdesign #Michiganonline