A CREATIVE FIT FOR GEN Z

Research conducted on Generation Z, or Gen Z,  makes quite an interesting read, especially for educators. Gen Z includes young adults up to 23 years of age, those born between 1997 and 2012. The learners and students of today.

Gen Z are highly creative, innovative and visionary. Education is very important to them and they think seriously about their future. They have an entrepreneurial spirit, either running their own business or being intrapreneurial within an organisation. They are creative activists who want to contribute substantially to make the world a better place through their ideas, innovations and creativity. Looking at their future, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2020 lists complex problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity, originality and initiative among the top five skills for 2025, which tie in with Gen Z’s characteristics.

According to recent research by Youth Dynamics, Gen Z feels tertiary institutions could better equip students for the future world of work through practical training, and experience by engaging with the real world, teaching more with technology, and teaching more or new soft skills. With its focus on fostering curiosity, critical consciousness, resilience and reflexivity with the aim to empower a new generation of forward-thinking leaders to embrace problem-solving, change and transformation, the Creative Academy is perfectly equipped to provide the skills needed for the future workplace.

The Creative Academy’s accredited degrees in Communication Design, Contemporary Art, Interaction Design and Motion Design are offered with appropriate teaching methodologies in transdisciplinary design to deliver innovative graduates. The education model is based on industry involvement, including business management and entrepreneurship studies, which makes their graduates highly employable. Multinational design agency Longbeard’s founder and CEO Matthew Sanders, who has employed multiple Creative Academy students as interns and employees, is impressed with their theoretical knowledge and practical skills. But what sets these students apart for Sanders is their work ethic. “I am not sure how to describe it, but their attitude, their intelligence and experience made them exceptional.“

The Creative Academy’s student-centred learning environment ensures that each student’s individuality is nurtured as they are prepared on a practical, theoretical and technical level. As a graduate expressed her experience: “I liked how each individual was motivated to pursue an approach that was unique to themselves, and in my time there I witnessed massive growth in my fellow students.”

Exceptional mentors encourage curiosity and guide a new generation of forward-thinking leaders to embrace change and focus on what is essential for the future. Small practical classes ensure that students receive individual attention and guidance from lecturers. “That makes the Creative Academy a perfect fit for Gen Z. We will empower them to reimagine the world and transform the future,” CEO Francisca Gebert says. There are a vast number of exciting career options for creative individuals who would like to be at the forefront of change and innovation for which the Creative Academy prepares students in the programmes they offer:

Communication Design

The BA degree in Communication Design is intended for individuals with a passion for creative and strategic thinking, problem-solving and crafting communications through a visual language that cuts through the clutter of an overload of information in innovative ways. Through practices like brand development, packaging, information design, editorial layout and advertising, students are enriched with the sought-after ability to transform complex ideas into unique strategies and captivating design solutions in order to establish credibility and influence audiences through communication.

The process of creating effective communication design involves strategic business thinking, using market research, creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills and knowledge such as colour theory, page layout, typography and creating visual hierarchies.

Contemporary Art

Contemporary art refers to art produced today, including painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video art. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a dynamic combination of materials, methods, and concepts.

The BA in Contemporary Art integrates contemporary artistic and curatorial practices within established techniques and theory. Through expert mentoring by established artists, writers, curators and researchers, this programme guides students to unlock their own authentic artistic philosophy and practice. This course is intended for individuals who see the world from their own unique perspective, who aren’t afraid to ask questions and who are brave enough to explore beyond the restrictions of established conventions.

 Interaction Design

With a focus on User-Interface and User-Experience design, the BA degree in Interaction Design puts the human at the centre of technological developments. With the global shift from a product-driven to an experience-driven economy, Interaction Design focuses on the importance of digital user experiences in everyday life.

Sitting at the heart of the fastest expanding industries in the world, the understanding of the design and development of interactive digital experiences places students at the top of the employability chain to become sought-after specialists in one or more of the following areas: Front-End Design and Development; App Design; User Experience Design; User Interface Design; Digital Strategy or Usability Testing.

Motion Design

Motion Design takes graphic design and illustrations that would otherwise be static and gives them movement. Motion design can bring statistical data to life and illustrate complex ideas to make your message more engaging and entertaining. But it also highlights the emotional aspects of a story, allowing for emotional narratives, creativity, and artistic expression.

Motion Design draws on graphic design, 2D animation, 3D animation, compositing and the integration of sound and motion in order to create meaningful audiovisual messages that capture attention and the imagination and effectively harness the interest and engagement of their audience. It has become the most effective means through which to tell stories, create connections and foster engagement.

If you are a creative, innovative and critical thinker and wish to pursue a sustainably rewarding career in the creative field, you can apply now for 2023.