The transformation begins...
We organised a Social network event in Cambridge on 3 March with the purpose of getting some thoughts and ideas about how we might move BIDA forward. Here’s some feedback/comment from our get together.
First a huge thanks to the 18, yes 18, folk who turned up. A great mix of young designers starting out on a career and those who’ve been around the block a few times.
There were a few recurring topics Stephen Green and Phil Gray picked up;
career development
unhelpful pigeon holing of design
standards in design education
If others would like to add comments about their discussions that would be great.
Stephen and Phil along with Les Stokes (who was unable to attend) have an agenda to try and fathom out a new model for a national design network to cover areas of interest to those working across the design spectrum from strategic stuff, experience, HF as well as the more traditional industrial design of products. The current BIDA model i.e. subscription membership, needs to be more relevant especially to young designers and we’re keen to hear what the next generation want, if anything, to stimulate debate, learn, exchange ideas and develop in the evolving profession, all with a view to getting better! BIDA will have a presence at Young Designers this year and we’re working on what we might best do to attract the interest of new graduates.
Like many things talk comes cheap so it’s important to see whether there are liked minded people who would be prepared to spend a little of their time to manage a social network for example (e.g. LinkedIn) with a view to occasional face to face meet ups such that we can raise the game in the profession and learn from each other and be more representative when asked by government and others for opinion and thought leadership.
We’ve had a couple of these meetings in London and Cambridge and hope we can replicate in other regions, but the meet up on the 3 March would indicate that there is an appetite to do something! Are we agreed?