Derek Yates – Course Director of both the FdA Graphic Design and FdA Illustration courses at Camberwell College of Arts has recently worked as one of the lead tutors at the at the D&AD Graduate Academy.

The D&AD Graduate Academy, which took place at the Rochelle School in Shoreditch from the 22-26 August set out to bring the education-based skills of 80 graduates into a work setting.

Derek chaired a number of discussion seminars with Sanky, the President of the D&AD and wrote one of the project briefs together with Sophie Walter from onedotzero and Kevin Palmer from Kin. The project delivered a condensed version of the onedotzero Cascade education programme.

Responses to the brief were presented to a panel of leading practitioners from agencies such as Mother, AMV, Dave, Iris and the Partners. Derek and Sophie then helped select 50 students for placements at some of the UK’s leading creative companies.

Derek has also been asked to talk at the annual St.Brides Library conference, which takes place on the 10 – 11 November 2011. The conference entitled ‘Critical Tensions’ aims to “embrace history, education and design practice, providing a space for meeting and voicing concerns, for collectively exploring ideas, sharing strategies, consolidating knowledge, and for challenging and reaffirming values.” The conference has an impressive line-up of speakers including Jonathan Barnbrook, Vaughan Oliver and Alan Kitching.

You can find out more about these events and read an excellent series of interviews with industry practitioners including Matt Wade (Kin), Matt Rice (Sennep) and Glue on Derek’s Learning with Industry blog – www.learningwithindustry.blogspot.com