Brand agency Michon helps forge the #FutureofEducation for the next generation of designers

Midlands brand agency Michon is sharing its expert industry views with government policymakers about how the next generation of designers are taught at school and university.

Senior employees at the firm are taking part in high-profile events organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group (APDIG) and the Design Business Association (DBA), alongside MPs and policy makers.

Part of Michon’s CSR strategy is about investing in communities, helping charities and creating opportunities for young people in the creative industry which has resulted in it offering work placements – from two weeks to six months long – to a dozen college students, undergraduates and new graduates from across the UK over the last five years.

Michon’s creative team has seen first hand the gulf between what students learn at school and university and what they need to thrive in the real world of work – prompting its ‘Designing the Future’ report this summer.

As a consequence of producing this report, Marketing Communications Director Victoria Carroll was asked to share her experience of the skills gap apparent in those trying to break into the design industry at a DBA round table event in London in July.

Following on from this on Monday, October 1, Account Director Mark Fensom will be one of the panel experts speaking at an APDIG event in Birmingham, alongside Deborah Dawton, DBA Chief Executive, which will bring together influencers from industry, education and government.

He said: “This is a golden opportunity to share what we see within our business with the country’s top decision makers. Companies like ours, government and schools, colleges and universities need to work together so the creative sector keeps growing and flourishing.

“We have some great ideas about how to do this, such as mentoring and better-quality internships, and we’re keen to highlight these to peers and policymakers in the corridors of power.”

APDIG is a forum for open debate between Parliament and the UK’s design and innovation communities. It works closely with the DBA, the association for the design industry, and the Design and Technology Association.

A report by APDIG, which sets out a vision for how design thinking can be embedded within the education system, equipping students with the knowledge and skills required to confidently face the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, automation and Brexit, will launch at the event in Birmingham on Monday, October 1.

The Michon team has a passion for supporting their local community and creating opportunities for young people too, they heavily invested time, energy and money to help causes like Young Creative Awards and Kenyan Education Service.

About Michon: An independent full service brand agency based in the Midlands. They provide strategic marketing and creative services that help businesses achieve their commercial goals.  Michon’s talented and multi-skilled team develops intelligent, well thought out customer experiences both on and offline, from one-off projects to integrated national campaigns. Michon work in partnership with clients, often as part of their in house brand, marketing and communication teams, so they’re as commercial as they are creative.  That’s why clients such as Ronseal, BT, E.ON and Hanson have been working with Michon for many years. Established in 1982 by brothers Jeff and Tony Michon, the agency operates from an award-winning purpose-designed office.