The following text is taken from the 2011 Camberwell College of Arts BA Illustration catalogue, which was produced to accompany the OVO Show:
In a world where the image is becoming the prime means of communication the subject of Illustration is growing in popularity and the role of the Illustrator becoming increasingly critical. This years graduating cohort from BA Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts describe all the ambition and energy that is required to meet the challenges that an image heavy world presents. In that spirit of enquiry and broad engagement a number of burning questions on what their subject is, and what it can be, have been put to Adrian Shaughnessy, celebrated educator, author and designer and Darryl Clifton, Design Programme Director at Camberwell College of Arts.
What is the role and place of education in a society that values training and explicit skill over more implicit personal development and transformation?
AS: Depends what sort of education you are talking about. If someone wants to become a doctor, they must study medicine – and related sciences – with a view to becoming an expert. Same with engineers, dentists and computer scientists. The problem arises when we talk about a general education. In my view, the role of education is to teach people how to learn. The reason for this is that few of us will end up doing the same job for our entire lives, and many of us will be required to retrain at some point in the future. With this in mind, I can see a move to a sort of ‘perpetual university’ model. In the future we may still go to university, but for shorter periods with a view to continuing our education at later stages.
DC: It’s reasonable to suggest that ‘learning’ is a form of personal, intellectual and behavioural transformation and that the processes of education deliver situations, experiences and stimuli that are enabling. I would wholeheartedly agree with Adrian that developing the capacity to continue learning, adapting and transforming – in short to cultivate intelligence – is something that all educators should aim for through those processes. The practical implications of not being able to do that are challenging for the reasons stated above.
