As 21st century consumers of ideas, brands and goods, the corporate butterfly nets are out to catch us and economically farm us for our cash. So how are the future workers in that industry thinking – more of the same or a change in direction?
A new tabloid newspaper, produced by 24 students on the University of Salford's BA Design Futures and BA Design Management courses gives some kind of answers. Andy Watts, for instance, comes up with a concept "to put a stop to gross materialistic production" by using "creative psychological persuasion" to reduce demand.
Hannah Swarbrick rails against the `dark Side of M-Commerce', the `scary' process of online consumer tracking, and Rachel Bolton checks the affect of `greenwashing' - `the deceptive use of green marketing for PR purposes' - in her questioning of Brands and Social Responsibility.
Other students look at branding a national identity or a re-branding of Muslim Britain, while others look at how local heritage is portrayed.
The newspaper doesn't give too many answers but does pose the questions which the students have defined during their course work. The good news is that ethics are now well up the agenda for these hype pioneers who are hopefully moving into the industry after graduation this year. The future is green, rather than Orange…
You can get I2SUE in print from the University's Centenary Building or various locations in Manc's Northern Quarter – or online by clicking here.
There's also an industry debate at Duke's 92 in Castlefield Basin on Tuesday night 10th May "where a panel of industry big-hitters will explore the headline question that all graduates want to know: what skills are employers desperate for in this difficult market"
There are still some e-tickets left which you can get by filling out a form at www.issue25.com
The University of Salford's Design Programme Leader, Roy Chilvers, says of I25UE:
"The students have been working closely with Adrian Bentley, Creative Director of Manchester-based Just Good Ideas, to conceive, brand, engage and deliver on this project. I doubt there will be anything produced from any group of students about to become available to the jobs market that can get anywhere near this for quality, ambition and innovation. These students know design, and they now know what it is to do business. That's their edge, and that's the real issue"
* The Salford Star has a little panel about getting back into print in I25UE
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