Design and the Market: Creativity is just as important as literacy

In a recent lecture we were shown a talk by Sir Ken Robinson (from Ted talks) on the issue:

Do schools kill creativity?

Not only did I find Sir Ken Robinson humourous, but I found that there was real truth in what he was actually saying.

''Every education system on earth has the same hierarchy of subjects...maths & languages, then the humanities and then the arts.  This is the same everywhere.''

He then went on to speak about how 'the arts' could be divided up into: music and art at the top, then drama and dance on the bottom.  Why is that?

He explained that the subject of dance isn't taught like mathematics because educators tend to educate children from the waste up.  This is true.  Who can say that in the next 20/30 years being a good mathematician will make you more 'academic' than being a good dancer...?

''make a job, don't take a job''

-this should become the cry for the creative sector.

In the video, Sir Ken Robinson also states that we need to ''radically review our view of intelligence.''  Jobs are changing.  The top 10 jobs that will be in demand in 2014 will not have existed in 2004.

-  Jobs will get smarter and more people focused.

-  We won't ''go to work'' -instead we will connect with work.

We need to embrace this change, and not follow the current 'academic' trends.