RCA Design interactions show and others:
I find the work presented here interesting, intelligent and humorous. What real world roles is a program like this preparing there grad for? are there employers that look for purely research based design thinkers? or does grad school just have open creative freedom? . When I read the forum it seems like most discussions about products are far more pragmatic, so I’m wondering where these types of thinkers fit in the design community.
Answer my own question some what, by looking on the RCA website.
“The Design Interactions Department explores new roles, contexts and approaches for interaction design in relation to the social, cultural and ethical impact of existing and emerging technologies…Projects, which are often speculative and critical, aim to inspire debate about the human consequences of different technological futures — both positive and negative. Students work closely with people outside the College, designing for the complex, troubled people we are, rather than the easily satisfied consumers and users we are supposed to be. Project outcomes are expressed through a variety of media including prototypes, performance, video and photography.
Graduates go on to work for multinational corporations, design consultancies, academic and industrial research labs, and increasingly, to set up their own design studios.”
I have been reading a lot of schools program information and this one is definitely different, but really vague on who the program is for in terms of what you seek to do after school. I dunno maybe it’s very personalized?