Creative, IE News
IE Welcomes the ‘Anti-Placement Placement’ to the Studio
At the end of January, we opened our studio to eight placement students from universities across the country to share what we do and give them a feel for our studio culture. Josie, Ollie and I sat down with them to answer questions about our journeys so far and share honest insights into the creative industry.
What is the ‘anti-placement placement’?
Organised by Luke Tonge, this unique placement aims to introduce students to a variety of roles within the creative industry as well as foster a supportive community that lasts well beyond the placement itself.
Rather than just sitting on a desk for a few weeks, students visit agencies, take part in creative workshops and hear from professionals across the industry such as designers, accountants and writers.
In a Creative Boom article, Luke says:
"It doesn't pay me anything other than seeing them improve and succeed. But when I thought about what would actually be the best use of my time and resources, it was investing in people who really want to learn and watching them grow."
Why is this placement important?
Luke shared his belief with Creative Boom that traditional placements are becoming outdated as the industry evolves.
Design graduates are beginning to feel as though they are competing against AI for jobs, so soft skills are more important than ever. As Luke explains “Studios need enthusiasm. We need that young energy…be sincere, be enthusiastic, and really care about things.”
We were delighted by how keen and confident all the students were, and we have great admiration for the initiative Luke has created.
You can read the full Creative Boom article here.
