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"S T UDEN TS OFTEN COME UP WITH NEW ID E AS BASED ON THEI R OWN PERSONAL EX PERIENCE OF THE WORLD AND THIS CAN MAKE A VA LUABLE ADD ITI O N TO PROF ESSI O NAL THI N KI N G "


this with Alumno,” she says. Her passion for ‘100% live projects’ and


the benefits for her students is very evident: “Live projects motivate students – they can’t wait to get involved! We’re not simply about three-week projects – the whole ethos of our course is about promoting collaboration on projects. We believe that this is so important that we now assess the students in groups as well as individually. We make professional and personal development (PPD) an important part of every project. “We use the ‘live’ project approach


as a vehicle to teach all our skills. And we believe that personal processes and experiences are vitally important to the design process. This live project model – we call it simulated work-based learning – is much beter than the work experience model. All our tutors are practising designers as well as teachers and we try to ensure that the experience the student gets is more about being a designer in the real world. “For our partners Alumno, there are


huge benefits too – the student involvement


provides an important research tool. It’s very useful for them gain insight from the perspective of their end users.” Students often come up with new


ideas based on their own personal experience of the world and this can make a valuable addition to professional thinking. “Students take the brief away from the confines of the practical world,” says Tomris. “They don’t have the same restrictions on ideas as those involved commercially in the project. They can bring a fresh approach – they’re not so concerned with the difficulties facing a project. They can suggest things that other parties may not consider due to considerations of time, money or practical constraints. “There are real insights young


people can provide. Sometimes, when a professional has been in the same job for a number of years they may overlook things that have changed. They may setle into a mind frame and miss something – this is when the new ideas presented by our students can be so useful. The interior


Rebecca Dean is office manager at Alumno Developments


design industry always needs new blood and new ideas.” Tomris is looking forward to what


new ideas her students will provide for the Stratford development. Proposals are for 431 student rooms offering a choice of living arrangements and budgets, as well as a range of artists’ studios and a café/gallery space to bring added vitality to the development. “What’s fed in by the students at


this early stage is important for Alumno and the developers,” she continues. “The students can influence anything that’s on the table if it’s important or powerful enough.” While promoting the use of students


in live projects and inviting commercial companies to approach her college with collaborative ideas, Tomris has one important proviso: “Using students should never be about free work or exploitation – it has to be a mutual cultural exchange beneficial to both parties. I see this sort of collaboration as being really important for the future of education.” EDQ


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