Why the Next Generation of Creative Education Must Change: The Problem with Most Creative Degrees Today

Most parents today have seen the same pattern play out in their own child’s life.

Their child has a passion for something, whether it is photography, video editing, poster creation for events, or running a small meme page that gets thousands of views online.

The passion is obvious, and the talent is undeniable.

But the question that follows is inevitable:

Is this a real career path?

For many years, the answer was, unfortunately, no. While creative education programs were teaching students the skills they needed to express themselves creatively, they were not teaching students the skills they needed to actually make money in the creative world.

And the world has changed, quietly but profoundly.

Because today, the biggest need is not just for someone who is creative but for someone who can think strategically about the world of creativity.

A filmmaker must be able to think about the audience, as well as the technology required to get their message out.

A designer must be able to think about the brand, as well as the aesthetics required to bring it to life.

A content creator must be able to think about the algorithm, as well as the content required to get it seen.

A fashion entrepreneur must be able to think about the market, as well as the style required to get it sold.

Creativity is no longer enough. Strategy is not enough. The world now requires someone who can bring both together.

And this gap is seen everywhere today, across industries and companies. Media companies, advertising agencies, content creation companies, and fashion brands are all seeking out young professionals who have the ability to bring both creative thinking and strategic thinking together.

Unfortunately, most educational programs today continue to divide these two skills into two very separate worlds. Very few programs bring them together.

That is the opportunity we saw when developing the School of Creative Studies at DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai.

Instead of asking students to choose between creativity and strategy, the idea is simple.

Teach them both.

A student in media should understand storytelling, but they should also understand platform economics.

A student in animation should understand animation, but they should also understand audience engagement and content strategy.

A student in fashion should understand design, but they should also understand digital branding and market positioning.

Simply put, creative education has to move beyond teaching skills to thinking in the industry.

But there is another change that is happening even faster.

Artificial Intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence is already having a major effect on creative industries. Image creation, video editing, content creation, campaign strategy, and audience engagement are just a few areas where AI is revolutionizing the industry. Students entering these industries in the next three to five years will enter a world in which AI is a part of the creative process.

This change cannot be ignored. The goal of education should not be to compete with AI. Instead, the goal should be to educate students to use AI in a smart way.

This means learning how AI can aid in the creative process, how AI can improve efficiency in production, and how AI can improve strategic thinking. When creative thinking, strategic thinking, and AI thinking come together, something special happens.

They learn to adapt.

Adaptability is, in fact, the most valuable skill that a student can have in today’s world.

A parent often asks a simple question when determining whether or not to put their child in a particular program.

Is my child ready for the future?

While no institution can predict the future of any industries, right education can help students develop the right mindset to cope with the future.

Deciding on a creative degree for your child is never an easy decision for parents.

The aim for us today is not just to encourage their talent but to ensure they use that talent to create successful careers. This is something that is driving us in our approach to creative education at the School of Creative Studies, DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai.

– Sairaj M