Get Jake to Hyper Island

UPDAYE: Jake will NOT be attending the Hyper Island scheme. I wish him all the best in the future and know he'll do well. 

Jake, is easily the most motivated, talented and savvy 18 year old I've ever had the pleasure to meet. He's an illustrator and he's already working in the industry with a recent piece of work being used by  Sony Ericsson on a research community site design. So unsurprisingly, he has recently been given some sort of Google scholarship to attend Hyper Island. Exciting yeah? Well, not so. His parents have too many doubts to allow him to attend the course (easily). He both wants and needs their support. This post is a plea to his parents to allow him to attend the course and support and be proud of what he has achieved by getting a place on this course. Tweet at his mum @donnaivill to tell her why he should go! Let's get Jake to Hyper Island.

Hyper Island brings round an exciting time for Creative education. For too long it's been stilted by the bureaucracy and dusty shelves of academic institutions. Don't get me wrong, I work for a creative university course and the lecturers there do great things. And I know some great people who are really fighting against the stifling atmosphere of the university system to achieve brilliant stuff... but they seem to be in the minority. 

Yes, Universities can do great things for some people, teaching them the skills they need and giving them the structure, confidence and basic skills some people need. But I don't think they're for everyone. 

Hyper Island is fully ‘in the know’ with the Industry 

More often than not, university courses struggle to keep up with industry practices and teach outdated techniques, or skills that are not in demand in the industry.  Not only is this a key for relevance with work in a fast moving digital world, it ensures you can hit the ground running and be super employable. Hyper Island is reactive and can adapt to meet it’s needs. It's also ran by people in or from the industry. It's probably good to point out here that I've never been asked what degree I had, or even if I had one, because I was working with the industry during my degree - so that overruled it. You'll find this a common occurrence in the digital/ creative industry. 

Hyper Island is exciting

They keep motivation up for all who attend it, striving to challenge them. Isn't this what we're supposed to be doing as creative people? Challenging the norm? Being creative in our choices? If Jake went to University, he's so bright and motivated I only believe he would get bored. They would teach him (at a slow pace) things he already knows and nothing he couldn't teach himself. This doesn't seem to be the case with Hyper Island.

Hyper Island is worth the money

£9000 tuition fees? Nuff said... It IS also a 'proper' course. And is supported by organisations such as NESTA  Channel 4, Saatchi & Saatchi, Sony Games, Wieden + Kennedy, MTV, TBWA and Code Computerlove (Some of the biggest names in the industry)

Hyper Island Graduates are MASSIVELY employable

In an industry which is constantly complaining about the calibur of graduates, and questioning the worth of degrees Hyper Island is a breath of fresh air. Degrees are churning out thousands of graphics students. Hyper Island stands out. Everyone, worldwide, wants a Hyper Island graduate. 

and so @donnaIvill, I leave you with the thought that Jake might just know exactally what he's talking about in this case ;p

I'll happily talk to you in person about any of this if you like over tea or something. And will finish up with some facts and things.

 

Rebecca

Lecturer BA Design Management and Design Futures University of Salford

Social Media Architect, PushON

 

QUOTES:

"The organisation is already known for running high-profile industry masterclasses for media organisations which recently included working with Channel 4 executives on the television station's rebranding." The Guardian 

"this import from Sweden claims huge worldwide success – with graduates from its schools to be found in leading ad agencies, digital businesses and even negotiators on the global stage." The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/nov/28/manchester-media-digital-hyper-island-school

"Oh boy. I am so happy that I am not 20 year old creative. Otherwise I would get pretty quickly pretty frustrated by the competition of Hyper Islanders" Gerald Hensel, Strategist for Blast Radius, Amsterdam

http://davaidavai.com/2011/04/12/hyper-island-the-intern-store-is-about-to-launch/

"The project has all the right backing and input to do something special." HeBe Media

http://www.hebemedia.com/everything-blog/2011/3/2/hyper-island-arrives-in-manchester.html