From kitchen-hand to creative professional: bespoke, brokered and self–devised industry partnerships in art, design & media.

Beginning in 2016 professional experience projects (PEP) in art, design and media is a compulsory core fourth year initiative in a large tertiary art & design school, designed to generate self-managing pathways in creative fields of practice. A range of ways of conceiving of creative partnerships span bespoke apprenticeship and contemporary artisanal ecologies and focus on learner transformation in studio environments. Based on the concept of negotiated project(s) joint ventures with students, staff and industry mentors develop flexible opportunities and strong relationships. Providing a counterpoint to traditional notions of “internship” professional experience utilises concepts of flow, matchmaking and appropriateness. Brokering projects with industry mentors, includes those beyond art, design and media with expertise in knowledge transfer and digital innovation. Comparisons with the older Design PEP in place for the last 25 years, reveal that these new professional transitional spaces related to research pathways in Honours are only realised in a couple of institutions worldwide. Another unique feature is an Online Social Media Profile, comprising an externally facing image portfolio and artist/designer statement. Across one on one, small group, hubs and other self-devised and creatively arranged aesthetic projects, outcomes beyond traditional conceptions of industry engagement in creative professions are disclosed