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How will we design the talent that will design our future media landscapes?

Published: at 11:26 AM

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the opening ceremony for the new DMJX campus in Copenhagen. It was a nostalgic and inspiring experience, filled with familiar faces from my time as a student and later as an external instructor at the school.

One of the highlights was the opening speech by His Majesty King Frederik of Denmark. Surprisingly, a significant portion of his address centered around the blurred nature of artificial intelligence (AI) and design, and the role this institution of visual communication will play in shaping our future media landscape within a democratic society. How will our students adapt to the integration of AI? More importantly, how will they maintain control over the results and their own critical thinking abilities?

A picture I took of His Majesty, King Frederik of Denmark as he held his speech at DMJX, looking straight into my camera

The speeches from the school’s headmaster, Julie Sommerlund, and the chairperson of the board, Lea Korsgaard, further reinforced the notion that students today must embrace lifelong learning due to the rapid pace of change. They emphasised that design and visual communication extend far beyond screens and print, encompassing the very fabric of the world we inhabit.

As an alumnus, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of affirmation that this institution will continue to nurture great minds in design – individuals who approach their craft with humility, prioritizing human-centered solutions above all else.

Reflecting on my involvement over the past eight years, teaching a three-week course in coding for immersive media to fourth-semester students in the Interaction Design program, I’m filled with excitement for the future. The launch of the “Coded Design” program last year, aimed at educating coders who think and work like designers, represents an innovative step forward.

I really can’t wait to be witnessing the growth and evolution of this old school in a new modern building and really, I just look forward to the opportunity to contribute.

This school could be a bright light in a murky media future. Here’s hoping!