The CIRL initiative is supported by Epson, Canon, Mimaki, EFI, Klieverik, and Kongsberg while industry mentors including Adobe, Aquario, Standfast & Barracks, and The Pattern Room have also confirmed their participation in the learning journey, with others to follow as the project takes shape.
The initiative is open to young people registered on the government’s Kickstart scheme. The company said the aim of the programme is to provide a valuable transition from an educational setting into commercial world practices.
The young designers will develop their creative talents through practical applications and insights from industry experts.
The chosen videographer, meanwhile, will capture these ventures through a vlog, producing an engaging multi-platform social media story for the decor, fashion, design, and print communities.
CMYUK said the programme will enable the young creatives to fully absorb the evolving trends and technologies of the textiles industry, providing them with insight, experience, and practical knowledge to aid their early career development.
A six-month curriculum consisting of monthly modules has been written by textiles designer Debbie McKeegan, the founder of independent online digital textiles resource TexIntel and representing Fespa as its textiles ambassador for this project.
Each module underpins the knowledge and insights required for the designers to complete monthly briefs. There will then be a final showcase at the end of the six-month period where everyone involved will come together to celebrate the achievements of the creatives in residence.
“Creatives in Residence Live is a stimulating project that has scaled-up the Kickstart scheme into an exciting springboard opportunity with global industry exposure,” said CMYUK sales and marketing director Robin East.
“We were determined to create something inspirational that could benefit as many young people as possible, which ignited the live interactive ‘fly-on-the-wall’ aspect.
“It’s also been truly uplifting to witness the genuine enthusiasm from industry mentors and sponsors who have already signed up. The programme starts on 5 September, and we are very excited to watch it unfold, as CIRL will make a real difference to the prospects of these young people.”
CMYUK added CIRL is designed to be a collaborative experience and that all design briefs will be made available online so that design students worldwide can participate. A monthly competition for each brief will be set, with winning entries evaluated by industry experts and showcased throughout.
