Launched in 2023 in partnership with London’s School of Communication Arts, the Specsavers-run scheme sees students participate in three days of workshops over the course of three months, involving a series of classroom sessions followed by hands-on skills application as the students create their own illustrative typefaces.
‘This is all about complementing Guernsey students’ existing studies and helping get them ready for the changing world of work,’ said the school’s dean and Creative Roots lead tutor Marc Lewis.
‘I often get asked why creative skills will remain so important, and the answer is artificial intelligence, which will take away all the process jobs.
‘But what AI can’t do is creatively problem-solve, as that requires a brain and a heart.’
Creative Roots brings tutors over from the School of Communication Arts, giving local students the opportunity to access their specialist instruction during their classroom sessions, as well as from Specsavers’ creative professionals. At the end of this course, students’ typefaces are presented to a panel of judges and the peers.
This year, students from The Guernsey Institute, Sixth Form Centre, Blanchelande and the Ladies’ College all were involved in the programme, bringing the total number of students who have taken the course to over 300 in the three years that it has been running.
‘The bootcamp offered students a fantastic opportunity to hone their typography and design skills through engaging, industry-led projects,’ said Andy Moore, creative and digital arts lecturer at The Guernsey Institute.
‘The experience boosted their confidence, inspired creative thinking, and gave them a genuine taste of real-world practice.’
This year, Ladies’ College students on its ‘Business Leaders pathway’ participated in the programme, although deputy principal Nick Dyson highlighted its value for all students.
‘In our Sixth Form Pathways programme we aim to develop the skills of leading and influencing, knowing yourself, playing and creating and analysing and adapting – this course helped them develop these skills in abundance,’ he said.
‘It provides the chance to work with leading creative experts and the gift of time outside school to reflect on the importance of creativity in early career paths.’
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