Content Design Academy: questions and answers from Twitter
On 14 July, we hosted a live question and answer session with Clare Reucroft about the Content Design Academy starting in September.
The academy is an opportunity to run a complete content design project for a client, learning from some of the team who created the discipline. Over 14 weeks, from 15 September until 15 December 2020, 18 students will be working on content discovery, production and future planning for a chosen charity.
The academy combines the learning of our content design courses with the practical work of content sprints. All techniques are based on projects we have worked on in government, for charities and in the private sector, over the past 11 years.
This year’s academy will be the second ever cohort, following a hugely successful pilot in 2019. Clare was part of the first cohort and graduated at the end of last year so was the perfect person to answer any questions people have about what it is like to take part in this innovative training programme.
The Twitter chat lasted an hour and we really enjoyed it! We had some great questions and a highlight was when Clare gave us a real peek of her notes from her time at the Academy last year.
Here are some of the questions and responses:
It's about getting the right content, to the right audience, at the time that they need it, in the format that serves them best.
— Content Design London (@ContentDesignLN) July 14, 2020
What common challenges do you find happening?
Sarah has written a great blog post about it here:https://t.co/qcFePZLiTU ^CR https://t.co/sQeOMLh9Xh
Interesting fact: my first crit was at the academy. It was so useful for me to learn how to run an effective crit and take something back to the organisation I was working in at the time. ^CR#ContentDesginAcademy https://t.co/5KeNubti76
— Content Design London (@ContentDesignLN) July 14, 2020
Hi Sophia,
— Content Design London (@ContentDesignLN) July 14, 2020
Yes.
The academy is an opportunity to run a complete content design project for a client.
Also, you come away with content that you have produced in the academy to show as part of your portfolio.
^CR #ContentDesignAcademy https://t.co/1LCFngRu5G
The basic principles are the same:
— Content Design London (@ContentDesignLN) July 14, 2020
- Be kind, be respectful.
- Crit the work, not the person.
- Share content well in advance.
For me, I like Google Docs and allows live collaboration.
The academy this year will run online so there will be loads of great tips there!
^CR https://t.co/zIGqHSjz0X
Reflection on discovery:
— Content Design London (@ContentDesignLN) July 14, 2020
Before you know it, you've gone down a fair few rabbit holes! So STAY FOCUSED and pull yourself back, every 15-20 mins
^CR #ContentDesignAcademy
Content is the interface.
— Content Design London (@ContentDesignLN) July 14, 2020
Content can't just be words.
It never works for the user in isolation.
^CR #ContentDesignAcademy pic.twitter.com/irB10D8XcR
A huge thank you to everyone who took part or followed along during the chat.
You can find out more about the Academy this year and sign up via our Eventbrite page.
If you have any questions, or if there is anything we can help you with, you can email or tweet us.
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Upcoming courses
07 October 2020 (online) Inclusive Design: Building a Bias-Informed Practice by David Dylan Thomas
27 and 28 October 2020 (online, Australia AEST) 2-day content design course
29 and 30 October 2020 (online) 2-day content design course
09 November 2020 (online) Successful Communites of practice