9 UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG Each year, around 300 second-year students from FADA participate in the FADA Interdisciplinary Theatre Programme, providing opportunities for crossdisciplinary development, creative and critical thinking. In 2023, the focus was on a production of ‘1001 Nights,’ directed by Resident Director Jade Bowers. This immersive experience allows students to contribute to a theatrical production while gaining valuable insights and skills extending beyond their disciplines. Industry-Linked Teaching & Learning The Department of Industrial Design initiated an industry-linked project with AXOR, a prestigious international tap brand, for its first-year students. This marked the beginning of design-for-manufacture initiatives, aiming for student-designed outcomes to be produced by the students, generating third-stream income and introducing the FadaFeel initiative to showcase and reward student creativity. To enhance student participation and success, FADA students were actively engaged in national competitions and workshops. A collaborative project with KFC and UJ FADA concluded, featuring a masterclass by Russell Abrahams, founder and creative director of the Cape Town-based illustrations studio Yay Abe. This approach ensures students gain valuable industry experience and recognition within the competitive design landscape. Innovative Teaching & Learning All departments within FADA are purposefully driving a transformative, decolonised curriculum. In the Fashion Department a highlight of the year was the ‘Drum Magazine’ exhibitions. Stemming from a crossinstitutional teaching, learning, and research project between FADA’s Department of Fashion Design and the Durban University of Technology’s Department of Fashion and Textiles, this exhibition took place in both Johannesburg, hosted at the SARChI Chair in South African Arts and Visual Culture, and in Durban at the Satellite Gallery. The Interior Design department promoted collaborative learning strategies and engaged in partnerships with other departments within the Faculty. Noteworthy collaborations include the Digital Fabrication initiative with FADA Gallery and FabLab, as well as hands-on involvement in the design of Small World School, in collaboration with the Departments of Industrial Design and Graphic Design. The Department of Multimedia is expanding offerings in alignment with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Transformation. Future literacies, including practices like afrikan-futures, speculative design, design fiction, and projective research, are considered essential for transformative design. These skills are anticipated to become fundamental aspects of design curricula in the next decade, especially critical for deploying emerging technologies sustainably. In the Department of Industrial Design, a Teaching Innovation Grant enhanced capacity and experimentation with 4IR aspects, playing a crucial role in student projects incorporating 3D printing, tooling, and digital manufacturing. TEACHING AND LEARNING FADA remains committed to advancing innovations in teaching and learning, ensuring the continual relevance, sustainability, and alignment of its programmes with industry expectations.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjU1NDYx