'What is forward?' written in massive letters on the roof of LUCA School of Arts in Ghent. Not an act of vandalism, but a genuine question. That's what LUCA's Design for Impact programme wants to do: ask the right questions and search for legitimate answers. In a six-month masterclass, LUCA brings together experts from various fields to use their specific expertise to seek solutions to concrete societal problems.
LUCA Gent launches a video in which a couple of figures in overalls are at work on the roof of the main building at Alexianenplein. Over images of paint cans and drone shots: a verbally compelling barrage of questions, a manifest in Amanda Gorman's style and in verse.
With this, the school continues the much-discussed campaign from last year, when a discussion arose on Twitter about the activist nature of the programme. For the second cohort of the Masterclass, the programme spells out its own essence in block letters on the campus roof: 'What is forward?'. Because what is forward for one is backward for another.
Shall we make the future more attractive?
Marijke Dirickx (programme director): "In this masterclass, we bring together people from different disciplines. Scientists, psychologists, filmmakers, product developers, artists, designers break out of their silos and look at questions and solutions more broadly, multidisciplinarily… Because combining talent and expertise works as a lever, as a crowbar with societal value."
The programme is open to recent graduates, but also to experienced professionals or career switchers. What binds them is that they look at things differently. In this programme, they learn methodologies such as Design Thinking and Theory of Change: tools to tackle complex societal issues with practical applications. On top of the theory, trainees develop their own soft skills. They immediately apply the combination of both in practice.
Lecturer Fabienne Beernaert: "Last year we worked on new materials from food waste and coffee grounds, designed CO2-neutral branding and launched a campaign on the impact of social media on mental health." This year, concrete cases are again planned that participants will work on together.
Places are limited
The programme starts on 7 February 2022. Those wishing to apply for one of the 32 places do so with a 1-minute video pitch about their drive for impact. The deadline for applications is 26 January 2022.
Campaign credits
- Campaign concept: Heren Loebas
- Design, typography, camera and editing: Letterlik
- Slam poetry: Loeke Vanhoutteghem
- Music: Jürgen De Blonde
- Copywriting: Goodcopy.ink