16 February 2011
DJCAD graduate to talk about experiences of business
A Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design graduate, who created a portal where citizens can communicate openly and directly with the police, will visit her Alma Mater later this week to discuss her work with current students.
Lauren Currie, who graduated from the Master of Design programme at DJCAD in 2009, is the creator and co-director of MyPolice, an online feedback tool that aims to facilitate conversation between the police and public. A pilot project with Tayside Police has recently been launched. Her company, Snook, works to empower communities through the power of design.
She will be talking about MyPolice, Snook, and the importance of social networking tools for graduates entering the world of work, when she addresses Design Studies students at the Fulton Building from 10am on Friday, 18th February.
That afternoon she will work with MDes students to demonstrate how they can facilitate a workshop, give presentations and use their design skills to get their message across in plain language. Lauren said this is vital for graduates from the creative courses who want to succeed.
'I'll be talking about life after university, paying bills, and the realities that people need to face up to if they are going to make the most of their education and qualifications,' she said.
'An important thing for anyone to consider if they are starting their own business is how they can use the internet to make opportunities for themselves, create networks, and make contact with the important people in industry. It’s important that students act like professionals, even when they are still at university, as they should always have one eye on the future.
'It's more important than ever that people do something to stand out from the crowd and create opportunities for themselves. I always say that if the job you want doesn’t exits, then go out and create it. The economic climate means that students and graduates need to use their creativity and innovation to make opportunities.
'At Snook, we work in a discipline called service design, which is new and exciting to the design world. With this in mind, I’m also going to be talking the students through various projects that illustrate what it actually involves.'
Lauren's talk on Friday morning is open to students from other courses and staff, and will be held in room F20 of the Fulton Building. The afternoon session takes place at DJCAD.
Notes to editors:
MyPolice allows direct, open conversations between the public and the police. It is a neutral space where members of the public can tell their story secure in the knowledge that the people who count will read it. So you'll know it will make a difference. It can be used to:
- Find out more about your local police; who they are and what they do.
- Send feedback to the police from a neutral platform.
- Support other people's questions, experiences and stories, as well as share them.
- Rate your police experience and their performance.
MyPolice also helps the police:
- To respond in a neutral space. Answer the stories, comments and experiences related to their force, that are put to them on MyPolice.
- By providing empathic data, to understand what the public needs and wants.
- Hold their own open, direct conversations with targeted audiences.
- Identify weaknesses and spot opportunities in the service their force delivers.
More information about MyPolice is available by visiting www.mypolice.org.
Snook can be found at www.wearesnook.com.
Lauren's blog can be found at www.redjotter.wordpress.com, and her Twitter name is @redjotter.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
