17 September 2012

Books cook up an award for DJCAD lecturer

A lecturer from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) has won a Scottish environmental award for her work on the development of charity cookbooks.

Jackie Malcolm was presented with a Silver Green Apple Environment Award for Scotland in recognition of her contribution to the books, which have helped to raise thousands of pounds for good causes and raise awareness of serious issues.

Jackie leads the Communication Design interdisciplinary project at DJCAD and her research interests include examining the relationship between food and society, observing the way in which this has shaped our communities.

In 2011, she designed the 'Maggie's Centre Recipe Collection', which sold out within two weeks and raised £10,000 for Maggie's Centre. Using this business model, she inspired her students to produce 'The Creative Cookbook', which is designed specifically for students learning to live away from home.

All profits from The Creative Cookbook are being donated to Signpost International, a local charity empowering people in Africa and Asia to grow their own food, enabling the future sustainability of many communities in the developing world.

The Creative Cookbook was produced as part of a module taught by Jackie, and challenged students to explore food in its widest context, examining issues such as farm production, food security, scientific food research and climate change.

"I am obviously very interested in how food is viewed differently in the developed and developing world and I am delighted to have been recognised for this project and the resulting cookbook," she said.

"The students designed and produced the Creative Cookbook and deserve credit for their vision and hard work, which will ultimately benefit communities within developing countries who do not have the same food choice as they do, making them more sustainable.

"This was a very complex project involving many aspects of food research and it will help nurture communities desperate for the simple basic food products to live."

Jackie worked in partnership with local organisations on these projects, including Vine Marketing, Maggie's Centre, the James Hutton Institute, Signpost International, Angus Council, the Biodiversity Institute and Newton of Arbirlot Farm, Arbroath.

She added, "It is crucial to the success of projects, both professionally and academically, that local organisations and companies collaborate to achieve new visions for design, enhancing the learning experience for the student."

The Green Apple Environment Awards are organised by The Green Organisation, which promotes the positive side of environmental endeavour by recognising and rewarding best practice around the world. Now in their 18th year, the awards are well established as one of the major environmental recognition schemes both in the UK and internationally.

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