In a recent collaboration, the School of Digital Arts (SODA) at Manchester Metropolitan University welcomed Fab Lab Barcelona and Distributed Design Platform to delve into the intricacies of employability and career development. What began as a simple talk evolved into a collective moment of inspiration and reflection on the challenging notion about the unpredictability of the futures.

On November 24th, 2023, Fab Lab Barcelona hosted by the School of Digital Arts gave a talk titled, “Beyond tomorrow: crafting your future(s) career”. This moment allowed us to share insights from initiatives and the activities of the Distributed Design Platform, as well as highlighting the broader Fab Lab networks. The focus of the talk was on empowering creative talents to embrace a multidisciplinary approach to lifelong learning, embracing the principles of the do-it-yourself (DIY) mindset and culture that values unlearning, continuous learning, and the inherent lessons found in failures. 

The visit to SODA was an exceptional opportunity for rethinking the traditional discourse on employability skills, under an unconventional narrative of connecting, learning, and collaborating. We guided the students to emphasized the importance of aligning one’s career trajectory with personal value and professional aspirations, being active agents in a self-determined approach to shaping their career paths to feel empowered into adapt to evolving circumstances and contribute meaningfully to their chosen fields.

During the talk, we emphasized the importance of blended learning and being part of a diverse learning ecosystem. We encouraged the students to take a proactive approach in identifying and connecting with their communities of practice to develop career opportunities. Being part of such communities proves to provide a sense of belonging and support, keeping dreams alive and fostering transversal alliances. 

The School of Digital Arts is also our partner for the upcoming event Fair Future(s): Designing with Collective Intelligence:  a hybrid four-day international collaborative event featuring talks, workshops, and self-organized working sessions that will take place between the students from the Master in Design for Emergent Futures at Fab Lab Barcelona and the School of Digital Arts at Manchester Metropolitan University. 

This event is also to launch the DAFNE+ platform, developed during the past month. DAFNE+ is a project funded by the European Commision’s HORIZON program, designed to assist digital content creators in discovering new avenues for creation, distribution, and monetization through blockchain technology.