Heiko Wolfgang Ryll
I have been working in the creative community for the past two decades, have seen and been a part of many trends that came and went. To survive I believe you need to be able to adapt quickly to what the market needs. Freelancers have the edge over larger companies as they can change their focus literally minute-by-minute. I have seen too many companies and individuals come and go as they did not have the skills and the ability to adapt to the market.
Adaptability requires access to new skills quickly. I have been involved in education parallel to my craft for the past two decades, teaching at all major post-secondary and vocational schools in Edmonton as well as being a mentor and industry support for K-12 teachers in both the Public and Catholic school systems. Short courses that are focused on giving the individual the skills they need to get started are essential in today’s economy. I have been working with MacEwan University to develop short courses that are focused on the transition into the creative fields. There are basic skills that are overlooked by traditional education models that are essential. The focus now is to combine the technical and the development of business practices.
2021 - Cartwright Mountain - Summerland, British Columbia
I believe we are living in a renaissance of creativity, as it’s one of the most important skills for any business to stand out and survive. Creativity is a learned skill that requires development and focused practice. The technical is still required, but with the availability of knowledge, educators can now flip the classroom and provide more context to the technical skills.
I practice mentor-based education that gives students the ability to have the education be tailored to their specific situation. This is not a new concept as I have been practicing it for the past decade opening the doors to new careers for hundreds of new professionals. In today’s economy and market to be able to survive you need to be adaptable and have fast access to skills that provide what is needed to stay competitive.