User talk:Inscape Design College
From Vox Wiki
Contents |
Beginnings
When Harry Edmonds and Cherry Whitehead welcomed aspirant designers into their design firm in 1980, they could hardly have imagined that they were establishing South Africa's oldest, multi-disciplinary, private design college. Eight years later, when they invited Rick Edmonds to start the computer graphics department, they were again pioneers: Inscape was first to introduce computers into design education - before any other college or university in the country.
Inscape Design College was established in 1981. When Cherry retired, Rick Edmonds bought her share. He inherited his father’s share when Harry died in 1997.
Today’s Inscape is a important provider in South African higher education. Compliance with the onerous regulatory requirements imposed by the quality assurance bodies and the Department of Education has ensured that only the robust institutions remain.
Origin of the name
Harry Edmonds was a great admirer of the Jesuit theologian and philosopher, Gerard Manley Hopkins who coined the word inscape to describe the 'specialness' of every created thing.
'[Hopkins] felt that everything in the universe was characterized by what he called inscape, the distinctive design that constitutes individual identity' Greenblatt
Inscape Design College continues to consider all its people as special.
Chronicles
Inscape is established
Inscape Study Centre, as it was originally known, opened in an old coach-house in Parktown, Johannesburg, later moving to Hurlingham Manor and then to Illovo.
Growth in offerings
In its early years, Inscape had four enrolment dates a year. There were no deadlines and students could study at their own pace, finishing the course when it suited them.
The Architectural Draughting course is Inscape's second-longest running course. It was launched in 1985 and continued to run throughout the economic recession of the early '90s when there wasn't much call for draughtsmen and other institutions stopped offering it. Incidentally the fee for the draughting course in 1985 was R 200 per month.
In July 2004, responding to demand for courses that catered for the serious Decorator, Inscape introduced a one year-part time course in Interior Decorating. The course takes a professional approach to Décor and as such fills a need for people who are serious about the Decorating business.
The college took advantage of the opportunities offered it by the upswing in the economy in the first half of the 2000’s, and in particular in the construction industry, by leveraging the demand for the shorter part-time courses in architectural draughting and interior decorating.
To respond to the shift in the market from adult students to school leavers, it restructured its timetable to offer the classes at more convenient times. Enrolments in their part-time courses have increased about 220% each year over the past few years.
Private higher education has matured into a stable and secure industry, and has earned a reputation for balancing sound business with quality education.
Milestones
Edith Hime, an Inscape graduate from Johannesburg opened the college’s first Cape Town branch at Llandudno in January 1985.
For more about Inscape's first Cape Town branch, read Edith Hime remembers
The Architectural Draughting course was offered for the first time also in 1985.
Graphic Design was added to the college portfolio of offerings in 1988.
When computer graphics was introduced in 1988, the first computer was a 16MHz '386 with 1MB RAM and 40MB HD. The machine ran DOS. Short courses in AutoCAD v2.5 were offered. The following year, CorelDraw! 1.1 was introduced.
In 1996, Inscape joined the web with a 28,8kb dial-up connection and its own website. It started online banking the following year.
Inscape's second campus opened in Pretoria in 1998. The Jo'burg campus relocated to Rosebank in 2002. The Cape Town campus opened in 2006.
In 2007, the Department of Education registered Inscape as a degree awarding institution.
Recent developments
In 2008, Inscape took advantage of market opportunities and purchased its own, modern industrial premises in Woodstock, Cape Town. The following year, it relocated the Pretoria campus to exciting new premises to accommodate its expansion.
The college believes in providing stability and security (which is vital for building confidence in the education business) by owning its own premises and investing reserves in improving the quality of the courses.
People first
Leadership programmes and social responsibility
Within its community and surroundings, Inscape identifies various areas of social need. Local organisations are approached to see how the college can benefit them, both in the short and by making a long term commitment; in making a continuous and meaningful contribution to their specific need.
The college does this not only to benefit the community, but also to inspire and cultivate a socially conscious student who will take into their future career an ethos of making a difference.
The students get directly involved with the organisation, from the planning of activities right through to the implementation and execution of the various actions. Feedback from participating students is over-whelming; good intentions have become measurable actions. The students, as individuals, feel that they have the opportunity to “make a difference”; that a selfless act needs no reward. Among the initiatives are: recycling at the college and in the surrounding community, providing educational, environmental and creative support to local community schools.
All work and no play...
Three days in the North West Province, far from the city, gave sixty Inscape students the opportunity to enjoy a walk on the wild side. In 1995, students and staff took a break from deadlines and get out and have some fun away from the college.
Sediba Kwele was chosen because, apart from the game drives, it also offered fun activities like abseiling, foefiesliding, wall climbing, campfire under the stars, swimming and a whole lot more.
But some students confused the wildlife with a wild life and consumed a bit more alcohol that it was prudent to do. Those who went to enjoy the outdoor activities offered had an absolutely amazing time and learned just how much fun can be had hanging from a rope.
All three meals each day were provided and were delicious, cellphone reception was virtually non existent, the weather was great, the thatched accommodation was comfortable. What more could a person want?
Students continue to arrange regular fun activities at each of the campuses.
Global village
Inscape is used to being an international college. It has always had students from all the continents studying in South Africa. But never have they had enrolments from so many different countries. In 1995, students from 14 different countries enrolled at Inscape: students from Angola, Austria, Botswana, Finland, Gabon, Greece, Israel, Kenya, Mozambique, the Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe registered for the various full-time and part-time courses.
Achievements of our alumni
Let us know what you are doing so we can include your stories in this Wiki. Send us an email to: [principal@inscape.co.za]
Facilitating learning
Student computers
Inscape students have been learning computer applications since 1988.
In 2006, Inscape was a quarter of a century old, and so was the Personal Computer: in 1981, IBM introduced the PC and Inscape was established.
To ensure that it continued providing "excellence in education, by design" it was the first in South Africa to give their design students a laptop each as part of their course.
The Graphic Design students got Apple iBooks with Adobe software and the Interior Design students received Pentium-based laptops with AutoCAD loaded to make their lives that much easier.
Although today students now buy their own notebook computers, the college still provides all the necessary Adobe and Autodesk software free of charge. And the students get free wireless access to broadband internet for research.
Industry bodies, statutory bodies and professional associations
Harry Edmonds was a co-founder of the Exhibition Association EXSA. He was also a co-founder of APCSA, a fore-runner of the Association of Private Providers of Education, Training and Development, APPETD. Rick Edmonds has been Chairman of both APCSA and APPETD.
The Society of Designers (SDSA) a precursor of Design South Africa (DSA) and the Institute of Interior Design Professions IID was also co-founded by Harry Edmonds. Inscape became a member of the Design Education Forum DEFSA in its infancy.
The college is a member of the Institute of Draughting SAID, and the Brand Design Council think. It is also a member of Business and Arts South Africa BASA
The college is affiliated to Higher Education South Africa HESA and its programmes are validated by the Council for the Architectural Profession SACAP
Inscape Design College is registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training DoHET to offer its Graphic Design and Interior Design degree and diploma programmes, Reg cert 2000/HE07/002 and they have been accredited by the Higher Education Quality Council HEQC of the CHE.
Alumni and past students
Paul Kotze - Graphic Design 1997-1999
Stefan du Toit - Interior Design 2007-2009
Dirk Kotze - Interior Design 2002-2005
Future sections
Coming soon: Interesting people. Exciting projects. Important events. Thwarted hostile take-over bid. So what is Design actually? Inscape turns 30! Student achievements and awards.
References
- JRR Tolkien, "On Fairy Stories,' in Essays Presented to Charles Williams, CS Lewis Ed.
