After the Directions lecture at Salford the other week, listening to the Communication pathway, I heard that part of the second year of the course incorporates work with D&AD. So I decided to check them out...
D&AD is a non-profit charity that awards the best worldwide in the creative field. It was set up in 1962 but a group of designers to "celebrate creative communication and raise standards within their industry". This group of designers included David Bailey, Terence Donovan and Alan Fletcher (wow). Now, D&AD has a very successful education section in which students and emerging creatives can be recognised and develop professionally in the real world.
They also now offer a 'Graduate Academy', which offers people who are graduating the chance to respond to a communication brief, and the top 50 of these receive paid placements at some of the top design companies. I think this all sounds amazing and I'll be keeping my eyes peeled.