‘The Agency’ was a pilot course for second and third year Media Arts students to work on a real client’s project. The motivation for the pilot is to introduce students to industry practice while still studying, and in doing so, improving their readiness for the job market.

The brief given to students was to produce the first edition of an alumni magazine, as well as a newsletter, for Wintec. The brief required students to design the magazine from scratch and to write and photograph its contents inside one semester. Journalism students wrote the stories of Wintec’s successful alumni, while the photographers captured both portraits and action shots. The design students then brought it all together in a version for both print and email. ‘The Agency’ is unusual in that it allows students to work with students from other majors in the degree toward a common goal.

This pilot was successful and all students passed. ‘The Agency’ raised a number of issues normally found in real life situations, which tutors and students had to manage.

This presentation discusses the highs and lows of managing and teaching on a real-time project outside of the safe controls of the classroom.

The students, staff and clients’ feedback for future projects have been recorded and will help to frame any future projects.