In Your Shoes - Jackie Malcolm

The Rotary walk and ISTD UK Assessment Scheme

Today I am recovering after walking 15 miles yesterday along the Fife Coastal Trail to help raise money for charity. As members of The Rotary Club of Dundee, we raised over £7000 to help give breakfasts to children in schools in Dundee.
 
I recently organised the International Society of Typographic Design (ISTD) UK Assessment scheme, which DJCAD had the honour of hosting in April 2025. The ISTD Student Awards have been running since 1975, and our students have submitted work to the assessment across the period. ISTD is an international organisation with student assessment schemes taking place in UK, Ireland, the Middle East, North America, South Africa and Australasia.
 
Being part of the assessment team and hosting the UK event this year was a real honour and today I am making edits to one of the submissions after moderation. We do not yet know how well our students have done, however our reputation for typographic quality has earned our students’ positive results in the past.

Assessments, External Examiner and Embedding AI within the curriculum

Yesterday our External Examiner Adam Griffiths was here from Northumbria University. Adam attends the exam board and ensures our students grades are appropriate, moderating them with Animation and Illustration within the Communication Design discipline area. Today we met Adam as a team to discuss the previous year and any issues he feels have arisen. This is a very important aspect of our delivery and assessment and a good way for us to improve our programmes and look at what we should be doing for the following academic year.
 
This year the conversation focused on AI and whether our students were using it creatively. We acknowledged we can identify existing bad practice however we discussed how we can use AI to make a positive contribution to the idea generation aspect of the design process. AI is a tool I am introducing into the new MDes Communication Design programme which is being launched in September this year.
 
I am the new Boxmaster for the Dyer Craft of the Nine Trades of Dundee and tonight I was invited by Wendy Maltman, our Deacon Convenor, to visit Dundee & Angus College Prizegiving Ceremony to give out prizes to two Textiles students within the Art & Design discipline. It was exciting to attend such a positive event.

Calm before the Storm

Being one of the Net Zero Champions for DJCAD, myself and Andrew Dodds meet regularly to discuss the Action Plan we are putting together for DJCAD. I have delivered workshops to staff over the last 6-9 months and the focus for us now is on what we can practically do, as a school, to make a positive change. We have regular meetings with the University Net Zero network.
 
Environmental Sustainability is something I am very passionate about and have promoted good practice in design through the programmes and modules I deliver. Introducing a new Master programme in September, a large focus of the curriculum will promote environmental design and where it sits within the practice and wider global arena. I will be shaping a project around Net Zero with the students and this was the focus of our discussion today.
 
It feels very much like the calm before the storm today. My graphic design degree students are making the final touches to their degree show ahead of the opening on Friday. The excitement is building, and this is a very positive event for the school and the University. Our students have an exceptional reputation with industry globally and this is evidenced by the companies and organisations that continually work with us to support our students.

One day to go!

Today has been hectic and lots of preparation is going on for the opening of the DJCAD 2025 Degree Show. Some students are in panic mode and others are calmly making the finishing touches to their spaces. A few are nowhere to be seen! We had visitors from the Saltern Prize to decide who would receive the award this year and there were press visits to DJCAD. I decided to take a walk around the Degree Show whilst it was quiet. Although a lot of last minute organisation is happening, most of the work has now been done. Our students however have received the award from me for the worst studio prior to assessment and degree show.
 
I had a lunch time meeting with someone I used to work with when I ran my own design consultancy. We had not seen each other for a few years so it was wonderful to see her and catch up on all her news.
 
At the end of the working day, we had an all staff meeting online to receive information from our Dean Anita Taylor, about the Senate meeting that had taken place on Wednesday afternoon. Still nothing much to report sadly.

It’s finally here ... the DJCAD Degree Show 2025

This morning after a last minute sweep of the degree show space and removal of tools, tables and implements, I met with Wendy Maltman, Deacon Convenor of the Dyer Craft of the Nine Trades of Dundee, as well as other Nine Trades craft members who were visiting DJCAD to select the students who would receive the prizes for 2025. I had met with Wendy on Tuesday afternoon to select the 4 students from the BDes (Hons) Illustration programme, to receive the Dyer Craft awards this year. Wendy and I met with them this morning to give them their prizes.
 
The DJCAD prize giving ceremony was at 2pm in the Bonar Hall where we cheered all students who had received awards for the work they had produced in their final degree year. And now … the DJCAD event of the year opened to VIP at 5.30pm and everyone was welcomed to the Degree Show by Dean, Anita Taylor and Interim Principal, Shane O’Neill. The building was absolutely buzzing with people, some exotically dressed, and the students all looked wonderful! The panic had gone, and the excitement took over. Many industry alumni graced the Graphic Design show, and it was wonderful to catch up with them and hear how well they are all doing now. I realised this was my 26th Degree Show as a lecturer and I am exceptionally proud of each and every one of them.

Post Degree Show ... Whew!

Recovery day! After a wonderfully successful Degree Show opening, today I am taking my 89 year old father for his shopping and a coffee and toasted teacake in M&S. Medication picked up and taking him back home. Do some cleaning in his house, put his washing on and organise his shopping in the fridge. Made him a cup of coffee and he is now sitting with his strawberry tart and coffee as I leave.
 
My son Cameron is home for the weekend and it’s great to see him and catch up on his exciting tales of adventure in his new job. In the evening, I took myself off for a gentle walk around the field near my house. Birds were singing their heart out and after such a lovely day the peace was very welcome.

Recovery

Cleaning day! Sunday is the day I clean the house, well attempt to! In the afternoon we travelled to Aberdeen to see my son Iain and his family. My granddaughter Myla, who is 4, was so excited to see us! We went outside into the garden and made daisy chains. Absolute bliss!
 
Ironing done and all ready to start again tomorrow. 

Being a mother, daughter, wife, grandma, educator and designer has given me a very rich and fulfilling life. It has been fun writing this blog and reflecting on this very hectic week. I hope you enjoy the read!