UNITEC GENERATOR
The “Generator” is a creative industries incubator on the Unitec campus where design graduates work together with designers, academics and business meetors to kick start their own business.
Whilst New Zealand has recognised that the Creative Industries are a very crucial part of securing the future success of the economy, Unitec felt there is insufficient high quality support to nurture and develop the next generation of design led businesses. With the Generator, Unitec’s School of Design is filling that gap by pioneering a unique model to New Zealand: The participants are offered studio space and the use of campus facilities including the workshops, the libraries and the computer labs, while enjoying accessible and meaningful mentoring to take place on a regular basis.
The initial year in the generator is free of charge (apart from a registration fee) the second and third year will incur low fees whilst the businesses gain their financial independence. There are currently 11 graduates residing in the Generator. The design school has strong visions to multiply that number in the future.
The idea of supporting graduates on their way into professional life has been floating around Unitec’s School of Design for many years. Finally, in February 2007, Dr David Hawkins, Head of the School, plus Roger Bateman, Associate Head of School decided to take action.
Selected generator residents are currently showing their work at That's Design! - an event for design colleges across the globe as part of the prestigious international Milan Furniture Fair.
The Generator is managed by Roger Bateman and forms part of CAMDI (Community of Art Media and Design Innovation): a facility within the Design School where research, entreprenurship and knowledge transfer are encouraged and managed).
The Generator provides a ‘soft start’ into self employment in the creative professions whilst at the same time allowing the school to stay in close contact with its graduates “This is a very exciting opportunity” says Roger Bateman, “The Generator allows us to trim our programmes accordingly ensuring our graduates are equipped to survive in the “real world”. The Creative Industries depend, perhaps more than any other sector, on networks and proximity as drivers of creativity and business growth. Individual businesses are small in scale, which makes models like the Generator essential if major projects are to be undertaken. Through the establishment of the Generator small New Zealand based businesses can compete as a network against larger International companies in this field. Current residents will be working together on projects in parallel to their individual work which will without doubt stimulate and help grow an exciting design culture in New Zealand”
Current resident are Unitec School of Design graduates Jonny McDonald, Kyra Bradcock (Threaded Magazine), Chris Metcalfe, Greg Holdsworth, Per Dahlgren, Scott Facer, Guy Hohomann, David Tran, Alex Chair, Michael Wang and Santi Fungtamassan (Send Ltd)
Contact: Generator Director Roger Bateman +64 (0)9 815 6116 ex 7116 or +64 (0)21657148 rbateman@unitec.ac.nz
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