CFA at NCAD’s Professional Certificate in Creative Diversity, is a 2-week intensive course. It equips learners with an awareness of the issues surrounding designing diversity and equality, such as the need to decolonise the discipline, while also providing the tools, methods and platforms to enact personal, professional and sectoral change.

The course is developed in partnership with DesignOpp and the Institute of Designers in Ireland. In the first week, students will gain understanding of race, racism and stereotyping and how it manifested in graphic design.  Students will also take part in an unconscious bias training given by an industry expert. They will also look at decolonising art; what it means and also steps needed to create change.

In the second week, students will get their creative briefs centred around creating possible solutions to help people improve their experiences in the Direct Provision Centres in Ireland.

Week 1: Knowing – Monday – Friday 10am – 1pm

Week 2: Doing – Monday – Friday 10am – 1pm

The programme consists of a series of lectures, case studies, activities, discussions and group work supported by workshops and toolkits.

Online session: 

There are eight online sessions scheduled both in the first and in the second week. The dates for these are as follows:

1ST WEEK: Tuesdays 10th, Wednesday 11th, Friday 13th,of October

2ND WEEK: Monday 16th, Tuesday 17th Wednesday 18th Thursday 19th Friday 20th

In-person sessions: 

There will be two in-person sessions both of which are in the first week. The dates for the two sessions are Monday Oct 9th and Thursday Oct 12th

This course is aimed at designers and creatives who wish to recognise unconscious bias, understand and implement change and embed diversity within their social networks, communities and creative practices.

The programme seeks to provide the transversal and specialist skills to equip creative practitioners to work within existing career paths, while also forge new career and creative pathways and learning.

Educational Standard

All applicants are expected to present an approved Bachelor degree at minimum level of 2nd class honours (2.2)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)  – Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements for admission may be considered on the basis of a recognition of previous  learning  whether based on prior relevant experience or other relevant credited or non credited or learning (RPL). In such cases each applicant will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on a review of the applicant’s CV and other supporting documentation.

Please contact ncad@creativefutures.ie for further information.

Qualifying Examination –  In certain cases the academic team may choose to set a qualifying assignment in order to assess an applicant’s suitability for admission.

You may apply for the programme if you are currently completing your Undergraduate Degree. NCAD will review the rest of your application if necessary, we can make you a Conditional Offer. When your degree is completed and you send us final transcripts we will upgrade this to a Full Offer.

Essential Supporting Documentation

• A Statement of Interest – 500 words framing your reasons for applying to the programme. Please indicate a subject/discipline area that you believe can best advance your practice.
• A recent CV
• Certified transcripts of previous programmes followed
• Certified copies of degree/ certificates and/or other appropriate third level qualifications bearing the official stamp of the institution.

Find out more HERE

There is a fee of €600 for this programme. It is free to apply.

Apply via NCAD HERE

CFA and CCI Skillnet Collaboration:

Creative Futures Academy is delighted to collaborate with Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet to offer a special partnership rate for a range of upcoming courses. This support means we can offer a partnership fee of €400 (reduced from €600) to successful applicants (employed / freelance / sole traders that are ROI residents).

Apply for CCI fee HERE

CFA Scholarship:
A CFA scholarship encourages the participation of learners from sections of society that are significantly under-represented in higher education by offering one free place on all of our CFA short courses.
Find out if you are eligible to apply HERE 
Fill in the CFA@NCAD scholarship application form HERE

Programme Contact

Greg Osborne (DesignOpp): osborneg@staff.ncad.ie
Mic Chikanda (DesignOpp): chikandam@staff.ncad.ie

Admissions Contact

postgraduate@ncad.ie

01 636 4200