Designing the Future: Why Caribbean Students Need Clearer Creative Pathways

Not every student dreams of becoming a lawyer, doctor, engineer, or banker. While those careers are still respected and necessary, more and more young people across Jamaica and the Caribbean are searching for creative paths—careers that allow them to express themselves, solve real-world problems, and make a meaningful impact. Some of them want to design the future.

As any good parent or teacher knows, a child’s confidence soars when they discover they’re talented—whether in science, sports, mathematics, or art and design. But when that talent leans toward creativity, especially in design, the journey gets a little blurry.
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For many parents, figuring out how to support a child with a flair for design is tricky. They want to help, but they also want their child to have a secure, independent future—especially in a region like ours, where economic uncertainty is often the norm. Living and working as a creative in the Caribbean is no easy task. It comes with unique challenges, from limited exposure to global trends to confusion around what “design” really means.

Art and Design: Similar Roots, Different Paths
Too often in the Caribbean, art and design are treated as the same thing. And while they’re close cousins, they are not the same. Art is usually self-expression—an exploration of feeling, culture, and form. Design, on the other hand, is purposeful—it’s about solving problems, serving users, and often blending creativity with science, business, and technology.

As a design educator based in Jamaica, I regularly ask prospective students to explain the difference between the two. Most struggle with the answer—not because they lack ability, but because the difference is rarely explained in schools. This isn’t a failure of the students, but rather a signal that we need to better define and expose what design is and why it matters.

Why This Matters in Jamaica and the Caribbean
Jamaica has a proud tradition of promoting art. The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, our National Gallery of Jamaica, and other cultural institutions have built a strong foundation for the visual and performing arts.

But when it comes to design we still have a long way to go. For comparison, the UK has its own Design Museum, which not only showcases global innovations but also runs school programs, workshops, and activities that educate young minds about how design impacts everyday life. In cities like London, design is everywhere. Students are surrounded by it—in the buildings, the buses, the branding, and the way problems are solved.

In the UK, design and technology is taught in primary and secondary schools, right alongside art, music, and drama. This kind of integrated education plants the seeds early for innovation, entrepreneurship, and creative confidence.

What Can We Do Here at Home?
There’s much we can start doing right now in Jamaica and the Caribbean to help creative students explore careers in design:

• Expose students to both art and design through clear explanations and hands-on experiences.
• Plan field trips to key exhibitions like the Edna Manley College end-of-year show or the UTech School of Architecture exhibition—must-see events for any student interested in creative fields.
• Use virtual museum tours from major international institutions that show how design shapes the world.
• Incorporate STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) into everyday school projects.
• Encourage cross-curricular assignments leading up to CSEC and CAPE that promote design thinking and problem-solving.

The World Is Changing—Are We Preparing Students for It?
Artificial Intelligence, automation, climate change, and a rapidly shifting global economy are already transforming how we live and work. If we keep teaching students in the same rigid, outdated ways, we’ll leave many of them behind—especially the ones with creative, visionary minds.

We must prepare the next generation to design solutions for Caribbean problems. Not just import answers, but create our own. That starts in the classroom—with clearer pathways, better resources, and stronger mentorship.

Training Future Designers Starts Now
At MELB DESIGN Ideation Studio, we offer custom training for high school students and teachers who want to explore design as a serious, structured career path.

Led by Michael Bonnick—a highly respected design educator based in Jamaica—these workshops help students and teachers:

• Understand the real difference between art and design
• Explore design thinking and how it applies to real-world challenges
• Learn how to develop a product idea from concept to prototype
• Build strong design portfolios for university or professional opportunities
• Gain confidence in their creative thinking and practical design skills

Michael Bonnick is the Founder and Chief Creative Consultant of MELB DESIGN Ideation Studio. He holds professional qualifications in Industrial Design (MA, Central Saint Martins - UAL), Design Technology (Qualified Teachers Status - UK) and Sculpture (Diploma - Edna Manley College), with over two decades of experience guiding creatives across the Caribbean.

If you're a teacher, student, or school leader ready to invest in your creative potential, visit our training page to learn more and book a session: https://www.mideationstudio.com/design-mentorship.html​