Creative Staff Spotlight: Joao 

Example headingJoao teaches Art and Design as well as Graphic Design, while being an independent artist outside of the classroom.  

Working with creative students over the past two years has brought development to his artistry and to the students’ skills. 

You’ve worked in education before. How do you feel working in Further Education? 

In Further Education, we can change the curriculum and we can find new things to teach. Everything is personalised to the student. I have 23 students doing their second year and they’re all working on different projects.  

They go from graphic design, architecture, art, product design, and even sometimes tattooing. I need to have those references all of the time, and I love that. It allows me to look all over the place for new knowledge. 

What does it mean to be a creative? 

Creativity is in the core of everything we do. If you want to innovative, try new ideas, you are being creative. I teach students how to think laterally. I want them to be independent and research and make up their minds about something, rather than being told how to think. It helps with your confidence as a person. 

How does working as an artist help you to teach art to students? 

I work part time at the College and for the other part, I am an artist. I’m known now for doing vintage matchbox designs.  

I bring the practicality of being an artist.  

I understand industry practices. I understand what it is to start something from scratch. I understand what it is to struggle and to have to find your own opportunities.  

How do you support students in their future creative careers? 

We tend to link the course a lot with employers and get them work experience. We de-mystify this idea that creative practices are for free. If the students are working towards being something, they need to get paid to do that.  

Do you have a favourite moment from teaching at the College? 

My favourite moments are when we organise an exhibition, and the parents come, and we see that they’re really proud. That’s the moment. When they have their end-of-year show and their work is on the wall. They bring their friends and family to show what they’ve done. Those are the moments, really.  

Joao teaches courses for school leavers and adults in our Visual Arts department. Learn from his experience and explore our creative course on our website.