Universities will cease to exist when learning has degenerated into what we now call research and when their teaching has become mere instruction.
Lefteris Heretakis bridges inspiration and innovation in Igniting Creative Minds. This interview explores the universe that fuels his work—his stories, philosophies, and drive to spark both personal expression and collective imagination. From early curiosity to ambitious visions, his journey offers insights to inspire and illuminate creative paths for others.
What if the best model for education wasn’t a school at all, but a calling?
Jesus didn’t build classrooms — he built disciples. His model of formation was voluntary, costly, and rooted in lived practice, not compliance. In my new essay, I explore how returning to this spirit of discipleship could heal the failures of modern schooling and restore calling, commitment, and character to education.
In a world where design education risks drowning in theory, this essay makes a radical call: put feeling back at the heart of design. Drawing on John Ruskin’s timeless wisdom, the Bauhaus, Bridget Riley, and today’s studios, it argues that true design is not about thinking more cleverly but about seeing, sensing, and feeling more deeply. A must-read for educators, students, and practitioners who believe design should be alive, honest, and profoundly human.
In an era captivated by fleeting trends and hollow profits, the voice of John Ruskin, the 19th-century artist, writer, and social critic, resonates with striking clarity. His words, steeped in a reverence for truth, beauty, and justice, offer a compass for navigating our fragmented world. I recently spoke with Companion Lefteris Heretakis, a designer, educator, and podcaster based in Valencia, Spain, whose 30 year career in visual communication design and higher education has been profoundly shaped by Ruskin’s teachings. Drawing on The Elements of Drawing and The Seven Lamps of Architecture, Lefteris shared a vision for revitalising art and design education, urging us to heed Ruskin’s call: “There is no wealth but life.” Our conversation revealed how Ruskin’s principles can guide us towards a future rooted in ethical imagination and quiet, meaningful action.
The Future of Design Education: A Conversation with Jac Batey In a recent episode of Design Education Talks for The … More
Brian Grimwood’s journey is a masterclass in creativity and adaptability. From his early days at Bromley Tech to his global impact through the CIA, he has navigated the industry with humour and grit. The CIA, with its commitment to “vitality and dynamism” in commercial art, continues to champion artists who elevate brands like HarperCollins and Starbucks.
Design education sits at a crossroads. For over a century, its structures have been dominated by systems of order — grids, rules, and pedagogical frameworks born out of the Bauhaus and perpetuated through Basel, Ulm, and the International Style. Students are trained to see, to compose, to perfect. But alongside this discipline lies a quieter, often unacknowledged question: where is the space for instinct, for spontaneity, for the human values that underpin design itself?
Design Education Talks Among the World’s Top Art Education Podcasts
In a rich conversation on Restless Entertainment, Adam Curtis discusses his new BBC series Shifty, exploring 40 years of British emotional history. He critiques liberalism, the collapse of political imagination, and how digital life has eroded authenticity. Through archive footage and poetic editing, Curtis maps the mood of a society adrift—seeking not facts, but feelings.
Phil Cleaver’s What They Didn’t Teach You in Design School: What You Actually Need to Know to Make a Success in the Industry, is a candid, practical, and inspiring guide tailored for art and design students and educators. This book addresses the often-overlooked aspects of transitioning from design school to a professional career in the creative industry. Cleaver, a seasoned designer and educator, draws on his extensive experience to offer actionable advice, real-world anecdotes, and insights from industry professionals.
The New Art School 
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