Nuff Said
with The Mill & JKR

Nuff Said is a collective set up by third-year students at Ravensbourne to challenge an industry that does not look like them. Through action led initiatives they draw inspiration from people who are building platforms where difference thrives. In 2020 Nuff Said was included in the shortlist for the Professional D&AD ‘Global Association for Design and Advertising Awards’.
 

In spring 2019, Intern magazine published ‘Whitewashed’ by Jaheed Hussain. This article chronicled his frustration with the underrepresentation of BAME (Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic) practitioners in the creative industries. I shared this article with my students who mirrored his frustrations. In response, they formed a collective to address the problem. They called it Nuff Said and created a manifesto that communicated their frustration.

 

‘Nuff Said. Time to stop talking about diversity. We are the next generation of creatives and the industry we are about to enter doesn’t look like us. It doesn’t benefit from the culture of inclusivity that powers our originality and it doesn’t share our insight into the multicultural society that shaped us. Diversity is our reality, so stop talking and start listening. Trust us, it’ll be worth it.’

 

Seeing the potential of this manifesto, I asked the group to pitch their idea to Ravensbourne’s industry advisory panel. The presentation struck a chord and Gin Godden from global VFX and creative content studio, The Mill, offered use of their studio. Working with The Mill, the students planned an event that aimed to allow industry to learn from ‘creatives working to build diversity into their practice’ and ‘learn from people who are making creative culture more inclusive.’ Speakers on the night included: Roshni Goyate (The Other Box), Brendan Mcknight (The Dots) and Ibrahim Kamara (Guap) and event were hosted by Dines (Studio Blup) alongside Nuff Said spokesman Isaac Izekor. ‘Lecture in Progress’ and the Dots ran a feature on Nuff Said and it started to feel like the students had started something significant. Sean Thomas from D&AD agency of the year, JKR volunteered further support and an event was planned at their headquarters in Camden. This event featured presentations from Ollie Olanipekin (Superimpose), Akwasi (Media Arts Lab), Nina Danjuma (ASOS) and Jay Hussain (JKR).

 

In February 2020 I was asked tom present about Nuff Said at the Creative Conscience Changemakers conference. My talk had 4 takeaways: 01. Diversity is not something we choose - it's our reality. 02. Students need scaffolding not platforms. 03. Students should learn with not from their tutors. 04. Students need to be listened to and trusted to be part of shaping what they learn.

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