The Journal's Mission & Aims

The Journal's Approach, Origins, Purpose, Aims, Beliefs, and Some Practical Issues

See also the Journal's Call for Papers / Author Guidelines / Editorial Panel

Background

Launched in 2002, The Writing-PAD Network encourages art and design institutions to develop the usefulness of writing within creative practice. The acronym PAD stands for Writing Purposefully in Art & Design. For studio-based practitioners this emphasis on purpose acknowledges the need to understand writing as a largely outcome-centred process. Many therefore believe that writing in, for, or from creative practice can be as important as visual discourse. However, until recent times this would have been a painfully controversial idea.

Progress

Almost half a century ago colleges of art and design were obliged to include writing as part of the degree syllabus. Many remember the aftermath as a Cold War between academic research and studio practice. Although the tensions remain, we can now be more optimistic. The word ‘research’ has been accepted by virtually everyone, and differences can be aired more openly and creatively. Issues such as English as a second language, the role of the viva voce, or plagiarism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and other Specific Learning Difficulties are now being discussed. Writing-PAD is only in its fourth year, but is proud to have made a positive, if belated contribution to the possibilities for change.

Our Vision

In place of educational bureaucracy, we envision a more joined-up, student-centred, collaborative, ethical, and ecological approach to learning, making and doing. At the institutional and economic level this would entail a closer integration of research, practice, and teaching. In effect, this suggests a unified field that acknowledges writing as a catalyst to a variety of practices such as ideation, visualisation, thought, speech, action, drawing, making or research. Students would benefit from a more integrated learning environment; moreover, various practices of writing would offer some common ground for all staff. We wish to share and develop this vision. If it is imaginable and shareable, we believe that it must be attainable.

Founder Members

At present, Writing-PAD operates as a loose Network, rather than an Academy, or Institute. One of the reasons we are growing and expanding is because we try to listen to all viewpoints, and because we are wary of becoming doctrinaire or dictatorial. As Writing-PAD is a grassroots movement it can provide moral support to lone pioneers who feel under-supported. Based at Goldsmiths University of London, we now work in conjunction with over 40 universities throughout the UK, including the Royal College of Art, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University of Wolverhampton, Faculty of Art and Design (UK Midlands Centre), and York St John University College (UK North Centre). New Writing-PAD Centres are planned for Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. We also plan to become more international. Our sister ‘Pre-Design’, at Kunsthogskolen I Oslo (KHiO) has recently joined us as the first overseas part of our network. It currently includes 6 institutions within Norway.

Writing-PAD Membership

Up to now, Writing-PAD has been able to offer its services free of charge. In the next phase of development we must establish effective ways to finance our work. Relevant institutions will normally be invited to become either a Network Partner or a Regional Dissemination Centre. The invitation process has already started within the UK, and we will soon extend it to other countries. A number of institutions have offered to make a one-off contribution of £1000 for the launch of the journal in its first year. As the lead institution, Goldsmiths University of London, will contribute £3000 towards the first issue.

Fees and Benefits

• 1. Associate Membership (Individuals)
  For individuals, annual membership fee is £25 (€37) per annum.
  This entitles the member to:
  One copy of the Writing-PAD journal, three times per year (equivalent to £30 (€45) at normal cover price).

• 2. Full Membership (Individuals)
  For individuals, full membership will cost £45 per (€67) annum.
  This entitles the member to:
  One copy of the Writing-PAD journal, three times per year (equivalent to a total of £30 (€45) at normal cover price).
  Concessionary admission (50%) to all Writing-PAD conferences.
  Access to Writing-PAD archive of research and presentation material
  Free access to the Wiki Glossary
  Regular Writing-PAD news updates by email

• 3. Full Membership (Institutions)
  For institutions, full membership will normally be £250 (€371.64) per annum. 4 copies of the Journal, one for each named staff member and one copy for your library.
  These journals will retail at £10.00 per copy.
  The benefits to institutions are:
  Nominated Writing-PAD members of the institution would be eligible to become a Guest Editor/s (by negotiation).
  Access to one of the largest up-to-date teaching resources in the UK
  Access to full list of membership addresses
  Part of a growing international presence

• 4. Regional Hub Membership (Institutions)
  Some colleges and universities may be recognised as Regional Hubs of Writing-PAD.
  In some cases, a Regional Hub may be approved as a cluster of institutions that are able to act as a virtual centre.
  All Regional Hubs would need to nominate an approved representative who is willing to manage, and maintain organisational coherence among the member institutions of their cluster.
  One institution within the cluster may, where appropriate, be nominated to have Writing-PAD RH (Regional Hub) status.
  Benefits to the institutions of the RH would include:
  Individual Writing-PAD membership rights for three members of staff. (N.B. These members of staff would normally come from different teaching areas i.e. studio, theory, language development, learning and teaching, research, management and/or an elected student.)
  Full recognition of founder status within the first pages of the journal.
  Identification and contact details of Writing-PAD centres across the EU and UK.
  Collaborative access to a number of institutions that may foster research collaboration and possible consequent funding.
  The journal will rotate the guest editor role for each edition. For the initial round of 12 journals, the guest editor status will be allotted to the founder members. Subject to agreement, several institutions submitting group contributions may wish to share this role.

Writing in Creative Practice; The Journal of Writing-PAD

Writing-PAD was funded by the Higher Education Academy to improve Learning and Teaching. It therefore began as a vehicle for discussing, supporting, and disseminating best practice. This remit will now widen to encompass research. Our first step is to launch an international journal that will promote the work of our members and their institutions. Our forthcoming Journal of Writing in Creative Practice will be published three times a year. It will be published via Intellect Books who will distribute it internationally and will make it readily available online to members. Eventually, we expect this journal to become self-funding.