Snap, Crackle and Speak with Brian Parkes

Brian Parkes has been the JamFactory’s chief executive officer for about 18 months. Also in charge of its creative direction, he is keen to see it grow as a place unique in the way it trains designers, produces and markets quality design and as an educator about design.

“It’s an extraordinary organisation with a rich history but it hasn’t reached its full potential,” he said.

“It should be a crown in the cultural jaws of Adelaide.”

To get there, Brian said the Factory needs to nurture outstanding talent through its programs, including its workshops and residencies, and be a place that engages and informs communities and builds knowledge about design.

Recently, the Factory helped students from Gilles Street Primary School design and market brooches. The project helped nurture design thinking and 3-dimensional processes in to young minds.

Brian said it is a huge task for students to try to understand the whole cycle of consumption and how the market works, “but they are all over it”.

Brian is a guest speaker at the Design Institute of Australia (SA Branch)’s Snap, Crackle and Speak breakfast this month.

To buy tickets visit www.trybooking.com/dec