*Amrei Dizon alongside fellow industry consultants at* *CIIT College of Arts and Technology* *(CIIT)*

What does it take to prepare young creatives for a fast-changing, AI-driven design industry?

On June 5, 2025, Vitalstrats Creative Solutions (VCS) joined CIIT College of Arts and Technology (CIIT) for a curriculum consultation aimed at bridging classroom learning with real-world creative work.

This was part of CIIT’s ongoing Academe-Industry Dialogue (AID) initiative, a program that brings together industry experts to help keep academic programs aligned with evolving industry needs. Through AID, CIIT fosters strong partnerships that ensure students are equipped with relevant skills, software knowledge, and an understanding of emerging trends in arts, business, and technology.

Chief Creative Officer Amrei Dizon represented VCS as an industry consultant, helping CIIT review and enhance their Graphic Design and Video Production curricula to better prepare students for today’s evolving creative landscape.

Following the session, we sat down with Amrei to reflect on the collaboration, the insights shared, and what this means for the future of creative education.

Inside the Collaboration: VCS at CIIT

Industry consultants touring the CIIT campus

What motivated you to participate in CIIT’s curriculum consultation for their Graphic Design and Video Production program?

I’ve worked with so many young creatives over the years, some fresh graduates, others transitioning from freelance, and I’ve seen firsthand how the skills they’re taught in school don’t always prepare them for the realities of creative work. When CIIT invited me to share my perspective, I saw it as an opportunity to contribute to a conversation I wish more industry practitioners were involved in. We often complain about the gaps, we rarely help fill them. This was a chance to do that constructively.

Can you walk us through what your involvement looked like—from observing classes to reviewing student outputs?

Our involvement began with a curriculum review to assess how well the program aligns with industry needs, especially in light of emerging creative technologies and AI. CIIT welcomed us for a full immersion, touring the campus, observing classes, and reviewing student work, followed by a candid dialogue with faculty on how to better prepare students for leadership and innovation. It felt less like a “compliance” review and more like a true partnership. We weren’t there to impose a corporate lens, but to offer context on what clients seek, how creative work is evolving, and what mindsets are most valuable today. CIIT’s openness to this exchange reflects its commitment to meaningful, future-ready education.

How did your experiences at Vitalstrats influence the kind of feedback and recommendations you gave to CIIT?

At VCS, I’ve witnessed how creative teams evolve, from interns finding their footing to directors leading with strategy, which shaped how I approached my feedback to CIIT. I viewed the curriculum not through an academic lens, but as someone who’s hired, trained, and retained creatives for over 20 years. I emphasized the need for more exposure to cross-functional collaboration, client communication, and content thinking: areas where we often see skill gaps during onboarding. As a creative agency that also functions as a learning environment, Vitalstrats thrives on fast, feedback-driven cycles, and I encouraged the school to simulate that culture to better prepare students for real-world creative careers.

Seeing Education Up Close: Insights VCS Gained from CIIT

During the FGDs and class visits, what stood out to you about CIIT’s approach to creative education?

What stood out most was how grounded the student work was in Filipino culture, drawing from local traditions, stories, and brands. In a time where many schools chase trends, CIIT is shaping creatives who use design and video production to strengthen identity, heritage, and national pride.

What were your initial impressions of the students’ work? What strengths did you observe, and what areas do you think can be strengthened further?

The students’ work showed strong storytelling and cultural depth, drawing from Filipino craft, indigenous patterns, and regional identity proving that their creativity comes with perspective, not just polish. CIIT’s mentorship model also stood out, giving students real exposure to creative direction, critique, and timelines. With their clear potential, deeper training in strategy, branding systems, and content workflows will further equip them to thrive and lead in the industry.

From an industry standpoint, what qualities make a design and video production graduate more employable today?

Employability today goes far beyond creative skills in design and video production. What we’re looking for are individuals who can grow with the demands of the work, but also shape the culture of the teams they join.

Creative skill + professionalism

We look for individuals who not only have strong creative talent but also bring professionalism, people who can grow with the work and help shape team culture.

Adaptability and curiosity

The most valuable creatives are those who stay curious, take initiative, and adapt to evolving tools, formats, and briefs, not just those who execute well.

Strong work ethic

Presence, energy, and consistency matter. A hunger for growth, resilience through feedback, and a commitment to high standards set people apart early in their careers.

Values and alignment

Integrity, respect, and collaboration without ego help create a strong work environment. We also value alignment in personal purpose and advocacy, as it leads to more resonant work and long-term commitment.

What we ultimately look for are curious, ethical, and committed creatives, designers and media professionals who think independently, contribute meaningfully, and work with heart.

What gaps do you commonly see between academic training and industry expectations?

Today’s multimedia creators aren’t just visual workers, they’re brand builders, storytellers, and often freelancers or startup collaborators. But many graduates still lack entrepreneurial marketing skills. They can create strong visuals but struggle to link them to business outcomes, customer needs, or brand strategy.

There’s also a gap in creative operations. Skills like project management, documentation, collaboration, and workflow optimization are often underdeveloped, yet these are what make creative teams sustainable and efficient.

Lastly, systems thinking is critical. Without time management, stakeholder coordination, and agile processes, even the best ideas can falter. These foundational, operational skills are what allow creativity to thrive in real-world environments.

How can creative colleges and universities help close these gaps?

When we build programs that do this well, we’re no longer just preparing employable media and design professionals. We’re shaping creative professionals who can lead their own projects, grow their own brands, and contribute meaningfully to businesses, communities, and causes.

As Kotler, Kartajaya, and Hooi write in Entrepreneurial Marketing, “Entrepreneurial marketing is about creating value with limited resources, acting with speed and empathy, and focusing on customer co-creation. It moves beyond technical professionalism into purpose-driven leadership.”

Creative colleges and universities have the opportunity to embed this mindset early through cross-functional learning connecting design and production with marketing, entrepreneurship, and strategy. Real MSME casework, practitioner-led modules, and ROI-based thinking can equip students to deliver creative work that’s not just polished, but purposeful.

How important is it for students to develop adaptive skills alongside technical ones? Could you give examples from your own experience?

Today’s creatives need more than multimedia skills, they need entrepreneurial and systems thinking. From my own path as a designer to agency lead, I’ve seen how these mindsets help creatives connect visuals to strategy, take initiative, and navigate real-world challenges. The ones who thrive can manage impact, not just output. Schools can nurture this by embedding real-world practice, cross-disciplinary work, and space for reflection so students don’t just become employable, but adaptable and future-ready.

Nurturing Tomorrow’s Creatives, Together

The VCS x CIIT collaboration aimed to reshape mindsets, close real industry gaps, and co-create a future-ready design and production program grounded in creativity, strategy, and culture.

We’re proud to contribute to a curriculum that helps students build careers, brands, and communities they believe in. This is just one step toward the kind of creative education we all want to see: purposeful, practical, and rooted in real-world insight.

Let’s shape what’s next. Together.

Work with us:https://www.vitalstrats.ph/contact-us
Explore our vision:https://www.vitalstrats.ph/about-us
Follow the journey:
FB:https://www.facebook.com/vitalstrats/
LI:https://www.linkedin.com/company/vitalstrats-creative-solutions/
IG:https://www.instagram.com/vitalstrats/
X:https://x.com/Vitalstrats

Empowering the Next Wave of Creatives: Vitalstrats Lends Industry Insight to CIIT

Inside the Collaboration: VCS at CIIT

Seeing Education Up Close: Insights VCS Gained from CIIT

Nurturing Tomorrow’s Creatives, Together