At a time when debates surrounding art and design education and the way they prepare students for the creative industries are intensifying, Kingston University tutor Zelda Malan explains why it’s still so important that creative courses continue to teach ideas. You can add your thoughts using the comments thread below…

Ideas. They’re worth a lot of money, millions if you get the right idea at the right time. The recognition of the worth of a totally brilliant idea is universal. So why is there even a debate about it? Remember that bit in Billy Elliot, that “It’s like electricity, all over my body” bit? Well that’s what it feels like when I get an idea, and I’m betting that loads of people feel the same. And seeing a brilliant idea –one of those Ether of Genius ones – is what being inspired is all about. As senior lecturer on the BA Graphic Design course at Kingston University, when I am faced with putting forward an argument for the continuing teaching of ideas in art school I could go on, literally, for hours.