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Inspiring the next generation of digital leaders at BIMA Digital Day 2024
From sharing our insider knowledge to inspiring fresh ideas, here’s how we helped pave the way for tomorrow’s digital leaders at BIMA's Digital Day 2024.
by Graphite Digital
25 November 24
25 November 24
On Wednesday, November 13th, we had the privilege of teaming up with Steyning Grammar School to host a memorable and hands-on session for BIMA Digital Day 2024.
With guidance from Graphite CEO, Rob, Head of Delivery, Leslie, and Senior Designer, Mike, a group of enthusiastic Year-9 students dove into the exciting world of digital. Together, we explored the skills, and developed the know-how to enjoy a successful career in the digital industry.
What is BIMA Digital Day?
BIMA Digital Day is an annual initiative that aims to create a bridge between education and the digital industry. By connecting schools with industry professionals, it offers students a chance to experience the practicalities of life in a digital career. The program introduces young people to real-world challenges, helping them understand the different roles that feature in the digital space.
The aim is to not only develop talent, but also to give students skills they can carry forward, from critical thinking and research to design and presentation
Why we got involved
We believe in supporting the next generation of digital talent and consider it a personal mission—it’s something we’ve embraced wholeheartedly for the past seven years. BIMA Digital Day aligns perfectly with our values, offering a unique opportunity to inspire young minds and provide practical guidance to help shape their career journeys.
“We’re proud to boost students’ confidence and capabilities, helping them develop essential skills like critical thinking, research, design, and presentation—tools they’ll use far beyond the classroom”
CEO, Graphite Digital
Beyond only benefiting students, the day also offers teachers a closer look at the digital industry, helping them bring new ideas and examples into their classrooms.
A day of discovery, design, and presentation
The day began with a discovery phase, where students analysed competitors and got hands-on with various digital tools.
The importance of this step was to encourage critical thinking and to evaluate the strengths and limitations of existing solutions, while also identifying unique opportunities for innovation. We found that many students excelled during this phase, displaying an intuitive understanding for research and a knack for being creative when problem-solving.
Following this, we moved into the design and wireframing stages. Here, the students embraced different approaches, with some opting for more traditional tools like pen and paper, crafting their ideas by hand, while others used digital platforms to develop polished prototypes. This range of methods really stood out, highlighting the students’ adaptability and differing learning styles.
“I was genuinely impressed by the students’ final presentations and their approach to each stage of the project. It was exciting to watch them progressively immerse themselves in each phase, demonstrating a clear investment in their work as they moved through the tasks.”
Head of Delivery
By the time they reached the final presentation stage, the students demonstrated an incredible level of growth. Standing in front of their peers, they confidently presented their ideas, revealing not just technical skills but creativity, teamwork and a clear understanding of innovation in the digital space.
The day in a nutshell:
- 1 Discovery Phase: students analysed competitors, explored digital tools, and identified innovative opportunities, showcasing critical thinking and research skills.
- 2 Design and Wireframing: they used diverse approaches, from hand-drawn sketches to interactive digital prototypes, demonstrating adaptability and creativity.
- 3 Presentation Stage: students confidently presented their solutions, highlighting technical skills and teamwork.
Our goal to inspire future careers
The outcomes of the day were more than just completed projects, students gained a clearer understanding of the many roles within the digital industry, from UX and design to problem-solving and strategy.
We believe in nurturing the potential of the next generation and an initiative like BIMA Digital Day allows us to do that. Although we can only play a small but meaningful role in shaping the future of the industry, it’s nevertheless a rewarding experience equipping young people with the skills and confidence they need to excel.
Through programs like this, we’re helping to ensure a bright future for the digital industry—and the talented individuals who will one day lead it.
