But I Don’t Want to Work in Tech, I Want to Work in Fashion!
Sound familiar? All too many young people feel like they have to focus all their energy in one direction if they’re going to “make it” in that area. Fashion fans want to learn about design, fabrics, style, and possibly related aspects like business and accounting. It might not be obvious, at first glance, that coding and tech education are going to be a crucial part of a fashionista’s world. But, the fact is, technology is interwoven into the material of most career choices in the modern world.
Myth of Art vs Science
For many years the academic world has strictly separated the arts and STEM education. Schools and career advisors would, up until very recently, encourage kids to pick one or the other and to focus solely on one subject later in academic life. Really, it makes much more sense to have a holistic approach to study. Some teachers or parents may be concerned that kids aren’t capable of focusing fully on more than one area. Dr. Merritt Moore, one of the amazing women in tech and science, is just one example of that being a fallacy.
At school, Moore loved physics and ballet. She was encouraged to pick just one but refused. She worked hard at both dancing and science, and today is a world-renowned quantum physicist and a professional ballet dancer. She also works with AI and machine learning.
She states that science needs creativity and the arts need the analytical side of the brain. The two should not be separate, and learning both together makes students better at both.
In the Fashion World
If your kids love fashion, it might be hard for them to see where technology fits in with this. For many, it’s all about those stunning outfits on the catwalk or trying to get a design accepted by a famous name. So, where do technology and fashion meet?
Design
Design can still be done with pen and paper and preliminary sketches often are. However, digital design is where it’s at. Understanding the programs used and the coding behind them helps designers keep at the top of their game.
Sales
Web design, social media, machine learning, and AI are all part of the modern marketing experience. Bringing your amazing designs to millions of eyes takes an in-depth knowledge of the technology required to do this.
Wearable Technology
Accessories such as smartwatches are just one aspect of “wearables”. Technology is now being literally woven into the clothes we wear. For example, smart jackets have touch panels which can activate lights for safety or heat on a cold day.
When I Grow Up I Want to be…
According to The Balance Careers, these are some of the top careers kids say they want as their dream job when they get older. We’ve added in reasons why your child may want to include coding, technology, or other STEM subjects alongside these.
Athlete: Sport and exercise are a vital part of life, and youngsters are encouraged more than ever to keep active and move their bodies. Girls in tech can also be girls in sport these days- there’s no need to separate the disciplines! Sport is more high-tech than ever, with computer algorithms used to aid in training and simulators a vital part of many sporting disciplines. Understanding the coding behind these technologies helps athletes maximise their performance and really go for gold.
Vet: Veterinarian work is filled with technology and science, including marvellous advances like 3D printing prosthetic limbs. There are even courses dedicated to animal-related coding, designed to help maintain the thorough records required at any veterinarian’s surgery.
Teacher: Technology can help teachers and mentors create engaging and fascinating projects for children to help them understand a variety of subjects. Creating electronic surveys, interactive lessons, and even robotics projects can all be a part of modern teaching.
Musician: During lockdown, music lessons continued for many pupils via Zoom and Skype, with tutorials sent via email and music sheets shared via online community hubs. Most musicians who use electrical amps and soundboards will have a working knowledge of electronics and some engineering skills. Girls in STEM subjects have a much better chance of being able to understand how and why their instruments and associated technologies work.
Detective: Skills in detection and investigation are used not only by the police but also by many private companies and corporations. Detectives need to be able to keep detailed computer records of their work, and an in-depth knowledge of cybersecurity would be a key skill in the world of modern detection.
Getting an Early Start
Whatever your child’s passion is, you can never have too early a start in technology. Encouraging your kids to join a peer-learning group that explores technology and coding in fun ways is a great way to spark that interest now. Because, whatever career they choose, technology will be a crucial part in that journey. Starting them down that path now will give them the head start that could see them at the top level of their chosen job, one step ahead of their competitors thanks to technology.
