Creative skills in education play a crucial role in helping young people build confidence, resilience, and innovative thinking. At The B!G Idea, we connect students with industry mentors who guide them through real-world creative challenges. One of those mentors is Ronan Healy, co-founder of service design studio How Might We.
Ronan has one of the coolest jobs around. He combines playful thinking, design, and even Lego building as part of his daily work. Recently, he shared his experience of mentoring students and explained why creativity must stay at the heart of education.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Ronan Healy, and I am a service designer. I co-founded How Might We, a studio focused on service design and creative problem solving.
Creative skills in education must be protected and developed. I believe creativity is an innate skill that exists in every student. However, students need opportunities to maintain and strengthen it. We should nurture creativity from primary school, sustain it through secondary school, and carry it into third-level education and beyond. When students keep their creative momentum, they develop stronger problem-solving abilities and more confidence in their ideas.
Mentoring is about giving clear and constructive feedback. At The B!G Idea, students learn early on that feedback is not criticism. Instead, it is guidance that helps them improve. This mindset makes mentoring more effective because students feel supported and open to suggestions. As mentors, we can identify areas for improvement and help students refine their ideas while building confidence.
The process is simple and well structured. I received an email notification and was assigned three student projects. I could also see feedback from other mentors, which helped avoid repetition and added value to each comment. There was enough guidance to make the process clear, yet it was not overly prescriptive. This balance allowed mentors to contribute meaningful insights while supporting student creativity.
The most important aspect was reconnecting with the education system. I enjoyed being part of a programme that links industry and education so closely. The diversity of mentors involved also made the experience inspiring and credible. It felt rewarding to contribute to a programme that genuinely supports creative skills in education.
I was impressed by the level of creativity among students. Sometimes we underestimate what young people can achieve. However, every time I reviewed a project, I was pleasantly surprised by their ideas, passion, and imagination. Students are capable of much more than we often expect.
Absolutely. Creative programmes like The B!G Idea are rare and valuable. If professionals have experience to share, giving back through mentoring students is incredibly important. It supports the next generation and strengthens the future of innovation.
Mentoring students helps build confidence, creativity, and future career skills. Programmes like The B!G Idea show how industry collaboration can transform education and empower young people.
Interested in supporting the next generation? Become a B!G Mentor and help students develop creative skills for life.
