Project

Creative Tracks: Designing and Delivering a Design and Business Resilience Learning Program for Iraqi Designers with Goethe-Institut Irak

Client
Goethe-Institut Irak, as part of the KHAN AL FAN initiative

Duration
January – March 2022

Context

The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to Iraq’s emerging creative economy. Freelance designers across the country, working in fields ranging from architecture to fashion, faced canceled commissions, lost income, and stalled careers. Despite growing potential in Iraq’s design sector, many creatives lacked the tools and networks to adapt their practices to the crisis.

At the same time, the Goethe-Institut Irak, through its KHAN AL FAN program, sought ways to strengthen cultural entrepreneurship and open new employment pathways in the creative industries.

There was a clear need for a program that combined creative development, business strategy, and collaborative learning—delivered in an accessible and remote format.

Our Response

We co-developed Creative Tracks, an 11-week online learning journey that empowered 40+ Iraqi designers to reimagine their creative careers. Grounded in participatory methods, the program focused on:

  • Design entrepreneurship and innovation

  • Business resilience in uncertain times

  • Peer learning and co-creation

  • Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Delivered through the e-learning platform Ebtedy, the bootcamp combined expert-led sessions, personalized coaching, and a collaborative project phase.

Learning Approach

The Creative Tracks program was rooted in our core learning philosophy, which prioritizes experiential, reflective, and collaborative learning. We designed a hands-on curriculum that enables participants to apply new concepts through real-world projects and creative challenges in an active and engaging manner. The learning journey emphasized peer-to-peer exchange, creating space for designers to learn with and from one another, while personalized coaching offered targeted guidance and reflection. Throughout the program, we provided resources and toolkits that supported both immediate learning and long-term growth.

Program Structure

The Creative Tracks program unfolded over an intensive 11-week period, combining theory, mentorship, and collaboration to support the development of sustainable creative practices. Participants began with a foundation in design entrepreneurship, business resilience, and creative process, before diving into specialized tracks tailored to their field, ranging from graphic and digital design to architecture and multidisciplinary practices. The program culminated in collaborative projects where designers worked across disciplines to co-create new ideas and business models. Delivered entirely online, the program balanced expert-led sessions, 1-to-1 coaching, and peer learning in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Our Role

  • Designed the learning experience, curriculum, and facilitation plan

  • Delivered all core modules and mentorship sessions

  • Created the learning environment and project workflow

  • Facilitated reflection and peer-feedback cycles

Outcomes

  • 50+ freelance designers equipped with tools for resilient business thinking

  • 12 expert-led sessions, 30+ coaching hours, and multiple collaboration projects

  • Renewed confidence, direction, and purpose in a time of uncertainty

Online Learning Environment

Creative Tracks helped Iraqi designers respond to the crisis with creativity, reinvention, and collaboration. It served as a platform to rediscover purpose and connection, and to imagine a stronger, more sustainable future for Iraq’s design community.

Interested in designing a learning experience with us?

Whether you are supporting creatives, building capacity, or rethinking how people learn, get in touch. We would love to explore how we can collaborate.