by Danielle Arets
The first breakfast talks kicked off with an Emma energy session; students from EMMA radio challenged the audience to do voice gymnastics; a perfect warming up for an intriguing discussion on Self and Unself in design education.
Referring tot the overriding exhibition topic Self Unself - that according to creative director Thomas Widdershoven expresses that more and more students work on societal issues - moderator Tracy Metz wonders if students are more driven by the social agenda than 10 years ago? Has the tension really changed?
According to educational director Tonny Holstrust it definitely has. “ You can see that clearly in this exhibition but also in the discussions we have with students. They care for the world around them and like to play a role in redesigning it.” Jurgen Bey, director at Sandberg, thinks that design in general has grown extremely fast with a big diversity; so of course also students delve more and more into societal issues.
Educational institutes therefore need to focus more and more to train students to work with this big issues; research and reflection are crucial parts of that. But it all starts with developing a healthy self, mention both Jurgen and Thomas. If you know how to position yourself, you can start working on the bigger issues.
Design Cocoon /oxygen
Tracy Metz wonders what the difference is between Sandberg and DAE. As for Tonny Holtrust there is a natural link between the two institutes; after graduating at DAE a lot of bachelor students consider a master at Sandberg.
Not in the least place to get out of the cocoon, mentions graduate Jan Pieter Kaptein. “Design Academy Eindhoven is an intensive study; during 4 up to 6 years you are completely delved into it; you hardly have a social life. Getting out of that cocoon is quite an experience.” Jurgen completely agrees as he experienced that bubble himself when he studied at DAE. He thinks it is a very healthy cocoon since it is one of the rare moments in life where you can lock yourself up completely and not bother too much on the outside world. Tonny Holtrust mentions that it can also be rather suffocating; “we also need to bring in some oxygen once in a while to confront students with the outside world otherwise they are completely bewildered when they leave the school.”
Practice intuition
The conversation elaborates on the question whether creativity is actually something that can be taught? As for Jurgen Bey in general everyone is creative but it is essential to discover the language. He also likes to demystify the term intuition. “It is definitely not something that comes to you. You need to practice it till it is part of your veins. Compare it with a professional tennis player. The brain can’t live up to the speed of the ball. But by playing very often you can become part of the rhythm of the ball and act accordingly.
Intuiting is something that is trained of the years. That is also why a cocoon is healthy.
Design Scientology
This seems that you are also brainwashing people in way, asks Tracy Metz. Jurgen completely agrees. Compare it with a Lars van Trier movie; you completely have to get into a culture, immerse people in an embedded cell. Within that cell each one finds its voice and minor voices can play a very important role. “Compare it with the triangle in an orchestra; it has a minor you need it to make the best music ever.”
Design your own education
Eugenie de la Riviere graduated with a project My own education frustration where she questioned her role in education. Is she a product, a client or a participant?
“ I felt there was no the flexibility in the system and that I as a student hardly had responsibilities to design my own educational path.”
Jan Pieter Kaptein agrees that also he felt for a long time frustrated that he didn’t have the power to shape his own education. “There is so much power of students, you should use it”
Tonny Holtrust explains that this is exactly what Design Academy Eindhoven is doing at the moment. “We try to redesign the curriculum in a strong dialogue with students. We collaborate is our slogan. “Aside from that the ambition is to make clear to students that the world is their playing field; so that they broaden their view and scope. “
Play different roles
The talk concludes with an intervention by Mr Ordinary, one of the characters designed by Jan Pieter Kaptein for his Second Self Laboratory. For him this laboratory is a place where people can experience different roles.
“ Sometimes we got really stock in our role. I think its healthy to step out of it and try something new.”
That is actually something that education should do as well. We should make sure that students are also trained in elements they wouldn’t immediately feel for. As Tracy Metz already mentioned at her introduction; during my language study I was forced to do some science courses. It proved that I wasn’t good at it but it helped me to define my Self.
The talk concludes with an EMMA announcement crying out for Pizza!