I’m a little biased. Having graduated as a proud Redwood Giant in 1999, the first stop on our tour just HAD to be my alma mater. My environmental science teacher, Mr. Cohen, was one of my favorites, and we have kept in touch since I graduated. So when it came time to kick off the tour, he was the man to help coordinate.
The first day of the tour kicked off at Redwood High School in Larkspur, CA, bright and early at 8 a.m. this morning (my sister Maggie, class of 2009, was there as well as our Project H volunteer-of-the-day). During each of Mr. Cohen’s class periods, we showed my recent appearance on the Colbert Report (as the best ways to keep a high school student’s attention seem to be famous people and comedy), followed by a brief Q&A before heading out to the exhibition. During the class presentation, I was impressed by the questions asked (i.e. “This is a pretty affluent area… how do you see these designs benefiting us, if at all?” and “How do these designs get distributed to people who need them?”). I was also pleased to learn that one student in particular had checked my book out from the school library and read it cover to cover.
Once we got out to the trailer, students were enamored with the Airstream itself, and each had their own favorite products. Some gravitated toward the Sink Positive as they saw the genius in using drinkable water to wash your hands before it ends up in the toilet bowl. Others loved the Adaptive Eyecare glasses, either because Stephen Colbert had worn them, or because they could adjust their prescriptions so easily.
Outside the Airstream, the Whirlwind Wheelchair was a real crowd-pleaser, and my partner Matthew Miller’s wheelie tricks added to the spectacle. Students tried riding it themselves, and began to understand the value in the long wheelbase in developing world contexts.
More fun ensued with some Hippo Roller vs. Bucket races and penalty kick competitions with the DIY soccer ball, and yet most students were intrigued by the real social impact these devices have in the world. I spoke with a few students who hadn’t considered design before as a career path, but having seen the power design can have to transform a life or a community, they are now interested in studying design or engineering.
More visitors came by during lunch, including some of my old science and math teachers, and a reporter from the local paper came to observe the Hippo Roller races (read his article here).
At the end of the day, our first school stop was a huge success. I was thrilled to have a chance to make the case for design as a way to creatively solve problems to the next generation of potential world-changers. Thanks to my dear old science teacher Mr. Cohen for coordinating, and for all the students for coming out. Check out all our photos here!!