March 25, 2010
Syracuse, NY
Location of Airstream exhibition (parking spot): Q3 Lot on the Syracuse campus (directions here)
Open exhibition times: 10am – 3pm
Location of lecture/presentation: Warehouse building auditorium
Lecture time: 12:30pm in Shemin Auditorium
Recent Blog Posts
Quote From The Road: March 28th
When: March 28th, 9:48 p.m.
Where: In a blog post by a Syracuse student we met on Thursday
Alle O’Neill: “The people who would be using the object are the ones who understand the problem the best. Designers are supposed to interpret the problem into a solution, but first they must converse with the experts of the problem. To do this, it is important to be immersed in the community.”
(In a recap and reflection on our lecture)
Recap: Syracuse University, March 25th
When we pulled up to our spot at Syracuse University, we were welcomed by approximately 30 students wearing specially made “Design Can Change The World” t-shirts, a dozen Project H pink balloons, and about 40 pink flamingos directing passersby to our trailer parking spot. We knew at this moment we were in for an awesome day.
Professor Donald Carr greeted us and helped us get set up before we opened the trailer from 10-12:30. Industrial and Interior Design students are usually at their Warehouse Building studios, about a mile from the main campus, so they had dedicated their day to hanging out with us! We met a bunch of amazing students, including Kelly Anderson, who I have been in touch with for about 18 months already. The IDSA student chapter members including Leigh, Erik, and Evan, were all there too to help spread the word, recruit folks walking through the crowd to check out the trailer, and talk to us about their own enthusiasm for the Design Revolution.
A student group even set up a live blog/webcam stream and asked visitors “What is design?” Responses ranged from “Design is life, and a living” to “Design is human,” “Design is a way to see the world,” Design is a tool, like a hammer,” and “Design is awesome.”
At 12:30 we headed into the arts building’s auditorium, where a giant orange sign screamed “Syracuse University / Design Revolution Road Show” with our signature Airstream graphic. The lecture hall was close to packed with rowdy and enthusiastic students. We (as usual), warmed up the crowd with the Colbert Report clip, then proceeded with our presentation. The Q&A brought on questions ranging from “How do you get your funding?” to “Do you ever find clients like homeless shelters are resistant to working with designers? How do you approach communities you aren’t a part of?”
After the lecture, I met a few students from the Rochester Institute of Technology who had made the trek to Syracuse to see the road show. Before leaving for the day (before the rush of basketball fans coming to the Kentucky game!), I interviewed a few students about “What the Design Revolution meant to them” (see video above).
Perhaps one of the oddest moments of the day was when Matt and I were asked to sign souvenir flamingos for some of the students! The day was a huge success and by far one of the most spirited group of students we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Thanks so much to the IDSA chapter, Donald Carr, and everyone involved for bringing us to Syracuse!
Matt sports his new Syracuse “design can change the world” t-shirt with pride (and enthusiasm, clearly)
Daily Postcard: March 25th
Pink “Design Revolution” flamingos welcoming us at Syracuse University!
Quote From The Road: March 25th
When: March 25th, 10:52 a.m.
Where: Outside the trailer at Syracuse, at the pop-up “interview booth”
Student interviewer: “What is design?”
Interviewee: “Design is life. And a living.”
School Updates and Details: December 9
As of today, December 9th, we some newly updated information regarding a few of our school stops! As we schedule the parking spot and lecture times at each of the colleges and high schools, we will continually make this information available. Additionally, please check the individual school pages for the most up-to-date information. Here are the latest updates:
- February 15: University of Texas (Austin): Parking spot for Airstream trailer exhibition confirmed on Speedway Plaza from 10am-5pm, Lecture in Goldsmith Hall, 3.120 Lecture Hall at 12pm noon.
- February 22-23: Auburn University: Parking spot for Airstream trailer exhibition confirmed for the parallel spots by the South entrance to the Wallace Center, off of South Donahue Drive. Lecture confirmed for Dudley Commons, Parker Auditorium (B6), 12:30pm.
- February 27: Savannah College of Art and Design (new stop!): Lecture confirmed at Trustees Theatre, 216 East Broughton Street, 2pm. Parking spot for Airstream trailer exhibition to be announced.
- March 15: Virginia Tech: Parking spot for Airstream trailer exhibition confirmed at spot between Burruss and Burchard Halls, at the end of Old Turner St. Lecture confirmed for Cowgill Hall, Room 300, at 2pm.
- March 25: Syracuse University: Parking spot for Airstream trailer exhibition confirmed next to the design department’s Warehouse building at 350 West Fayette Street. Lecture confirmed for the Warehouse building’s auditorium at 12pm noon.
