RYAN LAI
Background and expectations:
PERSONAL BACKGROUND:
I’m Chinese, having grown up in the Capital of China, Beijing. I came to Canada in Fall 2005.
I was born and raised in a family where art and science bonded together. As a successful fine art educator and curator, my mother has profoundly influenced and inspired me in the moral and aesthetic aspects of life. My father was an engineer when I was young; in the sense of scientific way of thinking, he taught me how to solve problems with a rational and logical mind.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
I studied two years of engineering before I came to Canada. Currently I’m a senior student studying in the Interactive Arts and Technology’s Interaction Design stream at Simon Fraser University. I’m passionate about innovative design and fascinated by the wonderful interactivities and incredible influences design brings to people’s life.
WHY DID YOU APPLY FOR ITALIADESIGN?
Exposed to western fine art for about 15 years under the influence of my mother, I am fascinated by the deep cultural background and spirit of European civilization. Italy has been the home of many of these cultures. Today, modern art, architecture, and design have created an iconic Italian image after centuries of shaping and evolving process.
The ItaliaDesign field school has the special focus on Italian culture, space, architecture and urban planning from the perspective of design professionals. The trip covers not only the design objects or architectural landscapes themselves, but the whole history and process that led to them over time. This experience definitely will help with the understanding of the particular designs and ignite the iterative design process, which ultimately could lead to meaningful innovative design projects.
Experiences In-field:
WHAT DID YOU LEARN:
Generally?
Generally, I think the most I have gotten out of this field experience and the whole course of study is the Italian lifestyle that ultimately helps Italians create inspirational designs with the highest level of quality.
About design, design process, and innovation?
I really enjoy the experience of learning from world class firms and studios about their way of work and their process methodologies. Each individual firm has a very unique process toward its own goal. I was totally amazed by the level of detail with which they approach a design subject. ItaliaDesign innovations: they’re just simply something we cannot easily think of. They’re like ideas in dreams.
About cities?
It’s my first time to Europe. The cities remind me of my home town, Beijing, with so many people around and really good dynamics in the cities like Roma, Firenze, and Milano. The day and night have a clear contrast that accents the identities of each individual city as culture icons. I enjoy Roma and Firenze the most.
About living away from home?
Not new to me anymore since I’ve been living by myself for the past 4 years. It’s great to actually live in Italian and European cities, instead of just traveling. I could feel my own presence as a part of the culture.
About group dynamics?
It’s really cool to see how energetic and enthusiastic everyone is even when we have so much to do. Everybody’s like a member of a big family.
FAVOURITE MOMENTS OR INTERACTIONS:
In daily life?
Going to a Tabacchi and buying a phone card or bottle of water, speaking Italian. Feeling like really fitting in.
During course work?
Everyone’s hungry right before the presentation after long hours of production work; we’d cook a lot of food for everyone and they’d be so happy.
In an interview?
I’d always feel a really good connection when we’re all laughing because of an interesting topic or similar experience. It’s like, as designers, we’re having so much in common.
With the group?
In Montepulciano, we were in this view point seeing the skyline after sunset. It’s so pretty, everybody’s quiet. We really enjoyed the night.
FAVOURITE PLACE OR SPACE:
Piazzale Michelangelo in Firenze
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUDYING ABROAD AND STUDYING AT HOME:
I’ve been studying abroad for a very long while. This is not really new to me. But working and living with 12 others for almost 2 months is really a new experience. I think this is a once in a lifetime thing – really precious. It feels more settled when I study at home, relaxing and free. In-field, we had so much to do. Sometimes we have to consider the group’s common schedule instead of our own preference. Because of this, you can always have some new cool experience that you can’t possibly have on your own.
AN UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE THAT YOU OVERCAME DURING THE FIELD SCHOOL:
During the Milano final day presentation, we couldn’t get the computer editing program to work. Therefore, it seemed that we wouldn’t finish the project and present nothing. But we just kept trying different ways to solve the problem. We set up a temporary “studio” in the washroom of the suite where we had the presentation. 5 minutes before our turn, we got it working! We were so relieved, so happy, so excited. It was really an awesome slideshow, a nice ending.
CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE VALUE OF THE FULL SEMESTER OF CONTEXTUAL, CULTURAL, AND HISTORICAL STUDIES PRIOR TO IN-FIELD WORK?
About language?
Italian class was really a hard part for me because of the overloaded schedule that semester. But I really did my best and got an acceptable result. Prior to in-field, I intensively practiced my Italian by learning from books and movies. It really helped. I’d like to keep learning Italian because I want to have a better understanding of Italian culture and design.
About Italian history?
I really loved the study process. It’s amazing how much Italian history is so much like my own country China’s history. There are so many stories, so many interesting people and things for the past thousands of years. The study of Italian history really helped us to go beyond being a tourist; we became professionals who knew about the civilization and culture. The in-field experience would not be the same if we didn’t have the historical study.
CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE LEGACY PROJECT OF THE ITALIADESIGN FIELD SCHOOL?
This year, we introduced so many new means of documentation to the trip. Therefore, I want to say, we’ll create a not-ever-done-before legacy for this field school, for Gruppo Sei!
Reflecting:
CAREER GOALS, ASPIRATIONS, AND INTERESTS POST-FIELD SCHOOL?
I am going to pursue a career as an interaction designer. Inspirations from the field will definitely help me to achieve my goal. The people, the environment, the feeling of Italia is definitely a boost to my creative work and innovative process.
DID YOU MEET YOUR PRE-TRIP GOALS?
Yes, I met them all; in addition to it, I had many unexpected new experiences which made my trip even more enjoyable.
WHAT IMPACT HAS THE FIELD SCHOOL HAD ON YOU?
The organization of the whole trip was just right – very designer driven. The director really considered our feelings of how to absorb what we just learned.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR UPCOMING ITALIADESIGN STUDENTS?
Feel Italia, feel Europe, feel yourself.