JOEL RICH
Background and expectations:
PERSONAL BACKGROUND:
Growing up in Vancouver, I’ve wanted to be many things like an artist, a musician and an actor. However none of these options really fit with my long term plan which included sleeping indoors and eating at least once a day. I also had many technical and analytical skills with which I could find a perfectly boring job. Design however gives me an opportunity to combine my creative, technical and analytical skills into one field.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
I’ve spent most of the past ten years in post secondary education. I received a diploma in fine arts from Capilano College in 2003, but was unsure what to do with myself after that. I started taking general arts courses, however nothing really grabbed my attention until I stumbled upon the design program at SFU. I’m currently in my 4th year of the design focus here and I’m hoping to get out soon and apply myself in the real world.
WHY DID YOU APPLY FOR ITALIADESIGN?
I have been friends with many of the previous ItaliaDesign graduates for several years. There was something about them that I identified with and I was enthralled by their stories about the study in Italy. Before I started attending SFU I wanted to participate in the field school as it seemed like a truly defining feature of the SIAT design program.
Experiences In-field:
WHAT DID YOU LEARN:
The most important thing for me was that I learned what its like to live in another culture. I’ve lived in Vancouver my entire life so having the experience of being immersed in another culture was very significant for me. Previous to us travelling to Italy we studied in depth the history of Rome and its influence on the development of western civilization, so to travel there and actually see, touch and feel that history gave me a better understanding about my place in the history of the world.
About design, design process, and innovation?
I saw how a good idea can make a project and I saw what lengths Italian designers take to find a good idea. However once they find a good idea, they don’t rush forward with it, the idea has to prove itself to be one that will stand the test of time. They have a love for the right way to do something and they will not change from the old way until they’re sure that the new way is definitely the right way.
About cities?
Coming from Vancouver, a city where the trees are older than the buildings, it would be an understatement that I was blown away when I walked into the centre of Rome for the first time. I learned that a city doesn’t need to destroy its history, and that a city can be spectacular while embracing its urban heritage. I learned that densification doesn’t mean you have to build so high that the street doesn’t get hit by the sun. I learned the value of space in a city and how a properly densified city can cut its reliance on cars. Having so much within walking distance combined with a fairly good subway system can do wonders. More often you’ll find people riding scooters than driving cars and when they drive cars, they are very small cars. A big car doesn’t fit in Rome.
About living away from home?
I’ve lived away from my parents for several years now, but this was the first time I had lived across an ocean. It proved to me that it was not impossible and that I shouldn’t shy away from being in a place that I want to be in, even though it’s on the other side of the planet. It’s definitely harder to live in a place where the language is a barrier, but if I never did this I wouldn’t get to live in some of the best places in the world.
About group dynamics?
The more you put into a group, the more you get out of it. The best moments always seem to happen when you give your last measure of energy to spend time with your cohorts and it turns into an amazing experience that no one was expecting. I’ve been working in groups at school for a long time and I was very familiar with everyone I was traveling with so there were few surprises, but this was a great experience for developing a fondness for these people that I was stuck with. I’m extremely thankful for a chance to spend time with such an excellent group of people.
FAVOURITE MOMENTS OR INTERACTIONS:
In daily life?
One day in Rome as I was wondering around the markets looking for interesting things to take pictures of, I ran into a tiny Italian nonna who was delighted to see me and decided to tell me everything about her and her family who lived in the building next to us. At least that’s what I think she said, it was my first Italian conversation and I was having a hard time. She didn’t care, she was just happy to tell me everything, whether I understood or not.
During course work?
What started as a simple study of Florence’s night life turned into the most amazing experience of music in my life. The White Night is a festival which happened on the Oltrarno side of the city where every couple of blocks there was a new band or DJ with a new style of music and a new group of people dancing to the music. Matt and I stayed late into the night wondering why we Vancouver doesn’t have anything even close to the experience we were having.
In an interview?
Carlotta de Bevilacqua was an incredible woman whose passion for rethinking the way that we think about design has marked her as a trailblazer for contemporary Italian design. The fervour with which she spoke about new concepts in how we think about design was more than enough to make a lasting impact. Though I think that moment might be tied with Fuksas drawing us a map of the neighbourhoods of Rome. Both of these people embodied a passion that was too huge to be contained and was incredible and inspiring to witness.
With the group?
There were countless memorable moments with the the group, but one that stands out in my mind is spending a late night in Piazza del Popolo. It was the first time that we had, as a group, ventured out late at night to enjoy the city at night. It was just a moment when I realized how happy I was to be in the ItaliaDesign program with this particular group of people.
FAVOURITE PLACE OR SPACE:
The bridge west of the Ponte Vecchio in Firenze has triangular spaces you can sit on at night and have the most amazing view of one of the most beautiful bridges in the world shimmering upon the Arno river. I’m not sure if the space on the bridge was designed with this in mind, but it is certainly an amazing place.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUDYING ABROAD AND STUDYING AT HOME:
When you read about a place, you’re reading about one specific subject that you want to learn about. When you’re studying in a place, you’re learning about things you didn’t realize you wanted to learn about. You’re completely immersed into the environment and you learn the good with the bad. There’s no ignoring the ugly, but there’s no denying the beauty.
AN UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE THAT YOU OVERCAME DURING THE FIELD SCHOOL:
My bicycle got three flat tires in Florence. On the last day after getting the 3rd flat tire I managed to walk for about 8 hours to get all my errands done which included walking for an hour carrying a 13kg box. After which I got lost on the way to the group dinner, I found myself in a completely new neighbourhood. Even though I was two hours late for dinner and completely exhausted, I wouldn’t change a thing, except for having people worry about me I suppose. Sometimes you just don’t have an option because you’re traveling and you have to make do any way you can.
CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE VALUE OF THE FULL SEMESTER OF CONTEXTUAL, CULTURAL, AND HISTORICAL STUDIES PRIOR TO IN-FIELD WORK?
About language?
I cannot stress how seriously people going into this program in the future should attempt to learn Italian. While you can get by with English, if you make an effort to speak Italian it goes a long way. My Italian wasn’t the greatest when I left for Italy, but I found a few new friends to help me practice. My favorite experience in Italy was being invited in for dinner with Cristiano and his wife and friends who spoke little english. We got by with a little bit of every language that we could find to use. In the end we had a great evening together.
About Italian history?
Italy’s past is one of the most important to the development of Western civilization. To start understanding how our current culture has evolved to where it is today, you have to understand the culture of ancient Rome. This also leads into the Renaissance and then eventually into contemporary culture. So our challenge was to see the modern day Italy in the light of its entire history. Not an easy challenge, but the reward was understanding a culture in context.
CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE LEGACY PROJECT OF THE ITALIADESIGN FIELD SCHOOL?
Every year the group takes the study one step further. I believe we have a healthy sense of competition and every year the new group tries to trump the last. I have faith that the next year will do even better than us and I think that’s one thing that is making this such a special program. We took up the task and attempted to move the study forward, next year I’m betting they do even more.
Reflecting:
CAREER GOALS, ASPIRATIONS, AND INTERESTS POST-FIELD SCHOOL?
I’m planning on either studying or living abroad at some point. Previous to the field school I’m not sure I would have considered this as an option. I feel like a lot more of the world has been opened to me. The field school showed me that there is a whole planet to explore. I’m a lot more clear about the field that I want to work in. The field school was an experience that allowed me to feel that my dreams are actually possible. This is a good thing.
DID YOU MEET YOUR PRE-TRIP GOALS?
My goal was mostly to be open to new experiences and to be more confident in my direction of study and both of these were overwhelming successes. I feel like I know now more than ever what I’m going to do with my life and I’m quite happy with it.
WHAT IMPACT HAS THE FIELD SCHOOL HAD ON YOU?
The ItaliaDesign field school has helped me create a solid group of friends with whom I shared an amazing two months. Seeing and interviewing the best designers in Italy made me realize that there is a higher level of design to shoot for, not just the local web design firm. I need to make my own place in the world and not let myself settle for less than I can achieve.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR UPCOMING ITALIADESIGN STUDENTS?
Learn Italian and meet some amazing people. There was nothing more important to me than the moments that I was able to have a conversation in Italian no matter how basic. Be open to what you might experience, try new things and don’t be afraid to be wrong. Wander about aimlessly, but make sure you can find your way back. Even when you’re out of energy, don’t let yourself miss out. Sometimes you can get more energy from doing something fun late at night than sitting around at the apartment. Allow yourself to explore. Explore who you are as a person, you’re away from most everyone you know, it may just be the perfect opportunity to reinvent yourself into the person you want to be.