I visited with RISD alum David Wiesner — three time Caldecott Medal winner. David spoke about how RISD’s Nature Lab was one of his key sources of inspiration as an undergrad, and also about how the field of Illustration and RISD are tightly intertwined (case in point: this year’s Caldecott Medal going to another RISD alum Brian Selznick).

Today I glanced at a book cover upside down that actually read as “perfect” but my mind read it as “respect.” The similarity in words is quite remarkable — the difference of one letter S/F. I then wondered what kind of relationship these two words have in our world.

Respect is a wonderful gift we grant to each other in circumstances where quality and substance are present. Perfect is certainly a quality we respect, but it is equally possible to respect that which is imperfect. This brings to mind the Japanese aesthetic principle of wabi-sabi — an inherent respect for that which is imperfect as an ironic expression of perfection. There. It all makes sense. Thank you for coming along on this thought journey together with me.

I’ve discovered that the acronym for the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is often a point of confusion. My friends who do not know the school will email me about my new upcoming job at “RSID” and “RDSI.” The good news is that they get the first R correctly.

Initially I thought that if they got the pronunciation correctly then the spelling might come naturally. Nope. If RISD were founded in 1877, I wonder exactly when it became known unofficially as “RIZ-dee”? If anyone out there knows please do contact Our RISD. Thank you.

I visited the RISD Parents’ Council meeting today — it was President Mandle’s last Council that he gracefully handed off to me. We all engaged in a spirited discussion about how an education in arts and design leads to an extremely creative mind — something that is desperately needed in leadership worldwide today.

The paradox we all are presented with is that if you just teach students how to be prepared for the “real world,” then they are only ready for a specific trade — their knowledge will only last a few years. Whereas if you teach students how to think in the future world that they will make themselves, then their knowledge can last indefinitely. The latter approach is certainly preferable; yet at the same time some of the former must be mixed in for practicality’s purposes. Finding the right mixture is the key …

I visited with the President of Urban Outfitters and became aware that they are the second largest employer of RISD grads. Their headquarters in Philadelphia is an incredible story in sustainable development. The spaces are completely naturally lit because they adapted an old factory building and realized when the factory started out that in the early 1900s there were no massive electrical lighting systems; they thus reasoned that it had to be naturally lit somehow and found skylights everywhere that were simply boarded up. Their floors are made from recycled school gymnasium flooring, recycled glass, and a host of other re-adapted material. The President’s philosophy is one of recycle-reuse as their corporate mantra. I certainly took notes.

We talk about raising money for scholarships often, but nothing drives home the need like looking in the eyes of an accepted freshman who shares with you that he/she will probably not be coming to RISD because they aren’t receiving enough financial aid.

 The Alumni Association has been hosting Accepted Freshman Receptions in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Providence over the last several weeks, with another one to come in Philadelphia on April 29.   It is pure delight to see these prospective students and share with them our stories as alumni who value the education we received, and how our lives have been shaped by it.  We do our best to assure concerned parents that their kids will find an enormous amount of opportunity before them when they graduate.  We demonstrate by example that a life in the arts and design is rewarding, energizing, and exciting.

 But one thing we cannot do is assure those for whom the cost of a RISD education is out of reach that we can meet their financial needs.  Recent fund raising initiatives have helped, but we have much to do.

 If you are interested in assisting the Alumni Association by participating in a reception next year, feel free to contact me at chartley@risd.edu. I think you will find it a rewarding experience!

The 2008 Scholarship Luncheon was held this past Friday, April 18th. The weather was gorgeous, and the President’s house overflowed with over 75 scholarship supporters, student recipients, faculty and staff.

Among those in attendance were former RISD faculty who have been revered with scholarships in their names, RISD Trustees, representatives from a major living goods company, a co-founder of one of the top design companies in the world, and RISD alum’s parents whose scholarships have honored their children.

RISD President-Elect John Maeda and Provost Jay Coogan welcomed guests, while stirring words during the lunch from Jessie Shefrin, Dean of Graduate Studies, emphasized the dedication RISD faculty have for their students and the work they do. Gretchen Hooker, ‘08 MID and co-founder of Respond/Design and Ashleigh Smith ‘08 GD, both expressed their gratitude for the opportunities presented to them because of the scholarships they received. John Maeda, inspired by their words, made his own financial contribution to RISD scholarships that day! Thank you to John, and to everyone who attended. The wonderful spirit of the day was a true tribute to the students and supporters, and will carry us into next year’s event!

Amanda Wright
Assistant Director, Scholarships & Donor Relations

I’ve noted recently that Providence and the RISD surrounds are extremely photogenic. At times I feel like I am in my adopted home of Europe …

Tomorrow I will be speaking at UPenn. I hear there will be a few RISD parents and alums there. I look forward to seeing you there.

I was on hiatus from blogging at TR since the announcement but now my brain is starting to re-sort itself and things seem to be coming together again. It’s a good space to share my favorite topic of our RISD.