RISD’s initiative: from STEM to STEAM – in other words insert ART to add the magic

I was conducting research for my lecture tomorrow for my Design Team II class at the Art Institute and I continue to find a banquet of food for thought in Adrian Shaughnessy’s book “How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul”. I assigned an excerpt from the book which discusses the qualities a young designer today must acquire and I asked the class to research a list of designers Shaughnessy mentions in the book, one of them being John Maeda (see earlier post for more inspirational designers and links to their sites).

I have been familiar with design maverick John Maeda, now president of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), but I decided to take a look at what he is up to lately and it blew me away, take a look:

The fact that designers can bring creative innovation to the table predicts a loftly, miraculous place for young (and older) designers alike; because they can serve society and the challenges we face in the future. It makes me proud to be an designer and a design educator. Let the innovations and collaborations (the synergy of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math begin!).