My Product Design graduating class was in a special position when it came time for our senior thesis showcase. We stood on the line between the resurgence of face-to-face interactions and the draw of staying online for just a bit longer. As a class we decided to consider both options by having an in-person show as well as an online presentation of our work.
I was nominated to become the leader of this endeavor.
I led our cohort in weekly meetings, delegating tasks to 4 separate teams. We began raising money 6-8 months before our exhibition. I made contacts with all outside vendors including a printer (for our booklets and posters), building material providers, and communication outlets within the University and externally. We kept to a strict timeline that ramped up 3 months prior to the exhibition. I juggled many tasks and remained the main point of contact for all of my classmates and external parties. I was reliable with deadlines and helped others stay on track.
Managing my classmates who doubled as friends proved to be challenging. I had to make tough decisions and add or cut certain pieces based on our budget and hierarchy. Each one of us had grown into a specific and amazing designer, with our own methodologies and ideologies. Blending all of us and letting each shine individually as well as together was difficult, but netted beautiful results.
We created a show bigger than any previous class had ever done. We each had a great jumping off point after graduation. We all had photographed our projects in a professional gallery setting, showcasing our ability to collaborate and curate, to push the boundaries of what design can be. We were able to showcase our own design aesthetics and ideologies. We had a space to create conversation and make connections for our future. We expanded what the Product Design program teaches students and what it can offer the world.