Reflecting on the uncertain future of the Global Innovation Design (GID) Program
As I reflect on the recent announcement of the conclusion of the Global Innovation Design (GID) program, an era ends, leaving an indelible mark on my life. Announced with a rather awkward note on the RCA website, the program, it seems to me, a remnant of our previous geopolitical alignments.
Almost a decade ago, I embarked on this transformative journey that kicked off at the Royal College of Art (RCA), expanding its wings to Tokyo’s Keio, NYC’s Pratt, Beijing’s Tsinghua, and Singapore’s Nanyang. Now, the fate of this program hangs in the balance, with the administrators likely mulling over its continuity.
The GID program was a revolutionary endeavor, a pioneer in the realm of globalized education. This novel program didn’t just enlighten me academically; it also helped me forge some of the strongest friendships of my life. But, in the past three years, global travel constraints have disrupted the natural flow of the program. The first year of the pandemic saw students confined away from their campuses and destined countries.
As an alum, I had for the past 10 years, ventured into an array of projects worldwide.
Then it all changed.
Our current reality is one characterized by global isolationism, on-shoring, and significant logistic changes. My critical observation is that technology tends to flow downstream from the economy, and the economy, in turn, is steered by politics which are fundamentally a reflection of culture. Consequently, everything is subtly interlinked, akin to the butterfly effect, where the flap of a butterfly’s wings can cause a tsunami miles away.
A chain reaction of global events significantly impacts the world of commerce, like my steel supply chain needed in Shenzhen or the brief ten-fold increase in distribution costs for shipping to Europe. Setting up new factory connections and contractors in and Ukraine in 2020 (which as you can imagine…) is another manifestation of the geopolitical stack that we are a part of.
In these times of geopolitical upheavals, it is essential to echo the words of Marcus Aurelius, “The obstacle is the path.” I have grown to believe more than ever in the grand madness poised to grip most of humanity. But, as the world spirals into frenzy, it’s important to stay kind, alert, and useful. Our creativity and ingenuity can play a crucial role in magnifying the values we cherish and aim to uphold.
Do we change our country🏗️?
Or change our country✈️?
As in do we have a responsibility to the nation we swore fealty? Or just unroot and move somewhere else? I had asked many people like myself this question. And the conclusion I’ve distilled from these aggregated wisdom: It’s not about nationalism; it’s about a contest of values, the seeds of which we wish to see blossom.
As we brace ourselves for the approaching technological singularity, it is essential to understand that technology can’t be copy-pasted universally. What works in one place might not necessarily be a suitable solution for another. It requires us to be proactive and innovative, not lazy.
As I navigate my simultaneous residencies in the UK, Europe, China, and America, I’ve come to a sudden realization about the profound impact of culture on our personalities and the crucial role that our individual personalities play in choosing our culture, which in turn contribute to the politics and eocnomics of that culture. Being raised and educated in different parts of the United States, I’ve come to appreciate my inherent knack for interpersonal relationships and selling my work, traits that often set me apart in the European and Asian professional landscape.
This sense of cultural identity prompts the question of patriotism. When I became an American citizen, I was asked who I would fight for if America and China went to war. At 16, the idea of a global conflict seemed unfathomable, and the trajectory towards interconnectedness appeared unwavering. Yet, the recent decade has contradicted my teenage beliefs, leaving me, and the world, grappling with a newfound reality.
As I pen this reflection on the end of the GID program, I am filled with a sense of gratitude. This program, despite its potential end, has fundamentally shaped me, allowing me to thrive, contribute, and learn in the global landscape. The era of traditional patriotism may be declining, but the values we imbibe and uphold are what truly define us, wherever we might find ourselves in this ever-changing world.
