Hasta La Ideas

Participants of The Scholar Ship 2007 gather on deck for a group photo.

Imagine developing design work and traveling the world at the same time, amongst an international community of thinkers and makers. Over four months, your group will travel by sea to several countries, where you will connect with local communities, gain insights into a wide array of design problems, and better understand the global condition through firsthand experience.

As we better learn how to design with the 90% and not just for them, hands-on study trips to developing countries are gaining traction as an important part of design education. Similarly, design NPO initiatives like Project H, One Earth Designs, and Architecture for Humanity grow stronger, and ethnographic research methods continue to play an essential role in design practices that are necessarily global. Now, imagine that we combine all three, supporting them from one platform for experiential learning, design thinking and research. This is my vision for Ocean University (OU), an NPO that brings designers, activists, thinkers and students onboard a dedicated ship to travel the world, develop design work, and provide services to those in need.

What sort of participant will you be: A student learning to apply your skills in a real world situation? A senior designer with an established firm, re-energizing your design practice? A design professor conducting research on sabbatical? Or an instructor, leading a special design course on a topic best explored abroad?

The itinerary for each port of call—planned with the guidance of local schools, NPO/NGOs, government offices, and supporting partners—will present designers with special opportunities to initiate new design projects or conduct field research. Between ports, the community will work with the insights gained and prepare for their next stop.

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