Research Team

Background and expectations:

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

I was born in Karachi, Pakistan. My childhood was spent in Atlanta, GA, and then on to Canada. I strive to maintain a balanced lifestyle that includes school, work, and volunteering. I enjoy photography, video production, and creating, playing, and listening to music. Singing is also a great love of mine. I've always found myself to appreciate both the arts and sciences, to be a mix in-between creative and logical. That is one of the reasons why Interaction Design appealed to me - I am able to practice both!

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

I'm in my 3rd year of Interactive Arts & Technology in the Interaction Design stream. I originally started off at SFU studying Communication with an interest in media production. Once I stumbled across the SIAT program, I found it as an outlet to proactively learn and produce meaningful work that would take the needs of people into consideration. So, here I am.

WHY DID YOU APPLY FOR ITALIADESIGN?

I applied to ItaliaDesign for the opportunity to be able to learn through experience and immersion, and gain an increased sense of awareness in not only my field, but of the world around me as a whole. The idea of experiencing the very taste of what we're learning absolutely thrilled me. I also found the field school as an opportunity to build capacity within myself and others around me, at an academic, professional, and personal level. And not to mention, to be able to learn from the great thinkers and designers of Italy and possibly the world is an opportunity that's hard to pass up!

Experiences In-field:

WHAT DID YOU LEARN:

• Generally?

  I learned that the ability to speak to others in their own language is the backbone of being a good designer. This field school gave us the opportunity to practice just that. In a literal sense, having learned basic Italian prior to arriving in Italy and using it as a tool to communicate with Italians was a major advantage. It enabled us to build a sense of rapport with the locals who otherwise would not have opened up to us foreigners as easily. Figuratively, I learned that it's all about doing the research and using the most appropriate methods to communicate your ideas, always taking the audience into consideration. Always thinking about the user group you're designing for.

  Another very important skill that this field study helped me to develop is the ability to adapt in the face of changing circumstances, and being able to manage that change. Both individually and as a group, many situations were encountered that required some kind of flexibility in order to keep things flowing. It was that flexible mindset that allowed us to handle situations peacefully as they arose.

• About design?

  I realized that although design is considered a skill and discipline in itself, it can be infused into anything. It is in architecture, industrial design, digital design, business, education, and even science. Design is limitless. And it's everywhere. What differentiates good design from the rest is its process, the research and the level of thought that is put in.

• About innovation?

  Innovation is about constant improvement. It could be a considered a novelty, but the challenge is about being able to approach novelty in a wise manner. It's also about collaboration and the sharing of ideas. Most of all, it's about believing in yourself and constantly pushing yourself.

• About design process?

  What sets Italian designers apart from others is that they are fully immersed in their process, and that time is treated with utmost respect. Why? Because great ideas can take time to develop - and sometimes they need that time to be realized to their full potential. Great ideas come from great inspirations. You can find that inspiration in anything - as long as it has meaning to you.

• About cities?

  Each city has its own energy. It's a matter of stopping and watching to really appreciate a city for what it is. It has its own people, buildings, systems and patterns for it to function the way it does. Looking at a city from that fundamental level is just fascinating.

• About living away from home?

  Living away from home really brought on a different perspective. Since the duration of the field school was the longest amount of time I had spent away from home, I was quite interested in experiencing that increased sense of independence. It felt as if it was my first real taste of independence - especially when going about on my own in the cities. Of course we were there as a group and looked out for each other, but in the end, all you have is yourself. That's quite an empowerment.

• About group dynamics?

  One thing I can't stress enough is the importance of teamwork. Living, working, and traveling with 13 of your peers is hard to describe. All I can say is that gruppo cinque was great company, each person with their own special energy. Although there were times when I felt that I needed some space, I wouldn't have had it any other way. The mutual respect that was constantly present is definitely noteworthy. Although we live in a meritocratic society, I realized that there is much value and importance in sharing ideas and helping others to achieve their goals, which in turn allows the group as a whole to move a step forward to achieving it's goal.

  Before, during, and even after the field study, I noticed that there was never any competition. It was more like the mindset of encouragement and being there for each other at any time, helping in any way possible. I can say this from experience, as I was pulled out of my group to help out another group on numerous occasions. It was rewarding indeed. The projects created and the information relayed through this field study could not have happened as successfully if it wasn't for the teamwork, collaboration, and support. And it's not just specific to this field study - we are going to have to work with other people outside of the academic realm and for greatness to be realized, it's important to be able to selflessly work together.

WHAT NEW PERSPECTIVE DID YOU COME HOME WITH?

There is an opportunity to make a difference in any instance - you just have to look at things willingly and open-mindedly. There are opportunities - to learn, to have a meaningful interaction, to teach others, to have a great idea, to develop a friendship, to succeed - everywhere.

FAVOURITE MOMENTS OR INTERACTIONS:

• In daily life?

  • Greeting the man at his store underneath our apartment in Rome every time we passed by.

  • Traveling on my own, whether it was biking in Florence or taking the Metro in Rome and Milan - it's an exciting feeling being at the borderline of your comfort zone and taking that extra step.

  • The night time performances in the Loggia at Piazza Signoria in Florence - the dance and symphony orchestra performances were absolutely amazing.

  • Getting a haircut in Milan communicating purely in Italian.

  • Eating gelato at any hour!

  • Meeting with my Uncle's co-worker - someone whom I'd never met before - for dinner. I immediately felt welcomed by her - thank you Nadia.

• During course work?

  • Making small purchases at the marketplace in Campo di Fiori in Rome and using that opportunity to interview to the vendors.

  • Being invited into the home of a nice elderly gentleman in Pitigliano with a couple of my group mates, watching him in awe as he enthusiastically showed us his artwork, and being given some aranciata in the process!

  • Helping the Trastevere, Pienza and Siena teams move their research forward - and interviewing people like there was no tomorrow!

  • Helping to edit the Florence video with the intention of creating something beautiful and meaningful.

  • The day in Florence when we got to see various versions of the Last Supper paintings.

  • Attending Pitti Immagine, a high-profile Florentine fashion event with my teammate Derek, as we had studied it back home. It was a great exposure to fashion in Florence, and we felt privileged as some of the few students present.

• In an interview?

  • Stefano Giovannoni's thoughtful responses to our questions, especially when he mentioned how design is about communication and getting to the root cause of the audience (not to mention him giving us a tour of his home that was right above his studio!).

  • When we went for a tour in the late Achille Castiglioni's studio, it was amazing to see how every detail in his designs were so carefully considered - from the form, to the movement, to the underlying meaning, to the unexpected functions. His curious nature was evident not only in his designs, but everywhere in his studio. His presence was most definitely felt through his passionate nature.

  • The Bialetti factory tour - we got to witness every step involved of the creation of a Bialetti - now that's quality assurance!

• With the group?

  • Playing Frisbee in Circo Massimo.

  • Preparing and indulging in delicious group meals at home.

  • When a few of us took shelter in the Campidoglio in Rome from the rain late at night and just enjoyed its solitude while testing our cameras' settings to its max - resulting in some nice night time shots of the place and the group .

  • Riding our bikes along the Appian Way and having a picnic. Biking through pedestrians, heavy traffic, narrow trails on bumpy cobblestone was one of the scariest experiences of my life, considering it had been a good few years since I had ridden a bike. But the group's support was great - I didn't fear for my life as much. And our picnic was just amazing - we were sitting there enjoying ourselves, listening to the guitar while singing along, climbing a massive rock and playing frisbee. A delightful afternoon.

  • The last night in Dolciano we were in an open field that could only be reached by a completely dark pathway lit up by twinkling fireflies. I had finally overcome the uneasiness of catching fireflies, and was getting pretty good with them, as I ran across the field chasing and catching them, and getting them to stay on my hand. With the group singing along as the guitar strummed some melodious chords, we all stood underneath a starry night sky lit brightly with a full moon. Majestical.

  • Watching the Euro Cup finals - Italy vs. Spain - in an energetic night outdoor atmosphere (we'd encourage the team in Italian - hey, we like to cheer along with the fellow Italians too!).

FAVOURITE PLACE OR SPACE:

• The Circo Massimo in Rome - the openness of the field was such a refreshing feeling. While doing some stretches there in the morning, I honestly felt like I was at a different level. Doing stretches at the top of an open field in Rome - it's something you don't take for granted!

• San Marco Monastery in Florence - I learned some great lessons about the Christian faith in there - perhaps the most I've ever learned was in that space.

• The walkway cemetery outside San Miniato in Florence - we were face-to-face with the rest of the world.

MY TRANSCENDENT MOMENT

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUDYING ABROAD AND STUDYING AT HOME:

Studying abroad is a completely different experience from studying at home. It allows you to live and breathe what you're learning. It places you in an unfamiliar context that sparks your curiosity to explore even deeper. It is limitless. There are some things that just have to be experienced.

AN UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE THAT YOU OVERCAME DURING THE FIELD SCHOOL:

For the Rome Neighbourhoods project, we were being briefed on how to go about our next iteration. It turned out that my next iteration wasn't even with my own team. I ended up helping a different team move their research forward with the goal of successfully communicating our findings and analysis. First off, I wasn't familiar with their neighborhood, so this involved literally learning their neighborhood from scratch. Taking previous feedback into consideration when conducting our research, going to the neighborhood multiple times to get the information we were looking for, and building up the courage to interview locals in their own language, we aimed to analyze our findings and present them in a way that would be whole and complete - but not without being faced with major time constraints. It's one thing continue moving a study forward - it's another to do this while getting oriented to it for the first time from a research perspective and successfully getting that information across. We did feel that we met our goal as we received positive feedback, though I must admit we were not expecting it!

CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE VALUE OF THE FULL SEMESTER OF CONTEXTUAL, CULTURAL, AND HISTORICAL STUDIES PRIOR TO IN-FIELD WORK?

• About language?

  It makes a huge difference to know even the most basic Italian. People warm up to you knowing that you're trying to speak their language and you feel better fitted into the culture. Conversations happen, smiles and warm greetings result. The experience is that much richer.

• About Italian history?

  Learning about a space, building or painting and then actually seeing it, being in it and living it takes you to a completely different level. Having studied these things prior to the in-field portion makes you feel more prepared upon seeing it before you, and allows you to look at things from a more informed perspective.

CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE LEGACY PROJECT OF THE ITALIADESIGN FIELD SCHOOL?

I've never seen a project at such a calibre being carried out. The study is so meticulous and in-depth because it encourages you to pinpoint certain concepts and observations. It's rewarding knowing that you're moving forward what past groups have done and laying a foundation for future groups. That's what the legacy is about - constantly building upon and moving things forward - and there's definitely value in that.

Reflecting:

CAREER GOALS, ASPIRATIONS, AND INTERESTS POST-FIELD SCHOOL?

I have a wide variety of interests in areas of design, that include usability and interaction design, and media arts, that include photography, some graphics, video and sound production. I believe that media is a powerful tool and aim to use it for the betterment of the world in which we live. I would like to infuse this with my design education to make things better for people by creating, or improving upon existing concepts, to enhance their lives in a meaningful way. This could be from a physical interface perspective, from a system as a whole, or from a spacial perspective. As I do hold education and teaching close to my heart, one of my goals is to help improve others' learning processes and their education. Ultimately, I want to improve the quality of life.

WHAT IMPACT HAS THE FIELD SCHOOL HAD ON YOU?

• Academically?

  This field school helped bring to light a more proactive way of thinking. By this, I mean looking at things with an open mind from all perspectives, and considering every possible angle. Finding opportunities in things you never thought you could. You never know what you may stumble across.

• Professionally?

  It was a great lesson in approaching whatever you do with quality and professionalism - whether that be working with others, managing time, or managing change.

• Personally?

  It's definitely helped me to gain more confidence and independence as a person, and be more aware of my surroundings. It's also helped me to open up more and adapt better to change.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR UPCOMING ITALIADESIGN STUDENTS?

Appreciate every moment, as small as they may seem. Live in the moment - don't worry about anything, it will sort itself out. Be curious and let that curiosity take you outside of your boundaries. Get out there and be proactive - use that Italian you've learned and create meaningful interactions. What have you got lose?