On Thursday, we were visited by OCAD University Vice Preseident of Academics Dr. Christine Bovis-Cnossen and Dean of the Faculty of Design Dr. Gayle Nicoll, two champions of this pilot Design Abroad: India course. In the morning, Christine and Gayle visited the students working with KESBO. They observed as the students shared the next iteration of their playspace design with KESBO founder, Mr. Ali. They toured the KESBO campus, and the students showed Christine and Gayle the site of the proposed new playspace, which will include a climbing structure, swing sets, and a tire obstacle course. A game the students taught the boys at KESBO as a group activity and way to transcend language and culture barriers is “stella ella ola.” Christine joined in this large, joyous circle game that included all of the boys and the students.
OCAD U VPA Dr. Christine Bovis-Cnossen and Dean of the Faculty of Design Dr. Gayle Nicoll observe as students present their design sketches for a proposed playspace to Mr. Ali, founder of KESBO, school and orphanage for boys.
The students' concept sketches for the new playspace.
Arielle Bourret-Klein, Mike Lewis, Anna Kolesnikova, VPA Dr. Christine Bovis-Cnossen, Kylie Thompson, and Vanessa Hausman tour the KESBO grounds together.
Christine and the students form a large circle with the boys from KESBO for a game of "Stella ella ola."
In the afternoon, the OCAD U VPA and Dean visited the student group working with Sadhana. They met the founder, Ms. Savita Jadhav, and then toured the nearby cantonment area. They observed the students meeting with various members of the community as they asked for feedback about different symbols representing Sadhana and its work in the cantonment areas. The symbols stemmed from the participatory design sessions conducted earlier in the week with the community and staff members of Sadhana. Based on this stage of the process, the students will further develop other iterations of the symbol as they work to finalize a strong visual representation of Sadhana and its mission.
Students survey cantonment area residents to get their feedback about different symbols representing Sadhana and its work in the community.
Design Abroad: India instructor Sarah Tranum, Felipe Sarmiento, Zimeng Lu, VPA Dr. Christine Bovis-Cnossen, Maya das Gupta, Dean of Faculty of Design Dr. Gayle Nicoll, and Monfia Charles in the cantonment area near Dehu Road, Maharastra, India.