IDEC Exchange - Interior Design Educators Council

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVEIN INTERIOR DESIGNThe NomadsRobert Reid, International ActivitiesEditorThe nomads. The thrill-seekers.The wanderers. There are many sinterior design educators toilingaway in the far reaches of the planet,unbeknownst to the membership.And, yes, we have adventures and totell. Although we might be somewhatof a rag-tag bunch, we shall soon startto regale the readers with highlightsof our escapades, our researchmilestones, and the achievements ofour students.While many of us come fromNorth American soil and maintainconnections with our alma maters,colleagues, and professionalrelationships back home, we nowhave complex lives in Australia, theFar East, the Middle East, NorthernEurope and elsewhere. Regardlessof our nationality, we have a uniqueperspective to offer our felloweducators and their students. Ourstudents are truly international,coming from many neighboringcountries or a country far away. In asingle studio class of 16, we may havestudents from 12 different countries,all speaking a different language.At an American school, a largemajority of our students are requiredto learn English on their arrival atthe university, prior to starting theirprimary course work.Although we are trained educators,what we teach does not justencompass the essential skills tobecome a great designer. Imaginehaving to rephrase words and conceptswe would consider commonplace,into simpler terms that are more easilyunderstood. Cultural differencesaffect the approach a student maytake with a design studio project. Wequickly learn what familiar items weshould incorporate into a project,to help student relate to the designbrief. A student’s family values canaffect their ability to engage incertain activities. We also realize theconcept of “time” can be open tointerpretation.Most importantly, the teachingprocess is not a one way street.We learn a great deal from ourstudents being abroad. For me, Icould not speak a word of Arabicbefore working where I am. I didnot understand the relationship ofthe Middle Eastern family unit, butnow look forward to the family ofstudents attending mid-term andfinal reviews. Although projects areall presented in English and familymembers often do not understandwhat is being said, they show supportfor their daughters, sons, sisters orbrothers.It’s these experiences andperspectives we look forward tosharing. Members of the interiordesign profession develop anincredible network that very fewindustries have. We invite theinternational members of IDEC toshare their case studies, research,news and announcements. A greaterunderstanding of what is happeningelsewhere in the world may openpossibilities for collaboration,outreach and awareness.38