49 Western Skate Spots. The Architecture of Movement
Antoinette Van Sluytman
International Students - Interviews
Ervin Raymundo
Parking Survival Guide
Brian Rinker
More Than Just Coffee?
Emir TaheriRashti
Can Sustainable Design Save Us?
Alec James
Class Time!
Aubree Rose
uring the Spring quarters of 2020, 2021, and 2022 a cohort of NewSchool Fellows worked on creating a student publication. At first , the concept seemed simple. Share some stories or recent work of NewSchool students, maybe interview some alumni or faculty, and boom! there’s content. Okay, maybe not so simple. Publications (even small ones) are a daunting endeavor and unexpectedly, the project collided with the first few weeks of the Pandemic. Add in the expectation of the instructor that all submissions must be as interesting to read, as they are to view, and the Fellows were in for a challenge. To support them, Kate Sayre from Integrative Studies provided critical writing support, Yoav Herman from Design did all the layout and Lucy Campbell, Librarian, acted as first reader. What follows is three themed volumes. The first provides a glimpse into “student life” during the pandemic, the second takes a look at “social justice,” and the third investigates “sustainability” within NewSchool disciplines. The hope is that this publication gives voice to the diverse and divergent voices of our NewSchool of Architecture & Design community. A big thank you to everyone who contributed.
Sincerely,
Bruce Matthes Fellows Lab instructor.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of NewSchool of Architecture and Design, nor is any guarantee made regarding accuracy of bylined articles and academic papers.
49Western Skate Spots. The Architecture of Movement
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHT ON ARCHITECT STUDENT SHANE YEE
Written by Antoinette Van Sluytman
We all know that Covid-19 has disrupted the routines of our lifestyles, but this shouldn’t deter the progression of our creative goals as students in, or outside of the classroom.
I would like to take a look at how students have processed all these changes, or have used them to channel more motivation to reach their creative goals during these difficult times. There is no greater time for the beautiful ingenuity of creative expression to inspire the world than during the hard times of systemic confinement. This is an opportunity to share your ingenuity with us.
INTERVIEWER
Antoinette Van Sluytman is a student who has been working on the completion of a Science-Fiction novel, Kisodoh, Eye of the Pariah, while being a full time Graphic Design and Interactive Media student at NewSchool. She is also writing and illustrating a graphic novel series that she seeks to publish.
STUDENT STATEMENT
Architecture requires free expression. America is based on free expression.
There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal. - Toni Morrison
of his classes that reflect his artistic passions. In this interview, Yee discusses the personal project he’s been working on outside of school, titled “49 Western Skate Spots: The Architecture of Movement.”
Antoinette is a writer, artist, poet, and aspiring business owner. A transdisciplinary creative, Shane Yee is a fifth generation Californian who studied architecture at NewSchool of Architecture and Design in San Diego, California. Like some other students that attend NewSchool, Yee is pursuing his own creative goals outside
In his own words, Yee describes his project as a guide book/coffee table photobook (with some light cultural and architectural theory) that takes readers on a survey of notable skate spots on the West Coast and Pacific Northwest. “I have developed the photographs for the book and am working on the bird’s eye perspective drawings of each spot. There will also be some data (addresses, GPS coordinates, square footages) and brief synopses accompanying the photos.”
for skating is no secret to the NewSchool community, a previous project he undertook pertaining to this same subject began as a travel grant from the school. Perhaps the prologue to the first chapter of the journey to “49 Western Skate Spots: The Architecture of Movement,”
Yee goes on to say, “I was documenting skate spots that were culturally and architecturally significant to the artform and decided to make a book of my findings. The research was presented to a live audience in PowerPoint form prior to the print version on which I am working on.”
I would say two in the morning is a great time to drink tea, listen to music, and write. Well, in this case draw and prepare photographs”
This project embodies a creative unity among design media, a credible tribute not just to architecture, writing, photography, and art, but to the skating community itself. A commendable idea that involves a plethora of creative outlets with the creator’s own personal interests implemented at its core.
Yee states, “I have been skateboarding since 1997, both in the streets and in the parks. I also have experience building skate spots and parks. I spent a lot of my life traveling to skate spots and soaking it all in. So, a lot of the research is secret knowledge that can’t be learned in a book. This is why I want to put this book out.”
From this statement alone, I couldn’t think of anyone more suitable for this project. Shane Yee clearly exemplifies the collaboration of architecture and skating with his own ideals, as a skater and student of architecture at NewSchool. Notably, Yee’s passion
I can only imagine the amount of research and time it would take to complete a project of such scale and magnitude, not only pitching the idea but also to having it printed and produced from start to finish. Any student would have a hard enough time trying to balance their school schedule as it is, but to also add the work load of personal projects on top it, one would have to be exceptionally diligent about their time and scheduling. Yee is a student working hard to achieve his goals while also maintaining a job at the NewSchool library.
When asked about how much time he spends working on his project outside of classes, Yee responded, “I spend almost all my free time outside of school skateboarding. Then at night or in the morning before I skate, I work on the book. First, I had to develop all the film and then choose the best shots. Then I did the hard data- addresses, GPS, etc. And now I am doing the line drawings. After that I will do some writings on
the spots and then put it all together with Adobe InDesign.”
Yee goes on to say, “School comes first. The book doesn’t need to come out any specific time. I was hung up on releasing it in the year 2020 because I liked the evenness to the numbers, but then I realized I don’t have to rush it. Plus, this year has turned out to be a total crap show and might not be such a lucky year after all.”
By crap show, Yee is referring to the recent Covid-19 epidemic, that has forced all of us to quarantine our-
selves indoors. While you would think this would deter Yee’s progress on his project, as his routine has suddenly made a tire-screeching left turn to a schedule overthrown by virtual classrooms, Yee does not seem to have let this unsightly episode stall the pursuit of his goals
Yee goes on to state, “I have not stayed at home one day during all of this, so I cannot say that I have been quarantined. Everyone is home now all around me, City Heights, so I have been enjoying working after everyone falls asleep. I would say 2 in the morning is a great time to drink tea, listen to music, and write. Well, in this case draw and prepare photographs. Like I said, this is a guidebook / photo book so it’s a little different than literature. Although I do have little descriptions and musings about each spot in there. I like to go on YouTube and watch people flip through expensive or rare photo books I can’t get in person. You really get a feel for the “spacing” and flow of the books. With photobooks you are kind of composing music. One page will have the photos in a Cartesian grid, and the next will be a fullpage spread, the half spread, then back to the grid, really detailed busy stuff, a minimalist shot, an old building. Photo books are super cool to flip through. I like Stephen Shore’s Uncommon Places. That book has super cool flow and rhythm. Great artists steal.”
Anyone can tell that a lot of research has been put into this photobook project. A unison of dedication, passion, and time management play a major factor in this equation, as Yee has decided to pursue this creative goal of his. The detail and time it would take to achieve a successful equilibrium of photo and text plays a huge role in the completion of the project, not to mention of compositional support of lay-out and grid building where Yee’s experience in Adobe InDesign will have to come into play.
I believe a project like 49 Western Skate Spots: The Architecture of Movement can appeal to both architects and skaters alike, and is definitely worth looking out for in the future as Yee works on achieving his goal of completing it soon.
Yee asserted quite confidently, “My goal is to have the book available in stores and in eBook format for purchase. I would like to have a publisher put it out to save me the cost of printing and marketing, but I also do not mind having total creative control and freedom to publish myself. The way I see it, it’s a win-win. “
A win-win for all of us who are excited for Yee to share his work with us as he bridges a slightly unconventional alliance between architecture and skating with his upcoming photobook, “49 Western Skate Spots: The Architecture of Movement.”
From skating ramps and slopes at local skate parks, to drafting them, Shane Yee exudes both passion and love for the subject’s he’s chosen to creatively elaborate on within his project and was more than thrilled to share his idea with the community of NewSchool.
A shining example of someone who continues to work against the odds, Shane Yee will continue to progress on his creative goal while also pursuing his education at NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
International Student Perspectives
America is a country of opportunity. Freedom, better access to education, careers, and its focus on public safety are just a few of the reasons why it attracts immigrants from all over the world. International students studying in the United States seek to benefit from these opportunities, desiring to work and hoping to build their careers. Being an international student is often life changing. However, there are many sacrifices, difficulties and adjustments that need to be made, especially during the current pandemic. To investigate these challenges, I interviewed four NewSchool international students and asked them about their experience during this challenging time.
Written by: Ervin Raymundo
What are the major difficulties you encountered during this pandemic that is happening all over the world?
While isolation can be a preventive measure, it can also induce a lot of anxiety. Those who are introverted may find it easy to manage, but people who depend on social connections suffer a lot. As an international student I felt safe that I’m in a medically advanced country but, felt concerned for the loved ones back at home.
Why did you choose to study in the U.S?
Because it is the land of opportunities. Most western societies are predicated
on the English common law and treat every individual with dignity.
What do you feel studying in the U.S and far away from your family?
I have always enjoyed solitude and living in another country is no different. I do miss my family, but we all have to make sacrifices to ensure a better future.
What do you miss the most about your home country?
Food!
What has been the most academically challenging experience in NewSchool?
Student #1
There’s always a good challenge to be found in every class but participating in competitions has been most challenging so far.
What is your opinion about the diverse culture of students in NewSchool?
I very much appreciate the diversity at NewSchool.
What is your plan after you graduate?
Ideally get a master’s degree from a reputable university but I’m okay with working for a few years too.
Has your experience here helped you learn to respect cultural differences? If so, can you give an example.
It definitely has. One of the examples is to be able to accommodate the cultural and religious beliefs of people from the Middle East.
If you have one request, what would you want to help better your experience as an international student?
Why did you choose to study in the U.S?
US is a very developed country in terms of study and the attitude of teachers to students is categorically better than in my country.
What do you feel studying in the U.S and far away from your family?
I like studying here, I have never had any problems, I am a very independent person, because I have been living by myself for 17 years.
What do you miss the most about your home country?
Food and family.
What are the major differences you encountered here and in your country?
Form a diversity group that accepts any F-1 student. Have them meet up every now and then to explore and share cultural differences, beliefs, food, fashion, etc. This will help students break the ice and blend into the American society fast. Diversity harbors creative collaborations too!
Form a diversity group that accepts any F-1 student. Have them meet up every now and then to explore and share cultural differences, beliefs, food, fashion, etc. This will help students break the ice and blend into the American society fast. Diversity harbors creative collaborations too!
Student #2
What are the major difficulties you encountered during this pandemic happening all over the world?
The most difficult thing for me was isolation and study at home, as I often had to force myself to study, and being in the same room every day was painful.
The attitude of people is very different and so are their views on the world.
What has been the most academically challenging experience in NewSchool?
Since I am a transfer student, my first year at school was a bit difficult for me, I did not keep up with the rest of the students.
What is your opinion about the diverse culture of students in NewSchool?
Our school is filled with different students from different countries, that’s why we have an international school and teachers always help those whose English is not their first language.
What is your plan after you graduate?
Work in the field in America.
Has your experience here helped you learn to respect cultural differences? If so, can you give an example.
In Russia, we have a very small percent-
age of African Americans, so we are not taught cultural education, but in America everything is different.
If you have one request, what would you want to help better your experience as an international student?
It is possible to report that there are teachers or students from our countries or who speak our language.
Student #3
What are the major difficulties you encountered during this pandemic happening all over the world?
Similar to most people, the fact that I can’t go to places that I wanted to go.
Why did you choose to study in the U.S?
I like architecture and I was debating between the US and England, one of the countries that has the best architecture atmosphere. Eventually I chose US because of the climate.
What do you feel studying in the U.S. and far away from your family?
The first month was tough. I have never left my family and especially now they are on the other side of Earth, I was very homesick. And then, I get used to it because there are a lot of friendly people that help me to get to know this place and so far, I am enjoying being sort of independent and making my own decision.
What do you miss the most about your home country?
Definitely miss the food and the crowd. I am from Hong Kong, a very crowded place. Except New York and SF, every city in the States is pretty empty to me. Also, personally I think Asian Food is the best. Though there is a good variety here in the States, there is still some traditional food being nowhere to be found here and that I don’t know how to make it myself.
What are the major differences you encountered here and in your country?
Getting use to the fact that everything is a lot pricier and that a stranger would greet each other and have a chit chat sometimes. Back home, people mind their own business and just do their thing. It’s pretty nice that I can talk to a stranger and make friends here.
What has been the most academically challenging experience in NewSchool?
Not much, only thing I can recall is once in a while I will be talking to people that like to use big, not commonly used words and it is kind of hard to understand.
What is your opinion about the diverse culture of students in NewSchool?
I will say it is pretty diverse and in general, most people I have met are pretty respectful. They ask about my culture and share theirs to me. School is also doing a good job with having events like international food fair and creating a good environment for people from different cultures to learn.
What is your plan after you graduate?
Hopefully, to stay and work.
Has your experience here helped you learn to respect cultural differences? If so, can you give an example.
Definitely miss the food and the crowd. I am from Hong Kong, a very crowded place.
Except New York and SF, every city in the States is pretty empty to me. Also, personally I think Asian Food is the best.
Yeah, where I am from is already a place with pretty diverse culture. I will say towards a lot of things in daily life, like simply if you will take off your shoes getting into a home, shows the difference in culture and very obviously, there’s nothing wrong on both sides. So, I try to respect it when I am “within that culture,” like going to travel or even being at someone’s household.
If you have one request, what would you want to help better your experience as an international student?
I will hope government can soon develop a better program for international student who wanted to stay and work after, like an easier visa change process.
Student # 4
What are the major difficulties you encountered during this pandemic happening all over the world?
One of the major difficulties is adjusting to the new norm. Majority of establishments are closed, wearing mask, social distancing.
Why did you choose to study in the U.S?
It was a very difficult decision for me. I had to give up my business in the Philippines in exchange to be a student again and try to start my career here in the US.
What do you feel studying in the U.S and far away from your family?
My first year was tough! Separation anxiety. I had to leave my wife and 3-yearold son. Not seeing my son growing up is painful.
What do you miss the most about your home country?
Philippines is big on food and family. I miss gatherings with family and friends while eating and drinking.
What are the major differences you encountered here and in your country?
The personality, attitude and thinking of people here in the US are very different.
What has been the most academically challenging experience in NewSchool?
Not much, maybe the Spanish and English classes.
What is your opinion about the diverse culture of students in NewSchool?
NewSchool is so diverse and I like it.
What is your plan after you graduate?
Hopefully, get a job that will sponsor me so I can work and stay with my family.
Has your experience here helped you learn to respect cultural differences? If so, can you give an example.
Yes, learning from others culture is a big thing. Exchanging cultural differences helped me understand and respect their culture. For example, Mexican culture is often similar to Filipino culture. It’s easier to understand and respect their culture.
If you have one request, what would you want to help better your experience as an international student?
Support from the school finding a job. Help international students find companies that are willing to sponsor and offer working visas.
My first year was tough! Separation anxiety. I had to leave my wife and 3-year-old son. Not seeing my son growing up is painful.
In conclusion, being an international student is life changing. Sacrifices are made just to pursue a career and a chance to have a better life. On the other hand, international students need all the help and support that they can get from family, friends, teachers and from school to overcome difficulties and to pursue their dream.
NSAD’s Parking Survival Guide
Helping commuters navigate the wild west of parking in East Village
Written By Brian Rinker
We’ve all been there - It’s 10 minutes until class starts and you’re feeling good, but then you get off the freeway or turn on to G Street and you see it: miles of parked cars. Pickup trucks, delivery trucks, beat-up sedans, that one red SUV covered in bumper stickers parked in front of the shuttered husk of the old furniture store. You know the car. Your heart sinks because you know your 10-minute buffer before class isn’t gonna be long enough.
You start to circle through the streets hoping that maybe one of the construction workers is going to be taking a lunch break. After much exploring, you pull-up to an empty spot just to find that there is a Smart car parked there. Panic is starting to set in - class starts in two minutes. You rush to the police station, where there is usually one parking spot available. As you’re driving you see a spot open at the corner of 14th and Broadway, but there is a Salvation Army truck blocking your path. After what seems like an eternity, the truck moves, and you park. All that’s left is to pay your
parking and rush to school. You’re ten minutes late when you finally stumble into class, but it’s ok, your professor is late because they were looking for parking, too.
Most of the students and faculty who drive to NSAD know this experience all too well. For every day where parking is easy to find there are just as many that you spend 30 minutes running 4-block circuits around NSAD.
To help commuters new and old create their own personal parking survival guides, here are some practical tips and tricks. There are five key areas that you should be aware of when looking for parking: Price, location, duration, time of day, and not driving if it is an option. There is also one common factor that applies between all of these key areas, which is Signage. Learning how to effectively locate and read city parking signage can save you a lot of headaches and parking tickets. While these are not every single facet to parking, they will help you create a personalized parking routine every quarter.
#1 - Price
The first category is the price of parking. Parking often ranges from $0.50 to up to a couple of dollars. There are even patches of free parking but there is often a lot of competition for those spots. As a last resort, there are long term parking lots, but they are often the most expensive parking solution. Generally, parking meters are less expensive than parking kiosks, and both are significantly cheaper than parking lots. It is important to know that it is ok to re-up your parking meters, but some kiosks and free parking spots require you to physically move your car when their time limit expires. If you do have to move your car, moving even one spot away is acceptable, so if your time is up and there is a close-by spot you can re-park your car in that spot. There are also means of using networking to find parking solutions, such as renting a parking spot from a downtown resident who doesn’t use theirs.
“After much exploring, you pull-up to an empty spot just to find that there is a Smart car parked there.”
For this talking with your fellow students or using online message boards can be useful, but practice standard caution when communicating with strangers.
#2 - Location
The second category for consideration is the location of parking. This can also determine a lot of other factors to consider such as pricing and duration. Location can often come down to personal preference. Such as how far you are willing to walk, how much you are willing to spend, and how long you need to park for. If you have an 8:00 am class and it’s done at 9:45 and speed is your priority, it might be worthwhile parking on 13th street right behind the school. If
you are on a budget and are taking the same morning class consider parking in the free 4-hour parking on F street.
#3 - Duration
The third category to consider while parking is how long you need to park. Most parking spots in the city have parking time limits ranging from 30-minute zones all the way to all-day parking. Most commonly the time frame is 2-4 hours, but it is useful to start building up a mental map of the different parking durations. F and G streets east of
“Another sneaky time to find good parking is when the construction workers get off work.”
the NewSchool campus have substantial free 4-hour parking or paid, greater than 4-hour parking. The police station has lots of parking spots for less than a dollar an hour but is limited to 2 hours. There are also unicorn spots that have no time limit, these are rare and often change, but it is worth paying attention to find them. If location is not an issue and you need to park all day, it might be worthwhile parking for free with no time limit in Golden Hill by San Diego City College and walking, biking, or scootering into the city.
#4 - Time of Day
A fourth area to consider when creating your parking survival guide for the quarter is the time of day you need to park. Oftentimes mornings before 8:30 and evenings after 4:30-5:00 are the best times to find parking. It is worthwhile to know that during baseball season (typically March/early April to late September/early October) evenings with Padres games can make it hard to park. During
lunch hours for office workers, typically around 11:30-1:30, there is a lot of flux and spots can sometimes open up. Another sneaky time to find good parking is when the construction workers get off work. They typically start early, so researching when they take lunch or get off work could lead to some useful mid-morning or mid-afternoon (10:00 am / 3:00 pm) parking vacancies.
#5 - Don’t Drive
There is a certain subsection of students and faculty who live far enough away from school that driving might be a necessity, but still live close enough to consider other alternatives to driving that are available. These alternatives are often far better for the environment than commuting by yourself. A quick note before leaving the car behind, carpooling or ride-sharing is also a way to lower your carbon footprint if driving is still a necessity. For those who would like to leave the car behind San Diego offers services through their Metropolitan Transit System, or MTS for
short. Those services include the Trolley which has stops within walking distance of NewSchool at Park & Market and City College. MTS also has bus routes that can help transport you to school or a trolley station. There are also bike racks in all the NewSchool buildings for anyone who would like to bike to school. There are also Rental Bikes, Scooters, and paid ride-sharing services available for students to use.
Closing
With these five key areas, you should be well equipped to create your “parking survival guide” every quarter. Some general advice is to make your parking survival guide early on in your quarter. Clustering your classes into specific time blocks or days of the week can help limit how many times you have to search for parking. Additionally, early classes might not be fun but they can help you grab a cheap all-day parking spot and give you a convenient excuse to try one of the many fantastic local coffee shops.
Finding parking is just as important to your survival guide as keeping your parking. Use your available resources to remind you when you need to pay your parking or move your car. Setting timers, alarms, calendar events, or using your phone’s virtual assistant can be a lifesaver when you have a busy day or are stressed from midterms and finals. A last piece of advice for keeping your parking while attending classes is to talk to your professors. Most of the time they are in the same situation as you and will understand if you need to duck out of class for 5 minutes to pay your parking.
This is a guide for tips and tricks for commuters new and old. Using this article as a foundation we can build our parking knowledge to help tackle the stressful experience of parking. The best way to find good parking spots is to talk to your classmates. Everyone has their go to spots and plenty of wild stories about parking in East Village.
Written by: Emir TaheriRashti
COFFEE
SHOPS MORE THAN JUST COFFEE?
Some of the coffee shops depicted in this article are no longer in business. However, we included their images as reminders, as footprints of what was before the Pandemic.
Successful entrepreneurs across the nation believe that coffee shops should be one of the very first things everyone should think about opening when there is a new neighborhood or district. There is a very good reason for this, and this reason contributes to the idea of coffee shops being an essential
local shops generate so much activity and potentially lead to other businesses starting up alongside it. Although it isn’t given credit, these local coffee shops are one of the biggest contributors to pedestrian activity and an increase in traffic that helps boost the neighborhood’s economy.
business that keeps on giving. Coffee shops tend to be the first commercial operation to be started because of how much of a social impact it can have on these neighborhoods.
Coffee shops are not only a place for a new brew, but it is also a place of interaction, a place of study, and many believe it can be viewed as the meeting place for the neighborhood. These
Living in this current technologically-centered age, these coffee shops help us disconnect from social media, from our phones, and focus more on social interaction. According to an article posted by Kat Boogaard, productivity is boosted within these coffee shops due to the disconnect we experience from social media. Although we might not notice it, our overall productivity is cut in half due to the lack of social in-
teraction in person and the amount of time we actually spend on social media. Social interaction is what leads up to us feeling less stressed, as we become closer and share bonds with new people. These bonds can spark into friendships, which then can lead to partnerships on new potential business ideas around the
helping other small businesses grow, so supporting them will only support other smaller businesses as well. There is a lot that goes on in a coffee shop, such as music entertainment, art, a variety of ideas, and many more wonderful things you would not be exposed to if you were going to a Star-
Coffee shops are not only a place for a new brew, but it is also a place of interaction, a place of study, and many believe it can be viewed as the meeting place for the neighborhood.
neighborhood. Although this might not be displayed in more commercial coffee shops, such as Starbucks, the more local-centered coffee shops still have this attraction under their belts.
The incredible attraction about coffee shops is that you get to learn about a neighborhood, without necessarily breaking the bank. These local coffee shops are constantly pushing and
bucks. The environment is completely different, the people are more friendly, and not so focused on themselves.
Picture a quiet, and studious area where most people go in their daily routines to get work done. It doesn’t compare to the quietness of a library per se, but it innovates its own personal environment where it isn’t too distracting. They are actively trying to get to know you, in-
Here is a list of local coffee shops I highly recommend checking out:
Tired Eyes Coffee
BALI coffee+
Seahorse Coffee
Lani Coffee
Portal Coffee
Dark Horse Coffee
stead of creating an environment where everyone has headphones in, and everyone is on their phone or laptop minding their own business, acting as nobody else exists in the room. Although this might be normal to most people, this has some psychological effects on the mind. Social interaction is needed and helps humans feel happier.
I recommend giving your local coffee shop a go, try it for a month, and see how your mood has changed. Coffee shops offer a very nice welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy. Many people like calling local coffee shops an adult playground because everyone just gets to socialize and get to know each other while having fun drinking their preferred drink.
How has COVID-19 Affected Coffee Shops?
As you may be experiencing, COVID-19 has been damaging for not only large corporations but even more damaging for those smaller businesses. These smaller local coffee shops were forced to think on their feet and figure out how to continue to earn income while not being able to have their regular customers in their stores. Many of these stores are doing fairly well, as many platforms support e-commerce and do not take that much in fees away from these local stores.
Currently, you may download the apps: GrubHub, UberEats, and Postmates, to have coffee from local stores delivered directly to your door. This would not only help you; it is helping several companies get back on their feet after the terrible blow they received from this pandemic. It is important to remember to continue supporting these local shops throughout the pandemic, and even after it.
The terrifying impacts of this pandemic might last even beyond the lockdown dates. Many fear that there is a huge threat to a decrease in consumer spending. Society as a whole might continue to cut back on smaller expenses, and the patterns displayed in other countries may continue even after lockdown has been lifted. Spending has gone down frankly because many American’s have lost their jobs. The unemployment percentage has increased in many industries. The correlation is evident as coffee shops have seen a huge decrease in customers and sales. In contrast, the Internet has been blowing up with recommendations on how to brew the best coffee from home, or how to make whipped coffee. These individuals might continue to make coffee at home even past the pandemic, causing many of these essential local coffee shops to disappear. I know times may be tough, but I highly encourage you to support local coffee shops, especially during this time.
I recommend giving your local coffee shop a go, try it for a month, and see how your mood has changed. Coffee shops offer a very nice welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy.
CAN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN SAVE US?
12 years.
Only 12 years stand between us and mass extinction warns the United Nations.
Written by: Alec James
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a sector of the UN warns that there are only 12 years left to take action fighting climate change before irreversible damage is done (Delmotte,et al 2019). Action must be taken now to avoid reaching the “tipping point” National Geographic describes, equating to mass extinction of thousands of species (Leahy,2019).
As climate change continues its progression, quickly becoming a universal challenge, more and more pressure has been placed on the newer generations to help combat these effects. The procrastination from previous generations has greatly accelerated the effects forcing the current “Generation Z” to confront a demise in which they played no role in creating. The media helps in perpetuating this seemingly imminent danger, creating a rather new phenomenon prevalent in the younger generations known as “climate change anxiety”. This new concept stems from the immense pressure placed on our generation to reverse the damage done from previous generations and elicit positive change through design innovation.
Students from multiple years in the architecture, interior design, and construction management programs were interviewed to better elaborate on how these factors avidly affect their design journey. An infographic illustrating current statistics and breakthroughs on this subject has been shown, along with the ten questions to help fuel responses, or even help educate on issues that have previously been unheard of. Relevant concepts pertaining to current standards and goals of sustainability currently in place are discussed such as LEED certification (Leadership in Environment Energy and Design) and the 2030 challenge (the goal to make all current and future buildings, developments, and renovations carbon neutral by the year 2030). The following are some insights given from these students.
A positive factor emerging from this dilemma can be seen through the passion of students at NewSchool who are channeling these emotions of fear and anxiety to achieve higher levels of thoughtful design in their projects.
Rachel Kinghorn
_2nd Year Undergraduate Architecture Student
Do you have “climate change anxiety?”
Yes, and no. I believe we have every capability of restoring the environment back to a healthy state. This world has many bright minds that constantly develop ideas and suggest solutions but finding a way to implement these changes within the constraints of a capitalist, consumerist driven society seems to be the issue. The differentiating perceptions on issues related to climate change due to, what I believe to be, a largescale lack of media and political focus, is the source of my anxiety. Unless these solutions become monetarily profitable on a large-scale, changes are slow to happen, if they happen at all. These slow changes enable some people to disregard the importance of issues related to climate change, sometimes leading people to believe that climate change doesn’t exist at all. We need to be more proactive about educating society, testing ideas, and passing legislation that promotes development in sustainability.
Do you think sustainable design efforts currently in place are doing enough?
This is complicated. I feel the efforts are there but budgetary restraints and society’s perception of beauty versus efficiency are major factors that prevent those efforts from coming to fruition. That’s not to say that there haven’t been improvements, there definitely have, especially in the last decade, but I feel that these restraints and perceptions enable some designers to “take the easy route” and abandon their moral obligation and responsibility to the environment. This might sound extreme, but I feel that designers of the built environment should approach design as doctors approach treatments for their patients. Doctors take a Hippocratic Oath that binds them to the moral obligation of caring for their patients efficiently and appropriately. As designers, we share that same moral obligation to the environment and to all the people within it. It’s a major responsibility and designers need to remember that, despite any existing constraints.
Sequoiah Nelson _2nd Year Undergraduate Interior Design Student
How does climate change inspire your own design journey?
Climate change inspires me to create to better the world I want to create interior designs that are efficient and sustainable. With climate change it is clear that designers around the world must start designing efficiently to help create a healthy planet.
Do you think society is on track to meet the goals of the 2030 challenge?
Honestly not necessarily, I think there are a lot of problems with climate change and the lack of people being sustainable. There are still many people around the world that don’t think that climate change is real. It’s hard to fully tell when we don’t know everything that’s happening in the world, but I think people need to take a larger step in being sustainable and more buildings need to be building sustainable. There are multiple buildings built in the last 10 years that are not good for the environment at all and it is very disappointing. I wish that more sustainable design was implemented everywhere in EVERY city.
At its core, design is the world, and the world is design. The same factors that have led us to this ultimatum between extinction or progression, are the same factors that can get us out.
Angela Leyvas
_2nd Year Undergraduate Construction Management Student
Do you believe it is possible to construct net zero energy consumption skyscrapers?
I believe it is possible to build a net zero energy consumption skyscraper. I heard a while ago that there is one being built in Indonesia. They are using the air flow from the top that runs vertical wind turbines to generate electricity, The building is also powered by solar and geothermal energy.
Brisa Davila _4th Year Undergraduate Architecture Student
How can design can combat climate change?
Design encompasses a huge sector and therefore, can have a huge impact on climate change because it can range from packaging to sky rise buildings. Changing materiality of anything to be more sustainable, alone, will have a major impact on CO2 emissions because of the factory element. I also believe that being conscious of passive systems and renewable energy sources within one’s design choices will vastly improve health and climate issues, so design is truly at the forefront of the fight against climate change.
How do you think design will respond to sea level rise?
I think design is already starting to respond to sea level rise on an educational level. Many school projects must design or choose to design with sea level rise in mind by raising up buildings or making devices that will allow for a hybrid land/aquatic product. Design is starting to adapt to its conditions/design for those conditions which is the only response that can happen other than to do everything laid out for the 2030 challenge.
At its core, design is the world, and the world is design. The same factors that have led us to this ultimatum between extinction or progression, are the same factors that can get us out. Holistically criticizing the power design holds in shaping the world, and the relationship between the built and natural environments, will open a new world, one of potential. This then allows architecture and design at all levels to begin a symbiotic relationship with the biosphere it inhabits; one perpetually benefitting from the other. This is the key to truly reaching a harmony in sustainable design and reversing the damage done, and bringing this “death sentence” to a halt. This new level of hope is being instilled in today’s students and will resonate and shape history through design innovation for many years to follow.
Bibliography
Leahy, S. (2019, November 27). Climate change driving entire planet to dangerous ‘tipping point’. Retrieved June 12, 2020, from https://www. nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/11/earthtipping-point/
Delmotte, V. M., Portner, H. O., & Skea, J. (2019, January). Global Warming of 1.5 C. Retrieved May/June, 2020, from https://www. ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2018/07/ SR15_SPM_version_stand_alone_LR.pdf
Meeting the 2030 Challenge. (2018). Retrieved June 12, 2020, from https://architecture2030. org/2030_challenges/2030-challenge/
Walsh, N. (2020, January 03). The Facts about Architecture and Climate Change. Retrieved June 18, 2020, from https://www.archdaily. com/931240/the-facts-about-architecture-andclimate-change
An article dealing with the life of students during the 2020 Covid 19 quarantine. The story deals with the habits and ideals of online students, at home and in various parts the world. While the crisis commences students have to live their day to day life dealing with student up and downs and this comic makes fun of the struggles as well as the positives of the whole online class Covid 19 struggle.
Written by Aubree Rose
Wake up, get to class, study. That’s supposed to be the day to day school life of an average student right? Well at the NewSchool of Architecture & Design that is exactly how the student body functions in order to be able to achieve the degree they desire, whether in architecture, interior architecture and design, product design, graphic design and interactive media, or, construction management, etc. However, as the spring time approached in early 2020, a global virus hit. Covid 19 put everyone in a state of turmoil. Shops closed down, events were canceled, work has become a struggle and schools have closed off their campuses to the public. Ever since the uprising of Covid 19 there has been a global quarantine with strict rules on how to stay safe during this epidemic.
All kinds of people were put in new and strange situations revolving around work, lifestyle, and safety. But where does this crisis leave a student?
The NewSchool of Architecture & Design has all kinds of different students from experience, to work ethic, to international ethnicity, but even NSAD has closed off it’s campus and has now gone online like so many other schools during this outbreak.
On Monday, the sixth of April this year, an email was sent out to all the members of the NewSchool community stating the following: “Welcome to the Spring 2020 Quarter! Our faculty and staff have teamed up to deliver a fully online experience for all of our programs for this Spring Quarter. Although our Master of Construction Management program has been online since its inception, this is the first time in NewSchool history that ALL programs are being delivered online.”
So how does a Newschool student go to class these days? Yes the deadlines are the same, the homework is more or less in similar quantity, and the desire for a degree remains the same in most cases, but is it really wake up, get to class and study like before?
Well in most cases it seems as though things have really shaken up, specifically in environments of the classes, sleep scheduling and showing up to class on time, if even at all that is. Mya Burlaza is a 21 year old self-taught artist and first year Graphic Design student at NewSchool. She is experiencing this new way of schooling in Spring 2020 and, like so many others, has her ups and downs. Some of the positive moments of online school for Mya are as she states, “Teacher’s daughter and pets just randomly come up to him in the middle of lecture and just mess around most of the time. That was funny” Mya also stated, “Another professor was muted for about a good five minutes and no one but me in the class noticed and no one said anything. I just watched while mostly everyone was scared to speak up or even notice”. Now that isn’t an everyday regular scenario you get from going to school in person.
Mya is a hard working student like the rest of us and therefore attends her online classes by logging in and attending; however, online attendance can have some perks that you can’t quite get out of attening class in person. In Mya’s case she uses it to the best of her benefit as she states, and I quote, “on some occasions the professor is there when I come and I just exit out of the call because I don’t like being the first to class and to avoid awkward conversations with the professor”.
Every student experiences all kinds of things, and not all of them are easy or fun, whether online or in person. Those late nights full of caffeinated drinks, vending machine snacks and loud music, losing that one important homework file, or the all time favorite; the unexpected computer crash. Being a student is no easy feat. For Mya studying in the new Covid 19 scenario hasn’t been all fun and games, as she specifies
the hardships of her studying habits, “It’s been a struggle. Not having motivation some days makes it hard to sit and study, but other days it’s the opposite. But it’s an up and down sort of thing for me”. Can I get an amen?
These are strange times and call for strange measures, and students have found each and every way to make the new online class life their own. Most students now have to face the unwelcome intances of lost connections and blackouts, and the dreaded online mic and video. There have been cases of students and teachers accidentally leaving their mics or video cameras on at the wrong moments. Students now can go to class in their pajamas! The couch, bed or kitchen table has become a classroom. Sleeping until 5pm and staying up until 7am is the new hot thing. Getting a snack during class has never been easier. Rumors of clever students finding ways to cheat the online classroom also continue circulate. It’s all about the perks and the uglies of this new form of education
“It’s been a struggle. Not having motivation some days makes it hard to sit and study, but other days it’s the opposite. But it’s an down sort of thing for me”.
Can I get an amen?
that we students are currently inhabiting in the most unconventional year of the 21th century. During these times of crisis we have to count our blessings and look at the positives knowing that the world likes to show us the hardships.
Nothing is black and white, and nothing worth having comes easy. Mya Burlaza says it best when she states, “Honestly, I don’t like online schooling. Sure I get to “see” people but it’s not the same. But having the camera off during a bad hair day is just one small thing I like about online schooling”. Life’s just about balance. The online student life has its similarities to the more traditional ways, but the differences are all around electrifyingly eccentric and ludicrous!
As the epidemic continues on and the quarantine maintains its strict rules, the NewSchool of Architecture &Design encourages its students to stay safe and to keep up the positivity and motivation. For the students are the future and in order for it to look bright, they must shine on in resilience, vitality and fortitude.
