stephanieNY

...as in after 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
...as in the studio choice I ended up with this semester.

Our studios are determined by lottery. Each semester, we sit through an afternoon of presentations by each professor as they woo us with their proposals. In this crucial final semester, the options were disappointingly weak for us third-years. I was really into only one (out of 18) studios. I'm still mourning it's death, as I found out only hours ago that I didn't get into it. Maybe some day I'll tell you about it. But not today. My second choice was...oh-kay. So you can imagine how I feel about my fifth choice. I'm borderline just not interested in it. I'm so disappointed. I needed this semester to roll me up tight into a complete and comprehensive masters graduate ball to bounce me out into my career. I fear this turn of events will only complicate my personal thesis and brand, and confuse my position as a designer. Dramatic, I know. But, I am mourning.

Ok, that was me whining. Now, this is me looking on the brighter side of things:

The studio I will be taking is taught by Jaime Lerner. He's sort of a big deal in Brazil. Really...a governor of the state of Parana in Brazil for a while, mayor of the capital of Parana, and a renowned city planner. Read his wikipedia page...some of his reforms as mayor are kind of brilliant (or at least refreshingly sensible). So, we're going to be proposing alternative models for urban organization and specifically, transportation. I'm pretty anti-cars and pro-living/working in cities. He seems to be too, so I'm sure it will be just fine...and I'm open to pleasant surprises.

Oh, and I'm going to Brazil in a few weeks. Hah!