A year ago the Royal College of Art launched GenerationRCA, a celebration of every past, present and future generation of RCA students and staff.
Ridley Scott made the film that features James Dyson, David Hockney and Thomas Heatherwick, and a host of past and present students. Watch it here, it’s pretty cool.
Thirty years ago I was lucky enough to study at the RCA myself. But I clearly didn’t make the cut to feature in the film! At the time I had no idea what I was really doing there and what impact it would have on the rest of my life. But if I hadn’t gone there, I wouldn’t be doing what I do now. I only had a degree in knitting before I got my Masters in Design Management so I don’t think the future was all that bright!
It was a chaotic, crazy, creative, collaborative place where I am not sure I learned much from the official programme of studies but I learned everything from my fellow students and from just being right in the centre of things. And so much fun, hard work, but fun!
The RCA gave me a creative confidence that I didn’t have before. It taught me that everything was possible and that managing the creative process is as valuable as being creative in the first place.
A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to go down to see the Work in Progress Show for the first year MA students. My youngest son; Miles is studying Architecture there now.
As I walked into the Gulbenkian Hall I felt that raw energy, the art of the possible, the buzz and the excitement. I thought it would make me feel old but quite the opposite. It made me recognise that I have so very much to be grateful for and being part of GenerationRCA is part of that. Now I can watch Miles as he benefits from the same experience, albeit his own, unique version.
I wonder what the future has in store for him?
See the conversation in full by visiting #GenerationRCA and @RCA
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