Idlis for breakfast

It's starting to get real. I have less than two weeks in San Francisco before I head east for a few weeks... and then India! I picked up the book, Poor Economics by Banerjee and Duflo to give myself a little insight into the differing philosophies around global economics for the poor. This may have little to do with my actual project, but it got some great reviews and seems like a good primer for understanding today's economic and global aid landscape.

My friend, Charlie also sent me a cookbook called Mangoes & Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels Through the Great Subcontinent to help me get inspired for my trip. I flipped through and found a beautiful travelogue that documents the food history of the Indian region along with beautiful, full spread photography of different regional dishes and the people who live off of these dishes. It is perfect for me. The photos are captivating, a nice balance between the visual and the written word. I found myself paying more attention to my thoughts than the actual content. It is way more storybook than cookbook for me. There are recipes you can follow, but I kept wanting to read between the lines. I am imagining more than what is told, I am imaging the potential on each page. And I think that is the point that my friend was making.

Traveling is a release of control. Even with the structure of a job or the responsibility of work, I will be traveling. And to do it right, you have to let go. It is so easy to fall into a routine and to demand a certain amount of command over your life. There is too much going on, and out of necessity we create order from the chaos. My job demands that I master this skill, and I may have mastered it a little too much. The moments of inspiration and serendipity still happen, but I tend to recognize them less when I have been following a routine for too long.

I am also going to India, a place where I have little background and a lot to learn. There is no way I will be able to control life there the way I do here. Creating a foundation? Yea, I can probably do that, but having people follow it, no way. Flexibility and agility are key, as is building relationships with people who can help guide me through the confusion when I need it. Because I will definitely get lost a few times. And that's what I love about traveling, it can be both beautiful and messy at the same time. A true balance of extremes that when done well, will leave you a little scratched up, a little weathered, but also with a completely new perspective on life.

Idlis for breakfast? I can't wait.

Admitting ignorance

This post was going to be about the emerging best practices in social design. I was going to talk about situations designers are taught to avoid and training that is meant to enable collaboration and relationship building. Kate, one of the founders of Design Impact passed along a great link, which identifies a few guidelines for people volunteering overseas. As I read through the article, I remembered some advice a friend of mine gave me about overseas work. She told me that I will change myself more than I will change a community I am working with.

At first I was a little offended when she said this. I don't expect to change a community. I expect to collaborate with my organization to define a problem and work towards solving it. But then, I started to question what my motivations really are. Why am I pausing my life in a city that I love to travel thousands of miles to volunteer for a community that I have no prior attachment to? I could volunteer for any number of places here. What is it that I am looking for in India that I can't find in San Francisco? The answer involves some empathy, quite a bit of curiosity, a chunk of challenge and the opportunity to meet people I would never normally meet.

I recently finished some usability testing for a project I have been working on. Usability testing involves building a prototype of a design concept and testing it with consumers. Consumer research and testing are my favorite parts of the design process. I love talking with people to better understand their interests and behaviors. Everyone has their own ways of doing things. The problems and subsequent work-arounds that people build into their daily life is fascinating. These solutions highlight the ingenuity and creativity that many people have but don't think they embody. Inevitably, every research project I am on, I develop friend crushes on a few of my participants. You always meet a few people that you really resonate with or respect how they live their life. For me, it is usually people from different walks of life that I would never normally interract with.

My recent participant crush was an older asian woman who was so vocal about our prototype that she started yelling at the device. She kept telling me how she understood the system, but her mother that doesn't read english would never get it. "Why is there so much reading?" she kept saying (yelling, actually). For onlookers, it was hilarious. For me, it was an honest reaction that I was trying very hard to parse out. It was an exhausting interview, but I really liked the woman. She brought me into her world. Her gestures, her approach, her way of communicating was so different than I was used to that it was very hard to control at times, but it was this lack of control that made the session that much more valuable. I was forced to ask why way more than normal because I couldn't identify with her and couldn't interpret her non-verbal gestures.

These cues are cultural insignias, they are shared actions between members of a group that reveal personality, culture and even status. These symbols are revealing if you know their pattern. I struggled with this woman because I couldn't read her. Her behaviors weren't patterns to me, they were just outbursts and movements. I imagine this will happen more often than not in Bangalore. I will struggle through communication breakdowns, thinking something has been understood when really it hasn't. And that's fine, something to be expected, but I want to try to remember to ask why. It is something I don't typically do with my friends or acquaintances. I am not on stage for them. I let things slide instead of probing about the depth of reason.

In research, the first rule is to always ask why. It is a simple question that can guide a conversation into more revealing territory. It is not always comfortable being on the receiving end of that question, but this is where being an outsider helps. I am given more room than locals to not understand behaviors and cultural norms. This is one asset to bringing in a newbie. As long as I question things politely, it could be very insightful. Pair this culled knowledge with a cultural expert and well, that seems like a mighty powerful agent for change.

So, what is it that I am looking for, then? The reality is that I want to give back. For all the different names that social design can have, Design for development or Designing with and not for, they all have one thing in common- responsibility. I want the time to focus on a project that benefits a community, not a consumer/corporation, and want to be given the chance to take full responsibility for my actions. I want to work with people who share a common goal of change and support them however I can. I know I can do that in the states, and know I will be given opportunities to do so in the future, but this is just different.

Indian kung fu

One of the (unfounded and completely ridiculous) things I have been worrying about lately is what to do in India with all my spare time. I have been imagining myself as a lost puppy without friends, without events and without the nonsensical entertainment I am used to having fill my days. In the spirit of nonsensical thoughts, I have been imagining even more ridiculous things I could use my time to do when I get bored (yea, I know).

My list includes learning to felt, picking up an instrument, learning to tie knots and mastering kung fu. If you know me, you know that I can't stand crochet and knitting crafts. I don't have the patience and I would much rather have a power tool in hand. I want something that purrs or has the potential to bite back. Learning to felt would be super rad, but I can't imagine sitting in 90 degree humidity with felted zombie pieces across my lap. Maybe if I was moving to a Scandinavian country where winter includes tunneling through snow and stocking up on strong liquor, but this is India we are talking about. The land of the hot winds and white tigers. Yea, felting probably isn't appropriate.

Next is picking up an instrument. I have always wanted to learn bass but this is a very heavy thing to lug across customs. I can't imagine the hatred I would evoke from my new neighbors as I muddle through power chords and embarrass myself learning Strutter or Come Together. Although, I can imagine the disdain of my new friends as I seek affirmation for my deafeningly raw talent... On second thought, the recorder seems like a much more practical instrument. It's compact, light, and of the wind variety. Who doesn't love whistles?

Tying knots is completely doable! I can't imagine it taking 6 months for full mastery, so the Ashley Book of Knots is coming with me. "Every practical knot. What it looks like. Who uses it. Where it comes from and how to tie it." Yes, completely ridiculous and oh so useful for my future naval/ design career. Also, I love that the book uses hand-drawn skulls as status icons. What does it mean? The death knot? I guess I'll find out.

This leaves mastering kung fu, which is just silly. Establishing a yoga practice? Maybe. Learning to cook with Ayurvedic techniques? More possible. Kung fu in India? Not unheard of, but probably not the source I am looking for. This idea was probably seeded after a long day in front of the computer or after kicking back a few too many scotches at the bar. Because of the sordid nature of its creation, this idea will be promptly removed from the list.

But that's just it, the source of my concern. What will I do if I can't call someone at 9 to meet me for a drink to close the stomach? It's like a good piece of cheese at the end of the meal, a routine that will probably be healthy for me to break but will take some time getting used to.

I am ready, I think. As ready as I can be for something that is so undefined. It is exciting and scary and amazing all at once. One thing is certain, I will be sure to share all the lovely felted elephants with knotted leashes that I create during my stay.

Burning both ends

This has to end soon. My life has been so subsumed by work, that I have had very little time to prep for my trip. I have been squeezing in PBS documentaries about the history of India after long work days that leave me too tired for hanging out with friends. My friend Hannah came over last weekend for dinner, as she has been to Bangalore before and will be there when I arrive. Her stories about her life in India and her pictures from her last trip helped assuage the anxiety I have been having lately.

I also came across a beautiful book called Ramayana, by Sanjay Patel. Sanjay is an illustrator at Pixar that took a modern pass at the Indian fable. He simplified the story and did all the illustrations in the book. I was very impressed with his graphic style. In some ways it reminds me of Charley Harper's work, but back when Charley was doing his thing, the only medium was pen and paint. Sanjay uses well-composed patterns, differentiated line weights and color to fill the space on the page. It is impressive.

Also impressive is the story. Designers love to call themselves story tellers, and I definitely fit in that category, but Ramayana is different. It is a tale. A fable. A classic mythological story where there is good and evil. Good always prevails, but it is interlaced with temptation, deceit, love and war. The hero must rise above his fated struggle and prove his worth to himself and his supporters. It is the kind of story where you instantly fall in love with the characters, no matter how archetypical they are. I love this stuff, it is so pure and so very entertaining.

Joseph Campbell has written alot about mythology. He has pronounced that the virtues of mythology apply not only to the ancient world, but also to modern times. We are always on a journey, searching for something. We all create situations where there are clear antagonists and protagonists with defined characteristics and struggles to overcome. I find myself creating little worlds around details of my day. I am intrigued by the possibilities. What caused this event to happen? How many different outcomes can one situation have? Which is what is so interesting about this upcoming trip.

I have no idea what I am about to embark on. I am creating my own story about India from all of the available outlets I have. Ramayana has laid a foundation for design and story. I remember the tapestries in my friend Mausumi's house that illustrated other Hindu stories. I am starting to craft a vision of both modern and ancient. Which way will Bangalore lean, to the more modern and new or to the ancient and old world style? Who supports what? What is the value of each?

These are only starting points, not even necessary questions to answer. What is nice is that I now have a hook. I am beginning to dream about the possibilities of this trip. I am starting to transition into the mindset necessary to just let this experience wash over me. Slowly the pieces are starting to align, amongst the chaos of my day to day.

Starting the conversation

Hello! Welcome to Slumbering Giants, my space for thoughts, meanderings, happenings and adventures as I begin a new chapter of my life. The story begins in the beautiful and tech-obsessed city of San Francisco. I am an interaction designer working for a large design firm that has been awarded a fellowship which will take me to India for 6 months. Slumbering Giants is where I will deconstruct my thoughts, document my travels, and simply talk about my experience. Before I begin, it may help to give a little background of who I am and why this is such a satisfying opportunity for me.

For the last ten years I have been trying to get into the design for development field. I have volunteered for a variety of organizations, assisted in organizing fundraising events, made socio-economic statements through my art and even gone overseas to teach members of a budding NGO a craft that could help them develop an income. But none of it seemed exactly right. I wasn't getting the opportunities that I really wanted to do. The puzzle seemed locked. I was only finding a few of the smaller pieces while the larger, meatier opportunities remained at arms length.

All that changed a few weeks ago. I was given a fellowship by a non-profit, Design Impact, that will allow me to offer my design skills to an education non-profit in India. What that means exactly is very vague. I met the director of the Indian non-profit, Quest, in San Francisco a few weeks ago which helped my understanding of what the non-profit does, but my exact role is still a little unclear.

Quest is working to supplement the existing Indian education system, post year 8, with more relevant curriculum that can teach students life skills to help them get jobs. They are looking to technology as the conduit for inspiration as well as means of delivery for this new curriculum. There seems to be a large piece of the curriculum dedicated to life skills: teaching kids collaboration, presentation, and a rigorous approach that builds identity and confidence. So exciting! So far my role will be to assist Quest with wherever they are in this process and to help incorporate design thinking into their organization. Both of these elements seem substantial and very interesting.

Quest is located in Bangalore, one of the more modern cities in India. Oddly enough, my current company has an office there, and 2 of my coworkers will be living there for about the same amount of time I will be there. This makes the experience so much more approachable. I was applying to a variety of design fellowships before I got this one, and the ones that required a year abroad seemed so daunting. I was still applying to them, but I didn't know what I would do if I got one.

Disrupting one's life for a year seemed a lot easier when I was younger. I used to be filled with hope and idyllic dreams of how the world should be. I was naive and had a lust for adventure that gave me a courageous approach to all things new and different. Now I am a little more reserved. A little more routine and a lot choosier with where I want to spend my time. I am still hopeful, but wiser about the challenges that all dreams must confront. I haven't given up my desire to immerse myself in another culture. I want to be stimulated by new experiences and to feel the tension of two worlds learning from each other. I still believe in the power of community, but I also understand that for the most part, my community is here in the US. I am American through and through, and want to be near my friends and family. Six months is doable, but a year, 2 years... no matter what the task, it may not be for me.

What is interesting about that statement, "I am American through and through" may be the most surprising insight about where I am now and where I am about to go. America has always been a melting pot of people and ideas. It was a place where people could come to be free from indoctrination and oppression. It symbolized independence and the chance to make oneself over. Now, I don't know what it symbolizes. Everything feels watered down. America feels like the countries it used to detest. Bitter politics, intolerant communities and a system that values stodgy and inflexible corporations rather than the people that make up the communities.

India, on the other hand, is going through it's own struggles but is becoming more of the melting pot of people and ideas that America used to be known for. The government is supporting new, innovative business. The country is welcoming foreigners to the mix, to add to the growing knowledge base while trying to incentivize locals to stay and build the new India. It is embodying the characteristics that I used to use to describe my home, but adding a flair to it that is distinctively Indian. I am very excited to better understand this change and to experience the tension between the old and new India as it continues on it's current trajectory. This tension is an interesting element of the culture that can both guide and inhibit the change that India is facing.

I look forward to seeing the struggles associated with growth and the opportunities unique for this moment in time. For now, I just wait.

This seems enough for now, an epic first post to get the conversation started. As work begins to calm down, I am getting more and more excited for this new adventure. T minus 2 months. Let's do this!