This past winter, Jeevak was invited to speak at SHIFT’s Space Camp, held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville, Alabama. The four-day camp, powered by Aether gave design professionals together with students the opportunity to stretch their problem-solving skills in a setting unfamiliar to most. This speaking opportunity was one of Jeevak’s favorites. Standing together underneath a Saturn V Rocket – the largest and most powerful rocket that man has ever built – it was the perfect stage for him to emphasize our amazing opportunity as individuals and designers to further the reach of humanity.
SHIFT Camp is the brainchild of Owen Foster, John McCabe, and Tom Gattis of Aether. Each SHiFT Camp is crafted as an immersive learning experience where professionals and students are purposely set as equals. Away from the usual defining barriers like job titles, schools, nametags, and business casual clothes, students and professionals are just people using their hands, their heads, and their teamwork to solve problems together. SHiFT Camp creates an atmosphere that allows campers to take a step back and evaluate what really defines them. In turn, they often find that the identity of “designer” goes deeper and is more faceted than their initial definition.
There were about one hundred professionals and students in attendance at SHiFT’s Space Camp. Perfectly set against the backdrop of man’s exploration of space, which was deemed impossible at one time, the theme for the week was “The Reach of Humanity”. Through keynote speakers and hands-on challenges that replicated astronaut-training, campers were forced to exit their comfort zones, learn to fail positively, and reject following the crowd. Campers were challenged to think about what humanity is capable of when they reject expectations of normalcy.
Jeevak’s message continued in the theme. Already a lover of astronomy, he connected the wonder and vastness of our universe to the amazing opportunity each of us has to contribute to that grand scheme as unique individuals. “It was a perfect venue to talk about design and The Reach of Humanity,” he said, “literally underneath the Saturn V Rocket and with the Eagle Lunar Landing Module in the background.” Jeevak recapped our place as designers in the big picture starting from the beginning of time and man’s evolution, to the creation of civilization on earth, to the industrial revolution, to the emergence of Industrial Design, to our personal vocations today as industrial designers, to our unique contribution as individuals. Throughout, Jeevak illustrated that each one of us, as part of the cosmos, are charged with an urgent responsibility and role within it. He ended with a call to action for each designer there to find out what he or she has to contribute and then pursue excellence in that. The grand scheme is glorious, and each of us has a part to play.
Other highlights of the week included a certain simulation activity where campers were challenged to execute a mission on the International Space Station. They were divided into teams representing the various task forces involved in a real-time mission. The teams then worked inside replicas of the international space station and ground control to carry it out. These replicas were even equipped with adaptations of the original NASA technology! The immersive Space Camp experience continued even afterhours as campers slept in barracks of corrugated steel and bunk beds. Likewise, food that was thrown away by campers during mealtimes was weighed by a giant scale in the mess hall in keeping with the realities of stringent food conservation in a real space mission.
At SHiFT camp, everyone leaves with takeaways. For Jeevak, it was the overall intentionality that is woven through every SHiFT camp. This being his second time speaking at SHiFT, he marveled at their attention to picking venues that augment the meaning of the camp while showcasing what the country has to offer. Moreover, the cast of speakers at each camp is always impeccable. Speaking topics aren’t prescribed, but each session enriches the learning and theme of the camp. On top of that, Jeevak is always struck by the family culture that permeates every camp as a result of Owen, John, and Tom’s leadership. He says there is always an amazing personal touch and spirit of hospitality coming from the founders of the camp. Owen, John, and Tom themselves are not only present but immersed in learning alongside the students from dawn till dusk – literally. “Hats off to them,” Jeevak says, with regard to their consistency in creating great programs.
Jeevak’s message was the same message SHIFT communicates through all its endeavors. “Be the shift.” Be a shifter, a changer of things, a maker, a doer, a leader. Embrace the fact that no one has ever been or ever will be like you and leverage your own unique strengths and way of thinking to create greatness wherever life takes you. As designers and humans, let’s not forget that we are not defined by our job, our degree, or the outside expectations put on us. Let’s remember to be simply designers.