The GID Program resulted from a desire among top-level design academia in New York, London, and Tokyo to come together in a trans-national, innovation-led, educational experience, and to attract the most promising creative minds from around the world.
Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, Royal College and Imperial College in London, and Keio Media Design in Tokyo are world-renowned academic institutions, leaders in design and innovation, aiming to develop skills in applying creative methods to complex problems in real-world constraints. It is a partnership between institutions with complementary expertise in art, design, engineering, technology, and business, and with the added advantage of locations rich in culture, design, and lifestyle. Students gain a unique perspective by living and studying on three different continents, immersed in three different cultures, amidst three of the largest economies in the world. The GID program aims to create catalysts for positive change in a globalized society.
“I came to Pratt because I wanted to find deeper meaning in the things I was designing. When the opportunity came up to do GID, it was a no-brainer for me, because I wanted to create the contacts and experiences necessary to make myself a viable candidate for international opportunities.”
Kieth Keith Kirkland (Pratt MID/GID ’15)
Embracing diversity though collaboration across disciplines and cultures is a key element of the program ethos, including dealing with conflicts, resulting in essential skills for global leaders.
“After spending my first semester at Pratt, I realized how much I enjoyed being amongst different cultures and interacting in new environments. I was ready for more. The experience of GID was nothing like I expected and like nothing else I’d ever been through. Along the way, I learned not only about design but also about myself, both as a designer and a citizen of the world. I learned many new skills, but most importantly I found my own voice in new and diverse areas of design.”
Aldana Ferrer Garcia (Pratt MID/GID ’15)
International Project: Tools for Global Collaboration
In addition to courses at their local host centers, all students participate in the International Project. It is central to the mission of GID and draws on the unique benefits of a three-location partnership. Its themes are complex, locally and globally relevant; and the project fosters teamwork across geographical boundaries, allowing students to develop skills for global collaboration.
“The first year of Pratt really expanded my design vocabulary. Exploring the foundations of color, 3D form, and really learning to think about how to design and generate ideas were major take-aways. My experiences in the GID program shaped my thesis at Pratt in ways that I could never have imagined. Exploring food waste in Japan for our International Project ultimately led to designing a series of agricultural products for kids entitled “Designed to Grow”. My time in the GID program has deeply informed both my life and my work.“
Samantha Katehis (Pratt MID/GID ’15)