The return to face-to-face learning modality this school year was a source of excitement for many students. After years of being trapped in the virtual world and forced to go purely online in the conduct of classes the past years due to pandemic restrictions, it was a welcome development for the lockdown-weary learners.
For the University of San Carlos School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Design (USC Safad), the return to true blended learning, a combination of face-to-face and online learning modality, this semester meant more than just going back to the campus for lectures and studio activities. It also signaled the return of some best-loved academic traditions, which they sorely missed doing in-person.
One of the most eagerly anticipated activities is the annual USC Safad Design Awards and Exhibit. The event is meant to give recognition to student designers from the various programs in the School, which includes architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, advertising arts, fashion design, painting arts and cinema. It is just a fitting way to close out another busy school year, especially for these talented students.
Aptly themed “Kasaya: Igniting the Safad Spirit,” the event was held within the nest of these future design professionals and art practitioners, the students’ lounge of the Safad Building in USC Talamban Campus.
The joy and sense of accomplishment students experience from having their actual creations viewed up close and even touched for better appreciation is just unmatched. In the architecture gallery for instance, manually rendered drawings of buildings come to life within the confines of the Canvas online learning platform. Scaled models of pavilions and other spaces from architecture and interior design freshmen are always a delight to view, reflecting the creativity of these budding future architects. The actual scale of gowns and dresses made by fashion design students gives a vivid view of the future scene-stealers of the local and international runways. Outstanding thesis works from the previous semesters, including those from landscape architecture, also found their well-deserved spot in the exhibit.
Exhibit panels were converted into impromptu art galleries with beautiful paintings from the students of the Department of Fine Arts, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. Some of these paintings were sold during the three-day event.
There was a lot of creative flexing and it was just rightfully so. After all, these students spent a lot of time and even sleepless nights to complete these projects as demonstrative evidence of what they have learned from their mentors and their own research works. These future designers all deserve the limelight as they also look to inspiring future architects, interior designers, landscape architects and creative artists to join them in learning in USC Safad, face-to-face, next school year.