EDITORIAL

Collectively

This year’s exhibition graphic of topographic islands evokes the Odyssey journey and represents the three disciplines of the School; architecture, design and planning, showcased together for the first time in several years. They evoke the mountains students climb in each course and respective discipline as they develop knowledge and build resilience; they symbolise the importance of cross-fertilisation of ideas between the different fields; and they invite us to share the unique journey of this year’s graduating students.

For us all, the year has undoubtably been a journey, with unexpected challenges and revelations. What will we take away from these experiences? In the fields of design and the built environment, in education, as in practice, we have seen how peer-to-peer learning and collaboration enrich how we question, challenge and innovate. Conceiving and producing this year’s Graduation Exhibition has been a collaborative effort like never before. Online and largely unknown to one another, architecture and design students from five courses came together in an elective to devise the exhibition conceptually, physically and virtually, breaking down disciplinary language barriers to share perspectives and skills. Teams of talented staff have worked to translate their vision, adapting to changing circumstances and making the physical exhibition a reality. While this catalogue may show the work of individuals – a selection of student projects from across degrees and think pieces from staff and a student – these works and ideas are enhanced and supported by friends, peers, family and tutors.

The pandemic has shown the possibility for global co-operation and the ability to make change at an unprecedented speed, it has also exposed the deep inequality imbedded in geopolitics and society close to home. These times calls for us to think collectively and act collaboratively. The student's journey has only just begun and it is exciting to think that they will be at the forefront of innovations that can make our cities and lives more sustainable, equitable, connected and rewarding.