Going to Paris and Amsterdam Instead of Jerusalem Was a Twist of Fate That Changed Design Student Claire McGregor’s Perspective and Showed Her the Power of Design
During my past two years in college, I daydreamed about spending the summer in Jerusalem studying Arabic, riding camels and seeing the biblical sights. I had high expectations after watching friends and family attend the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies and submitted my application weeks before the deadline. After months of waiting, I was devastated at the news of the center’s closure due to the war.
Tired of me dragging my feet around the house, my mother encouraged me to apply to some different study abroad programs. I reluctantly sent the emails and was accepted into my third choice: Paris and the Tropics. I debated attending for weeks because going on that study abroad seemed to make no sense. It seemed more logical to wait a year and apply to a study abroad I really wanted to go on instead of one that seemed to fall into my lap. Despite all my doubts, I decided to do it, and I will forever be grateful that I did.
During my study abroad, we traveled all over Amsterdam and Paris studying art history and colonization. However, I learned the most impactful lessons outside of our daily lectures. I came to understand how the world affects art and how art affects the world. Art is most recognizable when it’s framed and under glass in a museum, but it exists in the the wave-made seashells on D-day beaches, the roar of a crowd cheering a gold medalist at the Olympics, the rhythm of the metro sliding to a stop or the breath-taking experience of seeing “Liberty Leading the People” at the Louvre.
To me, the meaning of art and design is versatile and its entire purpose is to capture a story. Whether it is through vivid color swatches, molded marble, music notes, pictures or words, I admire the ways in which artists of the past have mastered the art of storytelling; rather, the storytelling of art. In one museum we attended, Van Gogh’s words engraved themselves in my memory. He said, “It's only in front of the easel while painting that I feel a little of life.” I wondered, as we explored the city and culture, where do I feel “a little of life”?
I realized that I feel “a little of life” when I can see the beauty of the unique differences of those around me. Design and art are special to me because they act as a common ground between these differences. Art and design can transcend languages and cultures. We read “The Hiding Place” for our class and had the wonderful opportunity of attending the watch shop and family home in which it takes place. The book is about Corrie Ten Boom, an older woman and member of the Dutch Resistance, and her family’s experience hiding Jewish people in their home during World War II. In the book, during a time when the Netherlands was under strict German rule, Corrie’s nephew, Peter, plays the Dutch national anthem on the grand organ during church. He is arrested for his actions by Nazis. Corrie speaks of the power and unity that echoed throughout the church as everyone sang along. In the watch shop where Corrie and her family hid Jews, the guide allowed us to sing hymns as a student played the same piano Peter practiced on. The Spirit was strong as I noted the sacredness of that room where so many people had prayed together. How amazing that through those hymns I could feel connected to a Dutch woman who lived an ocean away from where I come from. How amazing that a uniquely designed experience created a common ground between myself and strangers I now call my best friends. How amazing that a war could bring unity. How amazing that Christians and Jews became family not despite, but because of a great disharmony beyond those watch shop’s walls.
I’ve learned in many of my design classes to focus on the problem instead of the solution. The cycle involves observing and understanding a problem, ideating solutions, testing them and then repeating the process towards innovation. There is no immediate perfect solution, but a constant effort devoted to iterating and improving a product to be its best. Like design, the focus of life is not finding the perfect solution, it is about navigating the problem. Paris may have not been my first choice, but through God’s design and my efforts to make the most of the trip, I was able to have a wonderful experience. I’ve gained more of an understanding of my role as co-creator with the Lord. I can design my own path with His help, constantly iterating solutions to problems and improving myself to be my best.
Reflecting back on the trip, I’ve realized the importance of why we create. Art brings connection and inspiration that makes life worth living. It tells stories that bring color and perspective to our problems. Art progresses when its creators break boundaries and have enough curiosity to try something new. Monet pioneered Impressionism by going against institutional standards and taking risks. I took a risk by going on this study abroad despite my doubts. Taking that risk brought growth and opened my mind to a different perspective of my capabilities with design and inspired a love of traveling. I hope to continue to try new experiences and embrace new culture and art throughout my life as I did on this study abroad. I hope to utilize my design skills to solve problems in the world, create connections with others and take risks in my career and life.