What a whirlwind of a weekend on the college tour. Here are a few of the highlights.

1) In the office of Michael Glaser who created the Product Design department at Drexel’s Westphal College of Arts and Design is this: TALK—ACTION = SHIT.

2) Tesla was currently working with the Engineering and Industrial Design students at Philadelphia University on an enclosed motorcycle design.

3) The Leger show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art was truly remarkable. And getting to see the Duchamp exhibit was amazing. I’ve waited a long time to see these pieces. And Rauschenberg, oh how I love his work.

4) I highly recommend bringing an adult friend with you on college visits with teenagers. Our friend, Jen Wool was a lifesaver. She helped us shift subjects, got me to back off Ellis sometimes, lighten things up and eat really good cheese.

5) Visiting colleges now is simply night and day from when I went. There is so much real world experience, travel, collaboration and inspiration when the schools describe how they operate. I know they are putting their best foot forward as you would expect, but there is a noticeable shift in tone to critical thinking and adult life preparedness. I appreciate that the Millennials have gotten a very bad rap and the school’s aptly re-frame their characteristics in smart ways—confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change. This is how 2010 PEW research for demographic trends defines this generation (see below). Not a bad way in my estimation to be trending.

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/02/24/millennials-confident-connected-open-to-change/