The start of the Response_Able Futures (ResFut); MFA in Design and Health_Care program at LUCA School of Arts, Genk, was marked by a powerful, three-day Intercultural Meaning-Making Workshop. This intensive experience, facilitated by the inspiring team of Sudebi Thakurata and Probal Banerjee from Depicentre Consulting, challenged the new international cohort to look beyond conventional design practices and explore the profound, culturally-shaped meaning of 'care.'
Unlocking the 'Mystery Jar' of Human Experience
The highly anticipated program launch brought together students from over 16 nations, establishing a dynamic and globally diverse learning environment. The workshop's methodologies were designed not merely to introduce concepts, but to facilitate deep self-reflection and vulnerability. Through playful yet profound exercises that ranged from performing (and questioning) cultural norms to sharing meals and objects from home, students were encouraged to "unfold a hidden memory" and connect on a fundamentally human level. As one student reflected, the experience revealed that "care is not just an act, but a way of being."
The exercises highlighted how culture profoundly shapes our understanding of care. A simple gesture or the meaning of words like 'care' (such as cuidar in Mexican Spanish or jôtno in Bangla, meaning 'attention and looking after') was shown to vary, yet ultimately converge on a universal language of well-being and empathy. This realization is foundational to the ResFut mission, which seeks to apply design thinking to complex health and societal challenges across diverse global contexts.
Food, Fellowship, and the Future of Design
The transformative power of the workshop centered on breaking down initial barriers. Teamwork activities, which saw designers collaborating with fellow students from around the globe, reinforced the idea that diversity is a powerful asset. It is an opportunity to learn from one another and "build something unique."
One of the most impactful segments, 'Stories of Objects,' became an extended moment of shared honesty and deep listening, demonstrating that students are connected by a shared sensitivity and "the desire to project care." The reflection on the cohort’s collective responsibility was clear: to leverage their emerging design power to give back to society, focusing on solutions that are not only practical but also genuinely mindful of different cultures and human needs.
As the cohort begins its journey across three continents, this initial intensive phase in Genk has set the ethical and empathetic baseline for two years of transformative work. It has firmly established the program’s commitment to avoiding assumptions, embracing cultural nuance, and prioritizing the human element in the pursuit of Respons_Able Futures.
