It is hard to believe that we have already been in Milan for a week. I’m surprised at how quickly and easily we all have adapted to the European city life and survived our jam-packed days. Before I discuss my sketchbook, I want to make note of a few impressions I have had during these past 7 days.
It is hard to ignore the high level of sophistication in Milan. As a fashion admirer, I have so enjoyed observing the style of the women and men here. It seems that even the most “casual” outfits are carefully planned and always polished. The street styles often exhibit neutral colors, elegant lines, towering heels, and sleek hair. I spotted my favorite outfit so far on a women ordering a cappuccino while wearing striped palazzo pants, a white tank, and a pair of dainty black lace-up stilettos. One can tell that this is a design-oriented city in every sense.
Another observation I have made is that Italians are patient and kind. I’m trying hard to learn the language both with Duolingo and through the teachings of our linguist, Ilaria, but some phrases are not sticking. I am so grateful that the people I have encountered make a sincere effort to speak English or are kindly receptive to my broken Italian. Hopefully one day I will master this beautiful language so that I can come back to visit or live.
Even coming from New York, the U.S mecca of public transportation, I have been absolutely blown away by how clean, reliable, and navigable the public transportation in Milan is. The options are endless! The metro, train, bus, and tram systems have given me immense confidence in terms of getting out and exploring the city. I’m beginning to think it would be nearly impossible to get lost in the subway because it is so user-friendly.
The convergence of all of these impressions have made for some curious sketchbook content. I am still deciding what topic I will ultimately focus the whole book upon but I have taken some time to explore a few options. Originally, I was thinking that I would focus on the design of chairs throughout the city because I figured I would have lots of content and be able to explore some design history aspects. Our visit to the Musei Italiani provided some great forms to experiment with. However, since I am not truly interested in furniture design, I figured branding, typography, signage, or wayfinding would be a better path for me since I have experience with researching and creating within these facets of design. My week one sketchbook reflects those explorations. We shall see what next week brings!
