Class of 2020 Reflections: Producing and Pivoting Design in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Parsons’ MFA Transdisciplinary Design students were few of many whose capstone work and graduation experiences were altered when the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe. Post-commencement, nine students from the program held a roundtable to discuss the process of completing their thesis projects and their degrees virtually. The transcript for their collective conversation serves as the foundation for deeper reflection from two students who participated in the roundtable, as well as a point of departure for speculation about the role of autoethnography in design practice for other students and faculty. Roundtable participants included Parsons MFA students Anjali Bhalodia, Erica Eisenberg, Emily Franklin, Sudeshna Mahata, Heer Mehta, Nam Pham, Meghana Srinivasan, Lauren Suiter, and Ryan Westphal.