20 Years, what we have done, a lot

But nothing if we consider all we have to do

 As I already told you before Cumulus is in good shape. Ours is a very active association that keeps growing and is about to welcome onboard 17 new members during the upcoming General Meeting in Genk, an association whose events have already been scheduled until as far as 2016. Born 20 years ago, Cumulus is a vibrant and deeply human adventure led by an outstanding social network of 150 design, art and media education institutions and creative schools from all over the world.

It has now been nearly 20 years since Cumulus came to life  - we will celebrate the 20^th anniversary in Shanghai - and it has therefore undergone much change. Originally rooted in Erasmus programs and the will to promote student mobility all over the European territory, Cumulus has now become global, thus mirroring the world surrounding it. The way we understand the world, the way we teach design, the social and economical paradigms have greatly evolved over the past 20 years. Schools no longer focus upon the same issues. Guided by intuition and relevant premonition the members of the Board naturally came to address the evolution of Cumulus: who will we be, where will be, what will we do in 5 or 10 years? The reflection initiated by the Cumulus Board in Saint-Etienne in 2008 and then furthered in Istanbul during a 5-day seminar - 2009 - is still and perpetually a work-in-progress. Like all strategic thought processes, the work we have undertaken here is totally devoid of deterministic considerations. This enabled us to point out our network's assets and weaknesses, to define its role and duty, to determine what could be done and what couldn't.

I would like to say how grateful I am to the Aalto University in Helsinki who has been partially financing us, and to the skills and dedication of Eija Salmi, Justyna Maciak and all other members of the university who have in some way contributed to our initiative. I would also like to thank all the Board members who have never faltered in their effort to keep improving Cumulus, and all the active members of our network, who have always been thrilled to promote our activities.

We have done a lot during those three past year to promote the network and improve the quality of our exchanges, but the project is so monumental that we probably will have to do a lot more. The evolutions of the contexts has deeply modified education in Design, Art and media recently, and more and more, we need to confront our best practices to adapt our models to the huge upheavals we are facing. I already had the occasion to develop the evolution of world contexts: globalization, sustainable development, internet and social networks, and design which has become a management-oriented discipline with a strategic role in economy. Otherwise, the professionalization of our students and the development of the research in our institutions will be some of the most important challenges.

The strategic triumvirate: Research - Education - Business

From now on the development of our institutions will revolve around a fruitful triumvirate "Research - Education - Business." To gain recognition on a worldwide scale, design institutions will have to balance the tricky relationship between these three pillars, and this they will achieve by making design education into a true interface between knowledge production, social and economic requirements and the recognition gained through research. Let us note that design is by essence prone to favor the emergence of such an interface in that it aims to put knowledge at the service of usage and society.

What is Cumulus' ambition ?

Cumulus is a platform for exchange: it has no policy to impose what may be good design, good models of development for our institutions, good programs, good research or good development...it imposes nothing but proposes to all to learn from others.  Cumulus is developing through an economic model that is not a model of consumption, it is a model based on the contribution of all.

The ambition is clear: it is to become the most important « platform for exchange » in Design education in the world.

Work to carry out/ Future Plans

Develop lobbying strategies with regards to international institutions

We have done a lot during those three past years to increase our lobbying activities and to represent Cumulus. Following the signature of the Cumulus Kyoto declaration, supported by a number of international organizations in design, we have signed agreements with AIGA and EIDD. We have been present in Memphis (Aiga event), Seoul (IASDR event), Beijing (Icograda event), in Vilnius, in Lisbone, in Rome, and we are now definitely a force to be reckovxned with concerning design education matters.

We are being asked more and more to participate in international events in the field of design. We think that this participation will give us greater political recognition with regards to large international institutions.

This recognition is one of our main objectives and we have to go further to implement all our partnerships to increase our recognition.

Increasing the visibility of Cumulus' activities

Cumulus produces a lot and we are not visible enough, especially on the Internet. The conferences which are published after each meeting need to be more visible and we need to promote the work of our sub-groups. We have asked the General Secretary to rework the website to make it possible for us to circulate information gathered during our events.

The findings of the groups« Sustainability », « Cure » and « digital culture »... justify the activities we organize to share knowledge.  It is imperative that our work is seen and recognized. It is an opportunity to promote our activities and to join together with other partners interested in similar topics.

The recent creation of the « Facebook community » should create a virtuous dynamic of exchange between us and multiply the occasion to exchange.

Promote the emergence of new sub-groups

We need to cross-pollinate the work of Cumulus with each of its members, in particular, by creating other subjects which could make up a sub-group. Whether it be material libraries, employment or dual degrees, it is an opportunity for Cumulus to go a step further by offering topics which are of international relevance. 

Promoting the « Cumulus Kyoto declaration » and the « Green Award »

By signing this declaration, we have gained international recognition for Cumulus. With the organization of the « Green Award » we will extend our work to determine the most effective action to take in terms of sustainable development. The first « green award » has been given in Melbourne, the next step will be in Shanghai and then, it should lead us to a very ambitious project on this issue. The « Cumulus green » has vocation to become the most important award about sustainable issues in the world.

Promoting research

It is not about imposing our ideas or adopting a political stance as regards design or what research into design is or is not. Nevertheless, we are aware that research is paramount for the recognition of creative disciplines by academic institutions. Cumulus must bring to light the different approaches and initiatives of its members in terms of knowledge production.

Promoting the network in areas where we are under-represented

Due to the diversity of nationalities of the members on its board, Cumulus is represented on an international scale and has a wide sphere of influence. However, we need to go even further. We are particularly under-represented in the USA, South America and Africa.

We have recently done important work to promote Cumulus in the US. The partnership with AIGA should ease this promotion.

Promoting the development of Cumulus members

Each meeting is an opportunity to promote our host institutions. We can also promote other events either by participating in them or by promoting them on our website, which should constitute an international database for all news relating to « design education ».

Promoting the students' work

Our participation in many competitions, the organization of workshops under the umbrella of Cumulus, as Credo for example, the "Cumulus green" shows how we are active in this domain. We are working on global "net platform" with Aiga to promote the work of the students. Nevertheless, we still have a lot to do to go further. More generally, we must encourage the members who host conferences to organize expositions of students' work.

Promoting employment and professionalization :

This issue has not yet been addressed by Cumulus, although it is at the heart of all the institutes' concerns. We are preparing a book "design matters...designers too", which will the first one of a "Cumulus think tank" about professionalization.

Offering new services via our website :

Job offers, conference dates, on-line lessons, students' work, international competitions...the list goes on. This project will be carried out in partnership with the multimedia services of the University of Helsinki.

Conclusion

The activity of Cumulus is impressive considering its modest structure. The operational budget is limited to the contributions of its members. I must thank the General Secretary in Helsinki, who has done remarkable job. Thanks are also due to the members of the Board, who have given much time and energy towards the development of the association. We are all frustrated at times not to be able to go faster, stronger, farther. Nevertheless, we can be proud of what we accomplish together. Bravo to all the members, researchers, professors, and students who contributed their work and their ideas. We are participating in a work of collective intelligence from which will emerge a new political economy. At a time when a consumer society no longer satisfies the individuals that we are, the culture of industrial creation will play a key role in this new economy of contribution. Design may have the responsibility to bring about a new capitalism that is more ethical, to which Cumulus has the responsibility to contribute. This is our responsibility, this is why I want to be involved, to be candidate for the Board and the Presidency, to continue on what we have already undertaken, because we have to go faster, stronger, farther.

Unfortunately, the results of the summit in Copenhaguen are very disappointing...but, we must be full of hopes because the mission of the designers is, as Sisyphe, to build and re-build the world. And as educators, we have a responsibility of doing so.