AN  UNUSUAL  GRADUATION   CEREMONY  

Graduation ceremonies in Britain are generally sombre and stately occasions; I knew this one was going to be different when I got the invite: a professionally printed, folded, card containing lots of information and with a logo on the front. The invitation came from Holland and this is how they do things at the Technicological University of Delft , or at least, in the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. Forget anything you have seen before  - this has to be unique!

For one thing , instead of the scores of capped and gowned students waiting for the ten second ceremony of degree conferring , as in this country, a lone student is  in the spotlight. There is no top table of dignatories to bestow largesse. Instead, it is the Faculty Professor who initially holds the stage  with a few words in Dutch (naturally) and in English, in case there were any English speaking people present. His words explain the forthcoming procedure and welcome the audience of friends, relatives and colleagues. It is now about 10.00 am.

A hall in the university is chosen for the occasion capable of seating some hundred or more. The first thing that catches your eye is  the large screen at the end of the room illuminated by a spotlight. Round the walls are  drawings and collages done by the student during the final project. But pride of place goes to a display of figures or models representing the five disciplines of the Faculty. Consequently, everything is an integral part of the final assessment.

Although the student is to a large extent “on trial” as it were, the atmosphere is relaxed , almost festive, but a serious intent is evident. It is a curious mixture of anticipation and resignation , the student having come so far knows he/she is sure to pass , but with what grade? It must be quite an experience for the graduand either way , as it is a long day to be on show, knowing that your performance is, like your work, being adjudged. For this is what it is : a performance consisting mainly of a display of slides illustrating the work , with spoken commentary, lasting about an hour. This phase of the exposition is known as the “colloquium” because time is given for questions from the audience , which you will remember consists of academics as well as friends.

But this is only part of it : the public part. There is yet to come the “Viva” : the oral examining by University staff, held. as it were in camera., This lasts another hour or so while the guests regale themselves with conversation , walking about, eating cake, and drinking coffee.  Evaluating questions are asked of the candidate (female on this occasion) who exchanges views with her tutors. Some two weeks before the presentation candidates have to deliver a written paper of about eighty A4 pages with photographs and drawings , explaining all the processes involved ; the research, the design, the decisions made. So besides the presentation and the models this paper can be discussed in the oral where candidates have to defend what they have written. It is certainly a long time to be cross-examined , unless it is more of dialogue or symposium. Whatever be its nature , at about 12.30. pm. the culmination of some five or six years of study is reached. The assessment  of the candidate is made and a final mark out of ten is awarded.  

With great anticipation we all resume our seats. The student stands to one side as the professor assumes again centre stage to make a few remarks , and some witticisms which were double Dutch to me….I presume some allusion was made to the grade awarded and then came the big moment: the handing over of the diploma to the worthy student  (whom I should now refer to as graduate) before the assembly  - the latest M.Sc. in Industrial Design Technology of Delft University.

It seems the custom is for much rejoicing afterwards. Guests queue up to congratulate the recipient and much champagne is imbibed. Presented flowers are collected along with the collages and proudly borne away. The five models made by the student are retained by the Faculty for the edification of future students. A nice  gesture  by the University and a fitting end to all the years of hard work by the student.

There is no Bachelor Degree awarded – in this particular Faculty at least. A first degree is called an M.Sc. (not unknown in Britain). However the basic course is longer than most in this country, (i.e. UK)   being commonly five or six years. 

The Dutch degree ceremony (or this Faculty`s) is clearly very time consuming.  Half a day for one student! How do they do it?   By the expedient of holding degree ceremonies throughout the year.  It seems that written exams are held five times a year , so it follows that the final exam – the exposition – is five times a year also. If a score of potential graduates is to be assessed it will necessitate a score of days , spread over the year. I am unclear how far students are accommodated in this process:  how much their preferences for dates are taken into account. Each  student has different ideas how best to present the final project. Some have slides, spot lights, music, recordings – and some do not. The “Presentation” is entirely up to the  individual. There is a desire to be different, if at all possible. Among other things , of great importance, is the stance of the protagonist, the graduate herself/himself , namely the person`s physical location .

At the “Display System”  (as it is called) which I saw , the student was to one side standing in what I could best describe as a Punch and Judy box, so that only the head and shoulders were visible to the audience. A spot light illuminated but did not dazzle the speaker. As the occasion demanded , she (the student) stepped out from behind the box to draw attention to something of particular significance with a pointer. The voice was at all times clearly audible.

Apparently, this device was an innovation (among the Presentations) . This particular student had wished to do something unusual, and in this she succeeded  whereby the slides and models were at all times clearly visible , the person was unobtrusive  (but likewise visible) and the commentary and highlighting coherent. In addition of course the set-up had the charm of novelty.

Hence the logo on the invitation : “I  O  in de kast”, which for those with little Dutch means a  (presentation) of “Industrial Design (Ontwerpen) in the cupboard  (kast).

Every year students have to do about fifteen subjects (theoretical and practical). Either they are exams (five times a year) or design exercises where models and papers are assessed. To continue the next year they have to gain a certain percentage in those subjects. Then once all the compulsory subjects are finished together with the chosen graded ones they are allowed to start their final project. They then look for staff members as mentors and a subject of their own interest. Then they start and each month they meet and discuss progress. At the beginning of the project students have to make a timetable with approximately the date they want to finish it. They are allowed to change this date if they and their professor think they need more time to achieve a good result. Then six weeks before the “big day” , the team meets for the last time and the decision is made as to whether the student is ready. Having received the green light the student finishes the prototype or model and the paper which has to be delivered to the team. The student then prepares the presentation . The mark he or she gets for this project is the graduation mark and if all the grades of years before are over a certain average , students can pass cum laude.

It was an enjoyable occasion . Thanks must go to the support of fellow students, past and present, the Faculty for having  such a unique system and not least the graduand for her imaginative and confident approach to the event.

Finally a word about the five designs  or “models”  made by the student.

Each model (about 18” high) is chosen to represent the five main themes or disciplines of the Faculty , as the student interprets them. (It must be stressed that not all graduates of the Faculty have the same approach to the final day`s display. It so happens that the ceremony I witnessed was particularly instructive with regard to the themes of study because of the nature of the artefacts.  .

One model was akin to a tower made  (or coated) with velvet, consisting of several opening doors . This was interpreted – explained as the theme of ERGONOMICS: the science of products (or production) in relation to humanity (or the human race).

Another model was a representation of a metal stand – a box-like shape, with what could be described as pendulum-like objects , watch-chains so to speak, hanging from it as if from the cross-bar of a pair of goal posts. This represented the theme of CONSTRUCTION   and the importance of the science   of mechanics thereto.

Another was the  figure of a human female representing a fertility goddess; the torso at least. Colour, shape. form, and size were all very important here. This represented the theme of  AESTHETICS, and its primacy in modern thought.

A fourth was in the shape of a hot air balloon ; burgeoning from below, illustrating the concept of the principle  “from small acorns….”  This represented the theme of ECONOMICS or marketing  and so laid stress on knowing the market, the firm`s targets , and its products.  

          The fifth was a factory , illustrating  the industrial and industrious aspects of   design at the Faculty in general. Television screens and interactive computer devices give more information about the Faculty and their programmes. The wheels illustrate the design process as students are taught in Delft. 

© A.B. Finlay Ph.D