Between August 4 and 6, 2014, Natura and the MIT Media Lab held a Hackathon aimed at answering the following question: “How can technology connect the product to the virtual environment to enhance the Natura consumer experience?”. During the Hackathon, two Brazilian participants were selected to develop their projects at the Media Lab, MIT, one of the world's leading centers for innovation, design, science, and technology, with scholarships funded by Natura.
The scholarship recipients, Isa Sobrinho and Caroline Rozendo, shared a bit about the beginning of this experience. Check out the interview!
Natura Campus: The audience of Natura Campus would like to get to know you better!
Isa: My name is Isa Sobrinho, I am a graphic design student at UNIFACS in Salvador-BA. I have very recent experience in the field, particularly in IT, which was extensively explored during the Hackathon. I am equally excited and surprised to be here, but I believe I am the kind of person who will try my best to understand and absorb what I can until I have more clarity on how I can be solidly useful. I like changes; I think I can say that with some certainty, and I am a bit of a nerd.
Caroline: I have been working with web design and data visualization for several years, and for some time I started thinking about combining my knowledge in programming, design, and communication and began exploring how to merge the material world with the digital. I am a Design student at USP. This is my second degree, as I already have a diploma in Communication, also from USP. I like to experiment with different skills, and I am always looking to learn something new... It’s a bit nerdy, isn’t it? (laughs) But it’s true, learning new things is a motivation and a joy for me, even if it’s just to cook different foods or make a sculpture. I want to learn a little bit of everything. My personality is calm, yet curious and questioning. But I try to never be aggressive in my inquiries; I care a lot about what people think and feel.
Natura Campus: Are you excited about the experience?
Isa: Excited is an understatement; everything here is incredible. Two professors and some of my colleagues from the university I came from dream of building environments like this back home. It’s clear that it is an open space where everyone is interested in sharing and creating knowledge in its various forms. The courses are interdependent, and there is indeed an amazing movement of multidisciplinary interaction! This is absolutely sensational. It feels like they are pushing us to create, to think... Everything here breathes ideas. I am truly amazed.
Caroline: It’s a very good experience; I am quite excited. For many years I wanted to go to the Media Lab, and I imagined that I would need to have a genius-level resume. After the Hackathon, I realized that what the Media Lab looks for are people with a broad spectrum of knowledge, not necessarily specialists in one area. People who can navigate between technology, design, communication, and art. This gave me more self-confidence! It also helps that we are discovering many new and intriguing things. For example, I saw snow up close for the first time in January. Shortly after, a snowstorm came that was initially frightening, but we survived. The city of Cambridge, where the MIT campus is located, is very pleasant and organized, even with the cold and snow.
Natura Campus: What was your first impression when visiting the MIT Media Lab?
Isa: My first impression was that no matter how much I walked around, I would never be able to see all the things that were happening. I was with one of the students who showed her work and helped me clarify a bit more about how my group operates. But the truth is that the Media Lab feels like a living organism, so it is in constant adaptation. This is simultaneously frightening and curious; I feel as if I have to (and I truly believe I do) ask for permission to participate in something so abstract, functional, and beautiful.
Caroline: It’s a very open place; this surprised me! The building itself is quite interesting from an architectural standpoint, and there are many areas for researchers to interact and exchange knowledge. People have been extremely friendly, especially my advisor, Prof. Michael Bove, who is very welcoming and does what he can to make me feel comfortable. The overall impression while walking through the halls is that the routine is minimal, and people have the freedom to study and work because they enjoy what they do. It’s not an obligation.
Natura Campus: What are your expectations for the next semester?
Isa: I prefer to believe that I will give my best and hope that it will be enough.
Caroline: I imagine it will be a demanding semester, but full of possibilities. I want to take advantage of the opportunity not only to learn and work on the Natura project but also to meet people and places and expand my worldview. I hope to make good use of my time this semester and produce a lot.
Natura Campus: What do you hope to learn and experience as visiting students at MIT?
Isa: I will have to discover that throughout the semester. I hope to acquire diverse and at the same time concrete knowledge, but I don’t believe that waiting makes any difference, does it? You have to get your hands dirty, that’s all.
Caroline: I think people are starting to get tired of the digital world and returning to the physical world, but now that they have experienced the digital, they demand more from the physical experience. The world is moving towards integrating the intelligence of the digital interface with the sensory experience of the material world, and that is exactly what I want to do. For that, I will need to learn a lot about electronics and hardware, as well as digital fabrication methods.
We at Natura Campus are very happy with the start of the students' activities at the MIT Media Lab and wish for a semester full of learning, creativity, and innovation!
Want to know more about Isa and Caroline's experience? Follow our Portal! We will have more news soon.
