Isaac Ardis '11 likes to create. He draws up sketches for buildings, constructs class curricula, and organizes "artsy" mentoring meetings. Yet, underlying such innovation rests an expressive passion little known to the broader campus community—Ardis' infatuation with design.
Ardis' fondness for design began here at Bowdoin, where he has created his own course syllabi by enrolling in independent studies. Last spring, he analyzed pop music lyrics with Associate Professor of Music Jim McCalla, tracking the frequency of words in Billboard's Top 50 songs from 1955 to 2009. This fall, he is working with Professor of Biology Carey Phillips to develop a 3-D digital animation short on sea urchin gastrulation.
Ardis' study of the early skeletal evolution of the species allows Ardis to learn about biology in addition to computer-driven design.
"I'm modeling the very early development of a sea urchin, from the embryo onward," said Ardis. "There's a lot to think about because you're thinking in four dimensions and using both space and time. My main interest, though, is using the animation as a teaching tool to help kids learn about gastrulation via pictures, a slideshow and a video."
In addition to designing scientific curricula, Ardis organizes creative lesson plans via his mentoring group, Students Mentoring through Art (SmART). The group travels weekly to West Harpswell Elementary, where its members create one-on-one craft projects with their elementary school mentees. Ardis, a co-leader of the group, helps organize lesson plans and manages volunteers. He said he finds SmART to be a rewarding and fun experience.
"SmART is such a joyful time because we're sharing creativity with other people, especially the kids," he said. "I enjoy the creative pleasure of teaching in general. Plus, we get to do things like build sculptures out of found items. What's not awesome about that?"
Although pretty neat, constructing found item sculptures must have seemed small in comparison to his past summer in New York City.
While interning for the Brooklyn-based interior design and build firm, RA Somerby Inc., Ardis helped remodel brownstones in the firm's local neighborhood.
Such an opportunity allowed him to experience first-hand the inner workings of the design world as well as learn about running a small business.
"New York City is the most creative places on the planet," said Ardis. "And I'm fascinated with creative design. To me, design is all about being intentional and finding ways to get your message across. I was drawn to RA Somerby because it is a successful small business that involves design and entrepreneurialism, and I really like the idea of combining both."
While working for RA Somerby, Ardis ran errands on his bike and drew mock drawings for building projects. He also scheduled his own work hours and interacted with a plethora of people in the design world including contractors, interior decorators and clients.
"It was such a treat this summer to work at a design build firm," said Ardis. "It was all so real. The first day we were in the house we were working on and my boss was saying, 'Oh, the pipes can go here. The wash bin needs to be moved six inches over because that's how it's going to fit...' You could see your art building right before your eyes. It was like living the dream."
Ardis incorporates living big within his daily actions. His has made his Bowdoin career a mélange of creativity, design, and passion taking a variety of classes outside his German and math major requirements. He has also tried six new sports during his time at Bowdoin—diving, rugby, cycling, sailing, ultimate and track.
"I feel as if I have truly taken the liberal arts ideal to heart and tried to make it real," he said. "It's hard. Jumping from subject to subject, you're dealing with new material all the time and you don't have the continuity of the same people around you in your classes. That's a sign of true creativity, though; it can be a struggle with yourself and with the system."
Ardis draws upon such a philosophy for life outside Bowdoin as well.
"I take my education seriously," he said. "And I take my life seriously. I want to love my autobiography. My mom has always encouraged my sister and me to recognize what's expected and also what's possible and then to have the guts to do what's possible."
Said Ardis, "I try to live in that mindset everyday—everything is an opportunity to create something good."