Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A New York Times best-selling author and advocate for creativity will speak at the Rhode Island School of Design's 126th commencement, which begins at 10 a.m. May 30.

Sir Ken Robinson, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for his achievements as a writer and arts advocate, is considered one of the world's leading thinkers on creativity. His concepts about adapting creativity to the ever-shifting global economy have been embraced by education, government and business leaders, as well as by the arts world. From 1989-2001, Robinson taught at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, and now lives in Los Angeles.

Robinson will receive an honorary doctor of fine arts degree, along with four other "exceptional individuals who have made groundbreaking contributions to the world of art and design," according to a RISD statement:

Roger Mandle, president of RISD from 1993-2008, is now executive director of the Qatar Museums Authority, where he is leading an initiative to establish new cultural institutions in Doha. While RISD's president, Mandle oversaw a $105 million capital campaign; a major addition to the RISD Museum, the Chace Center; and a living/learning center that nearly doubled campus housing for students.

Caterina Flake, co-founder of Flickr, an online photo-sharing Web site, made Time Magazine's list of the world's most 100 influential people. Flake, 40, now works as chief product officer at Hunch, a customized decision-making Web site that "gets smarter the more you use it."

Jonathan Ive is the senior vice president of industrial design at Apple and leads the team behind the iMac, iPod and iPhone. In 2003 he was named designer of the year by the Design Museum London and was awarded the title Royal Designer for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts.

Betty Woodman, a studio artist who works in ceramics, specializes in wall vases, jugs, pots and urns, some of which blend into the wall or enclose spaces. Woodman's work is displayed around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of Art in New York, and museums in Paris, Amsterdam and London.

RISD's colorful commencement procession begins at the First Baptist Church at 75 North Main St., and ends at South Water Street at Power Street, where an outdoor ceremony will be held. An estimated 473 undergraduates and 187 graduate students will receive their diplomas.

 Tags  Rhode Island School of Design

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