In 1967, when Tatsuo Yoshida’s anime Mach GoGoGo (better known to us as Speed Racer) hit television, kids went wild. Especially this kid, as the sound of roaring engines filled the room and that infamous jingle began, “Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer. He’s a demon on wheels.” It was the perfect show, at the perfect time, as I was already a race car fanatic at the age of 9; the adrenaline rush of racing having subconsciously wormed its way into my psyche. This grip held me as I realized my racing dream years later when I too would begin racing; a demon on wheels.

Few designers can ever claim they achieved Nirvana with their work – that state of perfect happiness – the idyllic place where a creation is not only aesthetic, but stands the test of time.

What’s going on? According to recent studies, school field trips to museums have dropped precipitously across America. Financial constraints and a pervasive thought process that such student trips are an unnecessary frill, have eroded our children’s exposure to art, culture, and history. Such trips are no longer seen as enrichment, but divvied out as reward programs. Should we be concerned?