The Magic Skoolie exists at the intersection of responsible design and creative space-making. I’ve converted this former 65-passenger, yellow school bus into a mobile living-space conducive to an expressive, sustainable lifestyle on the road. The Magic Skoolie is now a single-occupant, fully-outfitted dwelling, complete with areas to socialize, work, cook, eat, sleep, and bathe. The interior’s earth tones and wood textures are reminiscent of my first childhood building projects: forts in the Michigan woods. The vinyl pattern that I designed for the exterior windows upgrades and compliments the familiar bright yellow paint job. Since October, The Magic Skoolie has enabled me to collaborate and connect with others — from bus mechanics, to Craigslist sellers, to professors and mentors, to my parents. In The Magic Skoolie, a dwelling made from scratch and led by intuition, I will live creatively and sustainably. Soon, I’ll be driving the converted bus across the United States to work with nonprofits and independent farms. During these multi-month-long national journeys in The Magic Skoolie, I’ll connect creatively and emotionally with people in each place I visit, eventually building a multifaceted web of connections spanning from West to East.
