HBSc 2004 - Physics and Philosophy Specialist
MArch 2011 - Architecture
Jonathan Gotfryd is currently working as an established Set Designer with the Directors Guild of Canada. He graduated with a degree specializing in both Physics and Philosophy in 2004, and later pursued a Masters in Architecture and has been working within the field of Design since.
Why did you choose physics?
Upon graduating high school in 1999 from the Etobicoke School of the Arts, I chose to pursue an undergraduate degree in Physics because I sought to understand the human capacity to perceive and represent light and matter. Throughout the previous five years, I had been studying Visual Arts, which included drawing, painting, sculpture, and photography. Whatever mechanisms had been responsible for my abilities to do so, I wanted to research and understand. This included mechanical, quantum, and nonlinear physics, as well as a trove of electives in astronomy, quantum field theory, and lasers. As my undergraduate degree continued, however, I grew to recognize Philosophy too, as another, related discipline for understanding our perception of light and matter. So, I delved into the philosophy of physics, studying various conceptions of spacetime, contemporary philosophies of human and artificial intelligence, as well as language use and meaningful appropriation, especially as they relate to the mathematics, I had been exposed to within the Physics Department. In the end, I could not choose between Physics or Philosophy, and so I completed my degree after an extra year to specialize in both.
What are you doing now?
After graduating from the Physics Department, I completed a Master of Architecture at the University of Toronto, and since then, I have been working steadily within the field of design. Filling positions like Research Technician, Systems Designer, and Set Designer; I have been drafting and helping bring to fruition the vision of renowned architects, artists, art directors, production designers and film makers. Currently, I am between projects, working as an established Set Designer with the Directors Guild of Canada.
How has physics helped you in this career?
Contemporary design has come to include a great deal of computation. As numerically controlled devices become more prevalent in fabrication and even proposal phases of any design work, a deep understanding of geometry, and the physics behind form generation can facilitate mastery of this. My Physics degree has not only fostered an understanding of geometry but provided me with the foundational knowledge required to practice computational design.
What are your fondest memories of being a U of T Physics student?
Some of my fondest memories of being a U of T Physics student stem from the social aspects of research within the field. Students with varying backgrounds, genders, and interests come to U of T for its renowned programs, and within Physics, there is a shared longing for integrative knowledge that encouraged me and my colleagues to look beyond our differences. I chose physics to understand the human capacity to perceive and represent light and matter. I enjoyed it at U of T because I could collaborate with so many different people.
The first image is a drawing that Jonathan Gotfryd made for See: Season 3, and the second photo shows a Build on Location.
CREDITS: