In the »Design Probes« project Philips is exploring future applications for technology that are not just an enhancement of the status quo but rather tries to incorporate completely new ways of thinking. Philips understands the programme as a »far-future« research that analyzes possible changes in the social and economic situations and gives design proposals that should stimulate a debate. »Deliverables range from scenarios and narratives to the creation of experience prototypes and IP fortressing«, says Philips. One question always behind is if we want or need a certain thing  (invention, technology etc.) or not.

One of the »Design Probes projects is »VIBE«, a sensor that tracks emotions from its wearer and is able to convert it into colours Continue Reading »

I just came across a magnificent (and stylish) interdisciplinary sustainable design practice, by the name of More Associates. Using “design and research process to address social and environmental challenges” in practical ways. More “bring together sustainable design with emerging technologies and social innovation.” Continue Reading »

is the name of the website where you can find the creative community of plebsville. Well, yes – another community, as if there weren’t enough in the vast web 2.0 universe.But imagine you register for the community and three days later a person called HUGO rings to call your attention to a competition. That sounds special, doesn’t it? But exactly this is what happend to ROGER when he registered at designers are wankers! So needless to say that this is quite an outstanding personal approach.What you can find at plebsville is a collection of now 1,730 people that have the possibility to show their portfolio or get into contact with the other 1,729 creatives. The profile attributes have quite a playful approach and ask for things like:

Hardest lesson to learn, still to learn, home truths, inspiration, most fruitfull collaboration, future plans are for, style of approach that works and many more.

This leaves enough space for a not too tight and open-for-interpretation description that won’t get too serious and revealing.But why are designers wankers? It’s the name of  Continue Reading »

DesignForFuture is a Portuguese based sustainable design platform. Offering diverse information about international sustainable design projects and existing networks, the network aims “to stimulate an exchange of ideas; interact with interested designers, partners and companies.” DesignForfuture is a portal exploring the relation between design projects that contemplate environmental and social impact in all stages of their development.

A sustainable lifestyle needs an innovative interpretation of goods and values. For more meaningful, breakthrough visions of the future.

The 2007, second edition of DesignForFuture, entitled “Recycling of Sense”, featured a collection of interesting and creative products that make use of common goods in an uncommon way. The chosen objects were explained to “not necessarily have to be more effective and green through their production or material choice” but do “stimulate new thought and call for more intimacy in material culture.”

Earlier this year, the UK capital exploded with a week of events for the London Design Festival 2007. Now in its fifth year, The London Design Festival has become a fixture on the international creative calendar. With over 200 projects and audiences of 300,000 it has quickly become one of the most important design events in the world. I spent the September Festival week flying across the UK capital to cover some of key events. This year, the London Festival was proud to establish a whole list of socially conscious and green focused events and debates:

“You cannot fail to have noticed that everyone has gone eco. From politics to design, the environment is at the top of everyone’s agenda.Of course eco or sustainable design is nothing new – designers have always returned to the theme of reusing and redesigning products. However, sustainability is now being embraced more widely as it soars up the political agenda, and is a major theme running through this year’s London Design Festival (15-25 September).”

On day one, as I sat outside the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank, I watched 150 blocks of black pre-cast concrete of Zaha Hadid’s sculpture “Super Fluid Tiling” be constructed, polished and curated. Following which, it was off into the press office and then a look at Deptford Design Challenge and of course the Swarovski Installations. Continue Reading »

Early this year, a Design Week article commented on the UK Government Report; Sustainable Schools: Are we building schools for the future?, highlighting an important area of research for all undergraduate designers, teachers and practising designers to take note of; The Future of Design Education.

The UK Design Council CEO David Kester, Hilary Cottam of Participle and John Sorrell of The Sorrell Foundation, were among those giving evidence for the House of Commons Education and Skills Committee report Sustainable Schools, discussing the Building Schools for the Future programme.

With plans to rebuild and refurbish all secondary schools across England over the next fifteen years it is argued that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity should encompass good design and good design practice to thoroughly embrace a future of better education and educational environments. Parallel to the development plans across secondary education, the design sector is under reform with concerns on the skills designers should be equipped with when they join the industry. The High Level Skills for Higher Value report addresses how the design industry is on the cusp of radical change, which although has been apparent in my eyes for many years, is a promising statement to come from the UK Government. Continue Reading »

“How do you use design to bring new order to your home or work environment (e.g. sorting socks, herding kittens, container stories)? Have you used design to enhance your economic, expressive, or social opportunities (e.g. self-branding, creative campaigning, the new corner store)?”

Graphic Designers are sure to know of Ellen Lupton’s well-known design publication Design Writing Research, however I would like to profile her project with twin sister Julia Lupton, called Design Your Life. DYL exemplifies the power of design thinking, when applied and associated to lifestyle, social situations and everyday life. This is a great project and resource from two key design voices of today. Continue Reading »

Design supersite Core77 recently reported that the RISD announced the release of HI-RES, a publication featuring student work that calls attention to key social and environmental issues.

“High-Res” is a term used to describe an image that has been brought into greater clarity — higher resolution. How can we bring the future into HI RES? The works featured here demonstrate the enormous potential artists and designers have to radically re-envision the world around us. First presented as an exhibition and publication in spring 2007, HI RES highlights RISD student work that focuses on the opportunities and imperatives in our changing world. These are the images, objects, structures and experiences that will move the world towards a better, more sustainable future.

When it comes to visually communicating Environmental and Ecological issues, Graphic Designers and Illustrators are essentially key to this process. London based illustrator Jody Barton is just one example of the power of Visual Communication, having produced a plethora of bold typographic illustrations, focused toward Environmental crisis. Using techniques of hand drawn typography Barton’s illustration’s scream thoughts and stereotypes of man’s preconceived ideas.

Educated in London at Camberwell College of Arts and The Royal College of Art, Jody has extensive experience working in animation and sound, with work featuring in the likes of Dazed And Confused, Vice, The Face, D&AD, Pantheon Architecture, Creative Review, Intersection, Viewpoint, WAD, and Wonderland Magazines.

Ben Terrett of UK based design studio, The Design Conspiracy and founder of Noisy Decent Graphics, recently posted an interesting article covering his recent talk at Campaign Magazine’s Applied Green Conference. Terrett discusses his thoughts on how valuable design thinking is and should be, in tackling the world’s greatest challenges.

Someone with a designer’s brain can spot these problems and can go about solving them. Someone with a designer’s brain can be invaluable in the fight against climate change. I keep having this thought that the best design minds in history would see Climate Change as amazing opportunity. Don’t you get the feeling Da Vinci could have knocked up an alternative fuel in his spare time? (Ben Terrett)

Marvellous commentary Ben. I really wish, as a design thinker, I was used better. Read the full article here.