The Language of Design Imperialism

A key point of failure in today's global design landscape lies precisely in the jargon — we need to invent new ways of writing, talking and thinking about concepts of "humanitarian design."
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PHOTO BY GREG CONSTANTINE

Nubians Then and Now

Greg Constantine, Nubian Homes in Kibera, July 2010.
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ERNEST BECK

Bellagio Museum Symposium: Abstract

Reasons Not to Be Pretty: A Symposium on Design, Social Change and the "Museum" was held in April 2010 at Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center in Italy. Here, a summary of the final report on this meeting, which was sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and organized by Winterhouse Institute.
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WILLIAM DRENTTEL, JULIE LASKY

Reasons Not to Be Pretty: Symposium on Design, Social Change and the "Museum"

In April, 2010, 22 designers, historians, curators, educators and journalists met at Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center on Lake Como, in Italy, to discuss the museum's role in the 21st century in relation to design for social change. Participants from cultural institutions in 11 countries engaged in a far-ranging and illuminating conversation. Here, a report on this symposium sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and organized by Winterhouse Institute.
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HELEN WALTERS

Next: Innovation Tools & Trends Rockefeller Foundation's Push Toward Design and Innovation

This report following the Aspen Design Summit interviews Antony Bugg-Levine, managing director of the Rockefeller Foundation. "Success for us is not a few interesting projects done by Rockefeller and its grantees, but insights that will inform how the philanthropic sector takes advantage of these processes."
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HELEN WALTERS

Inside the Design Thinking Process

The Aspen Design Summit brought together 60 top executives to apply design thinking to large social problems. This report is reprinted on Change Observer courtesy of the author and Bloomberg Businessweek.
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JEN ROOS

Cup of Heroes

In the settlement called Khayelitsha, more than 1 million South Africans still struggle against apartheid-induced poverty. The townships are the true heartland of South African soccer. And although new soccer fields are slowly emerging, it seems discouraging that Khayelitsha Stadium is no different from what it was in 1992 — a dusty grass patchwork with skeletal bleachers.
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ERNEST BECK

Camel Mobile Clinic Update

The latest on a system for conveying medicine to inaccessible desert regions.
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PHOTO BY PIETER HUGO

Permanent Error

Pieter Hugo, Untitled, Agbogbloshie Market, Accra, Ghana 2010.
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WILLIAM UNDERHILL

Map Kibera

In just a few months, a team of local youngsters using simple handheld GPS technology, produced an online open-source digital map of one of Africa's largest slums.
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CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE

One World Futbol

Report on One World Futbol produced by Hope Is a Game-Changer.
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UPCOMING CONFERENCE: AUGUST 14, 2010

Craigslist Foundation Boot Camp

Like its namesake company, this event was founded to harness the productive capabilities of like-minded people within individual communities. Gathers professionals, most of them from the public service or nonprofit sectors, for networking and inspiration.

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RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED

Design Driven Innovation: Changing the Rules of Competition by Radically Innovating What Things Mean
Roberto Verganti

Getting to Plan B: Breaking Through to a Better Business Model
John Mullins & Randy Komisar

A Fine Line: How Design Strategies Are Shaping the Future of Business
Hartmut Esslinger


WEEKLY EMAIL: AUGUST 05, 2010
FEATURED THIS WEEK : MARIA POPOVA The Language of Design Imperialism A key point of failure in today's global design landscape lies precisely in the jargon — we need to invent new ways of writing, talking and thinking about concepts of "humanitarian design." READ MORE
PHOTO BY GREG CONSTANTINE Nubians Then and Now Greg Constantine, Nubian Homes in Kibera, July 2010. READ MORE ERNEST BECK Bellagio Museum Symposium: Abstract Reasons Not to Be Pretty: A Symposium on Design, Social Change and the "Museum" was held in April 2010 at Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center in Italy. Here, a summary of the final report on this meeting, which was sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and organized by Winterhouse Institute. READ MORE WILLIAM DRENTTEL, JULIE LASKY Reasons Not to Be Pretty: Symposium on Design, Social Change and the "Museum" In April, 2010, 22 designers, historians, curators, educators and journalists met at Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center on Lake Como, in Italy, to discuss the museum's role in the 21st century in relation to design for social change. Participants from cultural institutions in 11 countries engaged in a far-ranging and illuminating conversation. Here, a report on this symposium sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and organized by Winterhouse Institute. READ MORE HELEN WALTERS Next: Innovation Tools & Trends Rockefeller Foundation's Push Toward Design and Innovation This report following the Aspen Design Summit interviews Antony Bugg-Levine, managing director of the Rockefeller Foundation. "Success for us is not a few interesting projects done by Rockefeller and its grantees, but insights that will inform how the philanthropic sector takes advantage of these processes." READ MORE HELEN WALTERS Inside the Design Thinking Process The Aspen Design Summit brought together 60 top executives to apply design thinking to large social problems. This report is reprinted on Change Observer courtesy of the author and Bloomberg Businessweek. READ MORE JEN ROOS Cup of Heroes In the settlement called Khayelitsha, more than 1 million South Africans still struggle against apartheid-induced poverty. The townships are the true heartland of South African soccer. And although new soccer fields are slowly emerging, it seems discouraging that Khayelitsha Stadium is no different from what it was in 1992 — a dusty grass patchwork with skeletal bleachers. READ MORE ERNEST BECK Camel Mobile Clinic Update The latest on a system for conveying medicine to inaccessible desert regions. READ MORE PHOTO BY PIETER HUGO Permanent Error Pieter Hugo, Untitled, Agbogbloshie Market, Accra, Ghana 2010. READ MORE WILLIAM UNDERHILL Map Kibera In just a few months, a team of local youngsters using simple handheld GPS technology, produced an online open-source digital map of one of Africa's largest slums. READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE One World Futbol Report on One World Futbol produced by Hope Is a Game-Changer. READ MORE UPCOMING CONFERENCE: AUGUST 14, 2010 Craigslist Foundation Boot Camp Like its namesake company, this event was founded to harness the productive capabilities of like-minded people within individual communities. Gathers professionals, most of them from the public service or nonprofit sectors, for networking and inspiration. Other Resources Academic Programs >> Competitions >> Conferences & Events >> Fellowships & Prizes >> Organizations >> Programs & Initiatives >> Publications & Websites >> Social Networks >> RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED Design Driven Innovation: Changing the Rules of Competition by Radically Innovating What Things Mean Roberto Verganti Getting to Plan B: Breaking Through to a Better Business Model John Mullins & Randy Komisar A Fine Line: How Design Strategies Are Shaping the Future of Business Hartmut Esslinger
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