WEEKLY EMAIL: AUGUST 11, 2011

FEATURED THIS WEEK : BARBARA FLANAGAN

Sleeping with the Fishes

The Brando. That’s the exclusive resort, opening next year, that will finally realize Marlon Brando’s vision of building an “ecological utopia" on Tetiaroa, the Tahitian atoll he once owned.

Or, so the developers say.

An intriguing new book has arrived just in time to turn those glamorous claims into disturbing nonsense. Ecological? Brando’s vision? Absurdly unlikely on both scores.
READ MORE

BARBARA FLANAGAN

The Dissing of Summer Lawns

One month after I’d moved to a pricey-if-modest bungalow near downtown Santa Barbara, the city sent me a water tab that was not only stiff, but also judgmental. I’d irrigated nothing but me and my household chores. What would I do during the dry half of the year?
READ MORE

LAURA WEISS

What We Can Learn from Project Runway

I view Project Runway as the literal classroom that it is, mainly because each episode provides rich professional practice lessons for designers. Season number nine premieres this evening, and I cannot wait to see the latest batch of creative projects dreamed up by the producers and the corresponding interpersonal challenges they spawn.
READ MORE

FROM OUR SPONSORS

Being sustainable has never been so profitable. See how the country's most innovative companies are improving their bottom line by staying the course on sustainability. Look into Sappi's paper mills that are setting a new standard for environmental responsibility.
Find out more about Sappi here >>
Order a copy of eQ003 >>
Download a PDF copy >>

Learn to be a design critic through SVA's D-Crit program. Design as subject matter, criticism as a literary genre and the range of tools with which to practice design criticism.
Watch videos of presentations by the Class of 2011 >>
The D-Crit Program >>
SVA Website >>

PHOTO BY JASON ORTON

London 2012

Northern Parklands, Olympic Park (2011)
READ MORE

JOHN THACKARA

Ten Ways to Redesign Design Competitions

Design and sustainability challenges can stimulate fresh thinking on intractable problems. They can pose new questions, explore new solutions and start new conversations. They can bring positive energy to bear on situations that are otherwise bogged down in endless talk.

Can — but for the most part, don't.
READ MORE

JEAN W. ROSENTHAL

Project Masiluleke: Texting and Testing to Fight HIV/AIDS in South Africa

Summary of design process that resulted in an innovative technology-based approach to curtailing HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
READ MORE

JANE MARGOLIES

My Block NYC

What if you could explore the Big Apple block by block — all 90,000 of them — through captivating videos filmed right on site? That’s the idea behind a new video-mapping website that invites residents, tourists and videographers to upload clips they’ve taken on the streets of New York to an interactive online map of the city — and lets the rest of us get in on the action.
READ MORE

NADINE BOTHA

Wheel Simple: Velokhaya Clubhouse

A suburb of Cape Town, Khayelitsha is the largest and fastest-growing semi-formal township in South Africa. Home to more than half a million residents, it offers few lifelines out of an endless sea of single-story corrugated iron shacks. The Velokhaya community road cycling and BMX hub is one of them.
READ MORE

BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Transforms designers: Educating head, heart and hands.
MFA Products of Design at the School of Visual Arts >>

Almost one billion people don't have safe and clean drinking water
Mohawk & charity: water. Helping to bring clean water to developing nations >>

A totally unvarnished and uncoated look at what goes on behind the glossy world of print production.
Off Register >>

Don't miss the chance to pivot this fall.
Pivot: AIGA Design Conference 2011 >>

CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE

Bigshot Camera

Report on a camera that children assemble to learn about science and engineering principles.
READ MORE

UPCOMING CONFERENCE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Business Innovation Factory

Philanthropic and independent organization, founded in 2004, which emphasizes implementation of new ideas, especially in the spheres of healthcare, education and energy. BIF also maintains an Innovation Story Studio with digital material from its creative community.

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


WEEKLY EMAIL: AUGUST 11, 2011
FEATURED THIS WEEK : BARBARA FLANAGAN Sleeping with the Fishes The Brando. That’s the exclusive resort, opening next year, that will finally realize Marlon Brando’s vision of building an “ecological utopia" on Tetiaroa, the Tahitian atoll he once owned. Or, so the developers say. An intriguing new book has arrived just in time to turn those glamorous claims into disturbing nonsense. Ecological? Brando’s vision? Absurdly unlikely on both scores. READ MORE
BARBARA FLANAGAN The Dissing of Summer Lawns One month after I’d moved to a pricey-if-modest bungalow near downtown Santa Barbara, the city sent me a water tab that was not only stiff, but also judgmental. I’d irrigated nothing but me and my household chores. What would I do during the dry half of the year? READ MORE LAURA WEISS What We Can Learn from Project Runway I view Project Runway as the literal classroom that it is, mainly because each episode provides rich professional practice lessons for designers. Season number nine premieres this evening, and I cannot wait to see the latest batch of creative projects dreamed up by the producers and the corresponding interpersonal challenges they spawn. READ MORE FROM OUR SPONSORS Being sustainable has never been so profitable. See how the country's most innovative companies are improving their bottom line by staying the course on sustainability. Look into Sappi's paper mills that are setting a new standard for environmental responsibility. Find out more about Sappi here >> Order a copy of eQ003 >> Download a PDF copy >> Learn to be a design critic through SVA's D-Crit program. Design as subject matter, criticism as a literary genre and the range of tools with which to practice design criticism. Watch videos of presentations by the Class of 2011 >> The D-Crit Program >> SVA Website >> OTHER RECENT POSTS PHOTO BY JASON ORTON London 2012 Northern Parklands, Olympic Park (2011) READ MORE JOHN THACKARA Ten Ways to Redesign Design Competitions Design and sustainability challenges can stimulate fresh thinking on intractable problems. They can pose new questions, explore new solutions and start new conversations. They can bring positive energy to bear on situations that are otherwise bogged down in endless talk. Can — but for the most part, don't. READ MORE JEAN W. ROSENTHAL Project Masiluleke: Texting and Testing to Fight HIV/AIDS in South Africa Summary of design process that resulted in an innovative technology-based approach to curtailing HIV/AIDS in South Africa. READ MORE JANE MARGOLIES My Block NYC What if you could explore the Big Apple block by block — all 90,000 of them — through captivating videos filmed right on site? That’s the idea behind a new video-mapping website that invites residents, tourists and videographers to upload clips they’ve taken on the streets of New York to an interactive online map of the city — and lets the rest of us get in on the action. READ MORE NADINE BOTHA Wheel Simple: Velokhaya Clubhouse A suburb of Cape Town, Khayelitsha is the largest and fastest-growing semi-formal township in South Africa. Home to more than half a million residents, it offers few lifelines out of an endless sea of single-story corrugated iron shacks. The Velokhaya community road cycling and BMX hub is one of them. READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER Transforms designers: Educating head, heart and hands. MFA Products of Design at the School of Visual Arts >> Almost one billion people don't have safe and clean drinking water Mohawk & charity: water. Helping to bring clean water to developing nations >> A totally unvarnished and uncoated look at what goes on behind the glossy world of print production. Off Register >> Don't miss the chance to pivot this fall. Pivot: AIGA Design Conference 2011 >> CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE Bigshot Camera Report on a camera that children assemble to learn about science and engineering principles. READ MORE UPCOMING CONFERENCE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 Business Innovation Factory Philanthropic and independent organization, founded in 2004, which emphasizes implementation of new ideas, especially in the spheres of healthcare, education and energy. BIF also maintains an Innovation Story Studio with digital material from its creative community. 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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