IDEO is exploring the use of design thinking to tackle a very large problem, that of climate change. Living Climate Change "is a place where the most defining challenge of our time is explored through design thinking. It's also a place to show, discuss, and share compelling and provocative thoughts and ideas about the future."
Nathan Lorenz and Tim Bauer of Envirofit have been hailed as one of Time magazines Heroes of the Environment 2009. "In 2003, the two founded Envirofit, a nonprofit that uses their research into clean two-stroke-engine technology to create greener auto-rickshaws for Southeast Asia and India. Their expertise, they realized, could be applied to stoves. "When you visit these countries, you know that people should not be dying just because they're cooking breakfast," says Lorenz."
Compared to traditional cooking fires, Envirofit cookstoves reduce emissions by as much as 80%, use up to 60% less fuel and reduce cooking cycle time by up to 50%. Built and engineered to address the unique cooking habits of our customers, Envirofit clean cookstoves are a result of over five years of market research, engineering R & D. Envirofit International’s goal is to develop affordable, aesthetic, well-engineered technology solutions that have significant global health and environmental impacts and economic payback incentives for users.
Luke Wroblewski has picked up an interesting article about Taiwanese handset maker, HTC's unique design relationship with the San Francisco-based firm One & Co in Forbes; "The relationship is an unusual one. After hiring One & Co for a consulting project in 2006, HTC acquired the firm in December 2008. Though now a wholly owned subsidiary, One & Co continues to operate as an independent consultancy. To keep their ideas fresh, One & Co designers rotate between HTC projects and jobs for other companies, including Microsoft, Kodak, Nike, and European furniture makers. "Phones are about capturing what's coming tomorrow, while furniture is about longevity," says Zellweger. "It's good to have that balance in your head." Some materials migrate between projects, such as a plastic mesh that found use as a lamp cover, a bracelet and the speaker cover in the Hero." Seems like there is a trend lately for well known British designers to open shops, a while back it was Jasper Morrison converting part of his studio into a retail space. Now Tom Dixon has followed suit and employed Studio Toogood to kit out a space in the Wharf Building at Portobello Dock in West London.The shop consists of a number of set like areas that showcase Dixons products with aged walls contrasting against chromed lights for example. "The design is in the form of a stage set which is a representation of Tom Dixon's industrial aesthetic. The set divides the space into rooms, and visitors are able to explore aspects of the shop by peering through various windows and doors which contain the individual room sets whose overall themes are derived from materials such as copper, cast iron and wood. The new 1800 sqft space showcases a series of products from Dixon's new 2009 collection 'utility' and is part of Tom Dixon's new office complex." DesignBoom.
Bell is a new alarm clock that has been designed by Industrial Facility for IDEA Japan. The alarm clock is a less is more design approach and the result is a much louder alarm clock, because the back ‘housing’ is the actual bell component. It is louder than a mobile phone, desk clock or watch and has simple controls, it may only tell the time and wake you up, but it does it very well. Via Dezeen.
There has been several good ideas for creatives to get started or to realize their projects, but it looks like Kickstarter is really working. Kickstarter is a funding platform for artists, filmmakers, journalists, designers amongst others, it works on the premise that a good idea, communicated well, can spread fast and wide and a large group of people can be a tremendous source of money and encouragement. Some projects are so popular that they are up to 1500% funded. Interesting projects on the site include The Wonder City a graphic novel that reimagines New York’s entire history and MakerBeam, an open source building kit. If a project is successfully funded, Kickstarter will apply a 5% charge to the funds raised. If funding isn't successful, there are no charges.