Category Archives: Industrial Design

Scanning the Transdisciplinary

“To mark the launch of the new Graduate Program in Transdisciplinary Design, this year’s Stephan Weiss Lecture Series in The School of Design Strategies is dedicated to the theme of transdisciplinary design. The series will explore the shifting of boundaries of design in a complex world. Designers are rethinking their practices as they increasingly confront a world in which the complexity and interconnectedness of its people, infrastructures, networks, and economies challenges traditional, disciplinary responses. Designers are increasingly designing businesses, services, experiences, policies, and even emergent social forms; and along the way they are inventing new methods, new tools, and new ways of conceiving design. This year’s series will include a diverse range of designers and design thinkers who are reflecting on these new conditions and envisioning future practices. Staged as a series of four moderated conversations, the Stephan Weiss Lecture Series for 2010 will present multiple vantages on the state of design today and the possibilities for design tomorrow.” (Parsons, MFA Transdisciplinary Design)

If you missed the first lecture, Transformational Networks, on Feb. 23rd, you can still catch the next two in the series:

Transfiguring Practices, Thursday, March 25, 6-8 pm

What are the pressures on design consultancies and businesses as the rules of the game are shifting in unpredictable ways? How are design-led businesses succeeding at defining new territories to work in and new ways of operating?

Transitional States, Tuesday, April 6, 6-8 pm

Can design play a role in governmental and non-governmental delivery of things like infrastructure, education, and health care? What kinds of alliances and collaborations are forming to bring design-led practices into large scale social and technological services?

Source: Parsons, MFA Transdisciplinary Design

Social Alterations// Slides

Nadira and I both promised to make the slides from our presentations at the FEI conference available online, and here they are, along with a slideshow of some of the images we captured from the event. I’ve reposted the videos of the presentations for convenience.

Thanks to everyone who offered feedback, we were so grateful for your considerations. Please, keep let’s keep the conversation going!

Be sure to contact us with any questions!

Social Alterations: An Education Lab for Socially Responsible Fashion Design

View more presentations from socialalterations.

Social Alterations @ FEI from Social Alterations on Vimeo.

CSR Trends in China’s Apparel Supply Chain

View more presentations from socialalterations.

CSR Trends in China’s Apparel Supply Chain from Social Alterations on Vimeo.

Find more photos like this on Social Alterations

WATCH// Social Alterations @ FEI

Here are just two of the videos we took at the conference. We have more videos to come, so stay tuned for those.

The first video is of my Pecha Kucha talk. I’ll be posting the slides and my notes a little later on. Please contact us if you have any questions on the works cited in the presentation.

Social Alterations @ FEI from Social Alterations on Vimeo.

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) held the table next to ours during the Market Place on day two of the conference. We asked them what exactly responsible fashion meant to the EJF, and for their thoughts on why designers should care.

FEI Conference 006 from Social Alterations on Vimeo.

Pesticide Action Network (PAN) was also there, asking participants “what organic cotton means…..to me”. Pictured above is Nadira Lamrad (right) with her answer.

Tracing Trash

Trash of Your Society (T.O.Y.S.), an art project of theSYNdicate, is on tour investigating the after-life-cycle of products, or artefacts (a.k.a. trash). Do you know what happens to your products once you’ve tossed them?

Here is part of ‘The Concept’:

The footsteps or traces that refuse leaves internationally, are the subject of the art project of theSYNdicate: how countries deal with refuse in different parts of the world; the global cycle of refuse; the dimensions of European refuse in Africa.

Transport routes of primary products as well as of finished consumer goods cover long distances, in this globalised world, with many stages, and with goods passing through many hands: sometimes transported goods describe a cycle, other times goods travel in a more one-dimensional perspective.

At the end of a cycle, for example, a number of high quality goods from the southern parts of the world land in Europe, to be sold at high prices, with a hefty profit margin – which drives turnover and stock exchange assets. African countries (and other continents and countries with similar social and economic conditions) are the destination, the recipients, of refuse: the results of agrarian over-production, electronic junk, garments (often second hand clothes), and many similar goods. In this cycle, the places that are the countries of origin (right at the start of the cycle), are left mainly with refuse and package material. Africa – the First World‘s testing ground or laboratory, and self-service shop.

You can buy stock in the project for 35Euro, and receive a piece of upcycled art.

Follow along their journey through the TOYS Blog. The images and stories may surprise you!

Source: psfk

Images via the TOYSTOUR

National Design Triennial: Why Design Now?

In 2009, Cynthia E. Smith, Curator of Socially Responsible Design at the Cooper-Hewitt hosted a discussion on responsible design, with Emily Pilloton, author of Design Revolution and Allan Chochinov, founder of Core77. The discussion was moderated by Susan Szenasy, Editor in Chief of Metropolis Magazine. Take a look!

If you find yourself in New York sometime between May 14, 2010–January 11, 2011, be sure to check out “Why Design Now” at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.

“Inaugurated in 2000, the Triennial program seeks out and presents the most innovative designs at the center of contemporary culture. In this fourth exhibition in the series, the National Design Triennial will explore the work of designers addressing human and environmental problems across many fields of the design practice, from architecture and products to fashion, graphics, new media, and landscapes. Cooper-Hewitt curators Ellen Lupton, Cara McCarty, Matilda McQuaid, and Cynthia Smith will present the experimental projects and emerging ideas for the period between 2006 and 2009.” (Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum)

Title: National Design Triennial: Why Design Now?
Location: New York
Link out: Click here
Description: On view May 14, 2010–January 11, 2011

Greener Gadgets

Greener Gadgets Design Competition

“The Greener Gadgets Conference tackles all of the issues surrounding energy efficiency and sustainable design, from innovative advances in packaging and product manufacturing to end-of-life recycling solutions. It also highlights ways in which electronics make a major impact by utilizing renewable energy in developing nations.

The conference closes out with the incredibly popular Greener Gadgets Design Competition, highlighting a new class of sustainable product concepts, from those that create their own energy to those that minimize the need for any electricity at all.” (Greener Gadgets)

Click here for a list of this year’s presenters and here for the conference schedule.

Title: Greener Gadgets
Location: New York
Link out: Click here
Date: 2010-02-25

Below is the video footage of the 2009 Conference:

Source: Greener Gadgets

FRESH DIALOGUE 25

www.DesignBloggingIsChangingEverything.com

Title: FRESH DIALOGUE 25
Location: New York
Link out: Click here
Description:

freshd25 “Every day, if not hour, if not minute, design blogs draw attention to an unprecedented quantity and ever-expanding diversity of design. Join us to hear what four design blog luminaries see as today’s most prominent design trends, including example projects, and stories from the front lines of today’s design world. This will be followed by a critical discussion of how design blogs are changing design, investigating the unintended consequences of self-publishing, and what blogging can achieve for its readers, writers, and the design community at large. Questions for the discussion will be taken via Twitter leading up to and during the event. To pose a question, use the hashtag #freshd or address @freshdialogue.

This event will feature presentations by Khoi Vinh/subtraction.com, Josh Rubin/CoolHunting.com, Tina Roth Eisenberg/swiss-miss.com, Allan Chochinov/Core77.com with a discussion moderated by Alice Twemlow chair of the SVA design criticism MFA Program and contributing editor at DesignObserver.com”

TIME AND PLACE

Wednesday 16 December 2009
6:30–8:30PM
Tishman Auditorium
66 West 12TH Street
New York, NY 10016

6:30PM Check-in
7:00-8:30PM Dialogue

Source: Core77

Watch// Compostmodern09

“Designers think that they are in the artefact business, but they’re not, they’re in the consequence business.” (Allan Chochinov, Compostmodern09)

Some readers might recall that I attended Compostmodern09 via webcast back in February. Social Alterations was developed in many ways as a response to the call to action presented by the 09 speakers. Without shying away from the im/possible challenges of responsible design, they not only made change seem necessarily tangible and achievable, but did so with immense passion and, of course, sarcasm and wit.

The interdisciplinary nature of this conference—the key to its success— is inspirational. In my eager anticipation for compostmodern10, I have enjoyed revisiting the 09 presentations. I hope you will take the time to get to know these speakers, letting them in to inspire you on your journey toward change.

Click on the image below to view each presentation on the Compostmodern website.

Community News

“If a product is not considered, they call it an inconsiderate design” (Lorrie Vogel, on Nike designers creating their own vocabulary, Opportunity Green)

A roundup of some of the stories, headlines, and updates you may be interested in from in and around the community of socially responsible fashion design. This week’s roundup has a ton of videos—there is a lot going on in our community!

Core77

Next: “user centered ecosystems designs”

New production method: Enslaved spiders produce huge tapestry

Ecouterre

Does Greenwashing Exist in the Fashion Industry?

Ecotextile News

Eco-Textile Labelling Guide 2010

Ethical Style

‘18 Degrees of Inspiration’: 6 Degrees of Cool

Roundup//Holiday Gift Guides

There are so many amazing holiday gift guides out this year—we thought we would offer you a roundup of our favorites.

Inhabitat’s “Green Holiday Gift Guide” is wonderful gift guide. Our favourite features are Heirloom and Gifts of Time.

Core77 has compiled their annual gift guide, “77 Righteous Gifts Under $77”. Needless to say, it’s righteous.

Treehugger wants you to have a Slow Holiday this year. They have put together another fantastic gift guide, and even resurrected their 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 guides, so you will have PLENTY to choose from!

Ecofabulous has done a great job putting together Eco Gift Guides:

For the Couch Potato // For the Man About Town //For the Style Maven // For Tiny Tots // For the Rockstar

They have also rounded up their picks for best online shops this season, here.

Also, in Canada, be sure to check out Shop Sustainable (Toronto) and Body Politic (Vancouver)

Searching through Core77’s Righteous Gift Guide, you’ll find Design Revolution: 100 products that Empower People, by Emily Pilloton (forward by Allan Chochinov), and Nathan Shedroff’s book, Design is the Problem: The future of Design Must be Sustainable. These books are a must have for the designers, design enthusiasts, and/or the activists in your life. For more book ideas, check out the SA recommended reading section of the site, here.

You can also “Regift The Fruitcake” in support of Project H and help them meet their fundraising goal of $10,000 this month for their Design for Education Initiatives!

Happy Spending!