The Bakers Table

Those tables taught me something. I realized that by designing them I had turned impoverishment into enterprise. I had transcended my own inhibiting academic world and briefly explored the material presences of daily life. I had freed my eyes and hands to converse with varieties of shape and substance. I had engaged my little world and changed it. For these reasons, there is something special for me about the practice of design.
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CHANGE OBSERVER : PETER WOLF

Pet Projects

We're killing 3 to 4 million dogs and cats each year in shelters. Although a wide variety of underserved populations have benefited from the recent design-for-social-change movement, the pet (over)population remains largely ignored.
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OBSERVER MEDIA : MICHAEL BIERUT

Michael Bierut on 86 Notebooks

In this talk by Michael Bierut at the 99 Percent Conference in 2009, he gives tips on design productivity and five separate lessons using drawings and notes from his 86 notebooks.
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PLACES : JUSTIN PARTYKA

The East Anglians

For a decade now Justin Partyka has been combining his training as a folklorist and skill as a photographer to document the deep-rooted but now fragile agrarian community in his native East Anglia — a place "where traditional methods and knowledge still matter, and where identity is shaped by the landscape." Continuing our August emphasis on the pictorial, we present a portfolio of his work. As part of our presentation, Justin Partyka encourages comments and questions, which he'll be ready to respond to.
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CHANGE OBSERVER : ERNEST BECK

Ripple Effect Update

The latest on a project for developing efficient ways to transport water in the developing world.
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CHANGE OBSERVER : MEENA KADRI

Tinkers, Hackers, Farmers, Crafters

Emeka Okafor is a New York–based entrepreneur and blogger who curated the 2007 TEDGlobal conference in Arusha, Tanzania. A reporter on innovations in African design, technology and industry, he aims to spread knowledge and foster partnerships that will lead to bottom-up growth on the African continent. One vehicle for accomplishing this is Okafor's website Timbuktu Chronicles, which combines news of recent inventions with essays on African design and manufacturing. Another is Maker Faire Africa, an event he launched last year in Accra, Ghana. MFA brings interdisciplinary inventors and crafters together to share knowledge, resources and opportunities. This year's fair will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, August 27–28.
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OBSERVATORY : ERIC BAKER

Today, 08.07.10

Each morning, before starting work, I spend 30 minutes looking for images that are beautiful, funny, absurd and inspiring. Here's TODAY.
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AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE

Vaughan Oliver

Vaughan Oliver is a graphic designer, artist and author.
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CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE

Bigshot Camera

Report on a camera that children assemble to learn about science and engineering principles.
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OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE

Prisoners of Logic

Cimitero Acattolico

Bent by the Sun

PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2001

Village Vices: The Contradiction of New Urbanism and Sustainability

A critique of New Urbanism focusing not on its traditionalism but on the unsustainability of its planning models.
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RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED

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Vintage Magazine
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Amazing Public Domain Images Sourcebook
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WEEKLY EMAIL: AUGUST 12, 2010
FEATURED THIS WEEK : ROBERT GRUDIN The Bakers Table Those tables taught me something. I realized that by designing them I had turned impoverishment into enterprise. I had transcended my own inhibiting academic world and briefly explored the material presences of daily life. I had freed my eyes and hands to converse with varieties of shape and substance. I had engaged my little world and changed it. For these reasons, there is something special for me about the practice of design. READ MORE
CHANGE OBSERVER : PETER WOLF Pet Projects We're killing 3 to 4 million dogs and cats each year in shelters. Although a wide variety of underserved populations have benefited from the recent design-for-social-change movement, the pet (over)population remains largely ignored. READ MORE OBSERVER MEDIA : MICHAEL BIERUT Michael Bierut on 86 Notebooks In this talk by Michael Bierut at the 99 Percent Conference in 2009, he gives tips on design productivity and five separate lessons using drawings and notes from his 86 notebooks. READ MORE PLACES : JUSTIN PARTYKA The East Anglians For a decade now Justin Partyka has been combining his training as a folklorist and skill as a photographer to document the deep-rooted but now fragile agrarian community in his native East Anglia — a place "where traditional methods and knowledge still matter, and where identity is shaped by the landscape." Continuing our August emphasis on the pictorial, we present a portfolio of his work. As part of our presentation, Justin Partyka encourages comments and questions, which he'll be ready to respond to. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : ERNEST BECK Ripple Effect Update The latest on a project for developing efficient ways to transport water in the developing world. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : MEENA KADRI Tinkers, Hackers, Farmers, Crafters Emeka Okafor is a New York–based entrepreneur and blogger who curated the 2007 TEDGlobal conference in Arusha, Tanzania. A reporter on innovations in African design, technology and industry, he aims to spread knowledge and foster partnerships that will lead to bottom-up growth on the African continent. One vehicle for accomplishing this is Okafor's website Timbuktu Chronicles, which combines news of recent inventions with essays on African design and manufacturing. Another is Maker Faire Africa, an event he launched last year in Accra, Ghana. MFA brings interdisciplinary inventors and crafters together to share knowledge, resources and opportunities. This year's fair will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, August 27–28. READ MORE OBSERVATORY : ERIC BAKER Today, 08.07.10 Each morning, before starting work, I spend 30 minutes looking for images that are beautiful, funny, absurd and inspiring. Here's TODAY. READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE Vaughan Oliver Vaughan Oliver is a graphic designer, artist and author. Listen >> More Design Matters Archive >> CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE Bigshot Camera Report on a camera that children assemble to learn about science and engineering principles. READ MORE OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE Prisoners of Logic Cimitero Acattolico Bent by the Sun PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2001 Village Vices: The Contradiction of New Urbanism and Sustainability A critique of New Urbanism focusing not on its traditionalism but on the unsustainability of its planning models. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES Academic Programs >> Competitions >> Conferences & Events >> Fellowships & Prizes >> Organizations >> Programs & Initiatives >> Publications & Websites >> Social Networks >> RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED Petah Coyne Denise Markonish Vintage Magazine Ivy Baer Sherman, editor Amazing Public Domain Images Sourcebook Photopreneur
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