WEEKLY EMAIL: MAY 27, 2011

FEATURED THIS WEEK : ERNEST BECK

Project Mwana

For mothers and newborns, early medical testing is critical to health, especially for detecting HIV/AIDS. But in some developing countries, sending and receiving a blood sample from an extremely remote location can take between two and five months. Project Mwana is changing that.
READ MORE

OBSERVER MEDIA : MICHAEL BIERUT

Designing, Writing, Teaching: Not My Real Job

In this funny and entertaining video, Designing, Writing, Teaching: Not My Real Job, Michael Bierut outlines the little decisions that led him to the work that he is doing today.
READ MORE

CHANGE OBSERVER : THE EDITORS

Cause/Affect Competition

Organized by AIGA San Francisco, Cause/Affect is a biannual international competition that honors design for social change
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 >>

Shift your perspective this fall at "Pivot," the 2011 AIGA Design Conference, where we'll explore the societal, economic and contextual shifts prompting changes in the design industry. Join us in Phoenix for inspiration, incredible networking, and actionable insights to improve your practice.
Learn more about "Pivot" here >>
Register by June 8 and save $$$ >>

OBSERVERS ROOM : RICK POYNOR

A Dream World Made by Machines

In 1967, the American novelist and poet Richard Brautigan published a poem titled “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace.” This is also the perfectly chosen title of a three-part documentary by Adam Curtis — a true maverick of the airwaves — that started screening this week in the UK. This complex, demanding, uncompromising and visually audacious piece of television has generated a tremendous buzz.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : JOHN THACKARA

From Participatory Mapping to Coastal Livelihoods

I'm a huge fan of the Buckminster Fuller Challenge. The annual international design award grants $100,000 to support the development and implementation of a “bold, visionary, tangible initiative that is focused on a well-defined need of critical importance.”
READ MORE

OBSERVATORY : JOANNE CHEW

China: Brooms, Mops and Chairs

I’ve always been fascinated by common, everyday objects. Such fascination is often fueled by the ordinariness of such objects — mops and brooms and chairs, for instance — in which the simplicity of their form and their basic, utilitarian nature exude a kind of raw, ethereal beauty.
READ MORE

CHANGE OBSERVER : JULIE LASKY

Everything Must Go

Chappell Ellison is looking for people to adopt her possessions: “In an attempt to learn how to live with less, I'm giving away my things, one by one.”
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : MARK LAMSTER

The Unsung Genius of Flemish Architecture

The old knock on Belgium is that it's the New Jersey of Europe, a moribund drive-through territory on the way to some more exciting destination. It's not particularly fair or accurate (nevermind what it says about Jersey), but like most jokes it holds a kernel of truth.
READ MORE

PLACES : MICHAEL MALTZAN

No More Play

Los Angeles has long epitomized the restless, dynamic and unpredictable urbanism of postwar America. And today, argues architect Michael Maltzan, the city is again on the brink of transformation — of a new era propelled simultaneously by increasing density and by the geographical limits of further growth. Which raises, says Maltzan, a key question: "What is the new identity for a city whose entire life has been marked by its ability and desire to endlessly expand?"
READ MORE

OBSERVATORY : JOHN FOSTER

Accidental Mysteries, 05.22.11

Accidental Mysteries, a weekly cabinet of visual curiosities curated by John Foster, highlights images of design, art, architecture and ephemera brought to light by the magic of the digital age.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : ALEXANDRA LANGE

Vicarious Thrifting, via Twitter

Sometimes Twitter isn't about words but pictures: dispatches from the thrift store.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : JULIE LASKY

Tribute to Tobi

For a gallery show in New York, nine designers riffed on the work of Tobias Wong.
READ MORE

BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

The Graduate Program for the Designer as Entrepreneur.
See the information podcast here >>

From Mohawk Fine Papers a curated marketplace of designer papergoods and gifts.
Browse the Felt & Wire Shop >>

Good design can influence positive change! Learn more
Ideas that Matter >>

AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE

Andrea Deszo

Andrea Deszo is a designer, artist and educator.
Listen >>
More Design Matters Archive >>

CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE

Es Tiempo

Report on Es Tiempo, a campaign designed to encourage Hispanic women in Southern California to seek annual screenings for cervical cancer.
READ MORE

OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE

On Innovation

Design B.S.

On Decorum

PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2008

Mythologies of Placemaking

CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES

Academic Programs >>
Competitions >>
Conferences & Events >>
Fellowships & Prizes >>
Organizations >>
Programs & Initiatives >>
Publications & Websites >>
Social Networks >>

RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED

Redesigning Leadership
John Maeda

Manufacturing a Socialist Modernity
Kimberly Elman Zarecor

Kissing Architecture
Sylvia Lavin


WEEKLY EMAIL: MAY 27, 2011
FEATURED THIS WEEK : ERNEST BECK Project Mwana For mothers and newborns, early medical testing is critical to health, especially for detecting HIV/AIDS. But in some developing countries, sending and receiving a blood sample from an extremely remote location can take between two and five months. Project Mwana is changing that. READ MORE
OBSERVER MEDIA : MICHAEL BIERUT Designing, Writing, Teaching: Not My Real Job In this funny and entertaining video, Designing, Writing, Teaching: Not My Real Job, Michael Bierut outlines the little decisions that led him to the work that he is doing today. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : THE EDITORS Cause/Affect Competition Organized by AIGA San Francisco, Cause/Affect is a biannual international competition that honors design for social change 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 >> Shift your perspective this fall at "Pivot," the 2011 AIGA Design Conference, where we'll explore the societal, economic and contextual shifts prompting changes in the design industry. Join us in Phoenix for inspiration, incredible networking, and actionable insights to improve your practice. Learn more about "Pivot" here >> Register by June 8 and save $$$ >> OBSERVERS ROOM : RICK POYNOR A Dream World Made by Machines In 1967, the American novelist and poet Richard Brautigan published a poem titled “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace.” This is also the perfectly chosen title of a three-part documentary by Adam Curtis — a true maverick of the airwaves — that started screening this week in the UK. This complex, demanding, uncompromising and visually audacious piece of television has generated a tremendous buzz. READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : JOHN THACKARA From Participatory Mapping to Coastal Livelihoods I'm a huge fan of the Buckminster Fuller Challenge. The annual international design award grants $100,000 to support the development and implementation of a “bold, visionary, tangible initiative that is focused on a well-defined need of critical importance.” READ MORE OBSERVATORY : JOANNE CHEW China: Brooms, Mops and Chairs I’ve always been fascinated by common, everyday objects. Such fascination is often fueled by the ordinariness of such objects — mops and brooms and chairs, for instance — in which the simplicity of their form and their basic, utilitarian nature exude a kind of raw, ethereal beauty. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : JULIE LASKY Everything Must Go Chappell Ellison is looking for people to adopt her possessions: “In an attempt to learn how to live with less, I'm giving away my things, one by one.” READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : MARK LAMSTER The Unsung Genius of Flemish Architecture The old knock on Belgium is that it's the New Jersey of Europe, a moribund drive-through territory on the way to some more exciting destination. It's not particularly fair or accurate (nevermind what it says about Jersey), but like most jokes it holds a kernel of truth. READ MORE PLACES : MICHAEL MALTZAN No More Play Los Angeles has long epitomized the restless, dynamic and unpredictable urbanism of postwar America. And today, argues architect Michael Maltzan, the city is again on the brink of transformation — of a new era propelled simultaneously by increasing density and by the geographical limits of further growth. Which raises, says Maltzan, a key question: "What is the new identity for a city whose entire life has been marked by its ability and desire to endlessly expand?" READ MORE OBSERVATORY : JOHN FOSTER Accidental Mysteries, 05.22.11 Accidental Mysteries, a weekly cabinet of visual curiosities curated by John Foster, highlights images of design, art, architecture and ephemera brought to light by the magic of the digital age. READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : ALEXANDRA LANGE Vicarious Thrifting, via Twitter Sometimes Twitter isn't about words but pictures: dispatches from the thrift store. READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : JULIE LASKY Tribute to Tobi For a gallery show in New York, nine designers riffed on the work of Tobias Wong. READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER The Graduate Program for the Designer as Entrepreneur. See the information podcast here >> From Mohawk Fine Papers a curated marketplace of designer papergoods and gifts. Browse the Felt & Wire Shop >> Good design can influence positive change! Learn more Ideas that Matter >> Register by the early deadline and save. Pivot the AIGA Design Conference >> AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE Andrea Deszo Andrea Deszo is a designer, artist and educator. Listen >> More Design Matters Archive >> CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE Es Tiempo Report on Es Tiempo, a campaign designed to encourage Hispanic women in Southern California to seek annual screenings for cervical cancer. READ MORE OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE On Innovation Design B.S. On Decorum PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2008 Mythologies of Placemaking READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES Academic Programs >> Competitions >> Conferences & Events >> Fellowships & Prizes >> Organizations >> Programs & Initiatives >> Publications & Websites >> Social Networks >> RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED Redesigning Leadership John Maeda Manufacturing a Socialist Modernity Kimberly Elman Zarecor Kissing Architecture Sylvia Lavin
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