WEEKLY EMAIL: JULY 15, 2010

FEATURED THIS WEEK : MICHAEL ZINMAN

Hard Times

Shortly after the collapse of the twin towers in 2001, I came across an enterprising individual, Billy McKinney, pitching for 21st century alms in Columbus Circle in New York City. He had taken a piece of cardboard, and rather than plead his dire condition, came up with a different approach to getting by.
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CHANGE OBSERVER : ROBERT FABRICANT

In Defense of Design Imperialism

Is the local model the only way to meaningfully engage in social-impact initiatives, as Bruce Nussbaum suggests? Are American designers who want to have an impact on global issues in emerging markets kidding themselves?
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CHANGE OBSERVER : PATRICK CHAPPATTE

Study in Contrasts

"Soccer Celebration in Africa," published in NZZ im Sonntag (Zurich), June 13, 2010.
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OBSERVATORY : JESSICA HELFAND

Viva The Villain: A Review of Despicable Me

Despicable Me, the new CGI-animated feature from Universal, took in over 60 million dollars at the box office on its opening weekend. The New York Times reporter A.O. Scott panned it. But that's not why you should see it: you should see it because it is, in just about every way, brilliant.
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OBSERVATORY : GERRY SHAMRAY

Harvey and Me

Harvey Pekar was a one-of-a-kind individual. He embraced the ordinary and made it extraordinary with his brilliant, insightful stories about day-to-day life. I have no doubt that people will be reading and learning from his clever observations on the daily grind for many decades, if not centuries. He was an artistic trendsetter who has been studied and copied by many who have made more from his influence than he ever did from his own work. I cannot believe he is gone.
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PLACES : DAN PITERA

Detroit: Syncopating an Urban Landscape

Last week we featured "Borderland/Borderama/Detroit," Jerry Herron's thoughtful exploration of the decades-long decline of Detroit, and of the city's tenacity, against great odds. Here Dan Pitera, of the Detroit Collaborative Design Center, curates a portfolio of recent projects — a composite portrait of how artists, architects and activists are working to reinvigorate some of the city's abandoned landscapes.
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CHANGE OBSERVER : PHIL PATTON

Murray T.25 City Car

Gordon Murray's recently unveiled T.25 prototype promises to be the most efficient, if not the most adorable, urban car in existence.
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CHANGE OBSERVER : CONSTANTIN BOYM

Teaching in a Time of Uncertainty

Perhaps the new decade will go down in history as marking the outset of Design Uncertainty. For the first time ever, designers are willing to question, openly and publicly, the nature of their profession and whether they are dong the right thing.
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OBSERVATORY : ERIC BAKER

Today, 07.10.10

Here are Today's images.
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AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE

Laurie Rosenwald

Laurie Rosenwald is a graphic designer, artist, illustrator, writer, television actress and author.
Listen >>
More Design Matters Archive >>

CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE

One Car Per Family

Report on Yves Béhar's design for a new "people's car."
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OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE

Squareness & Milk Containers

On Words

Figure/Ground

PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2009

Infrastructural Optimism

Learning from New Orleans, or why we really need a new New Deal.
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CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES

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

RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED

Unit: Design/Research 02
Tony Brook & Adrian Shaughnessy

Unit: Design/Research 01
Tony Brook & Adrian Shaughnessy, editors

POP

POP
Steven Heller


WEEKLY EMAIL: JULY 15, 2010
FEATURED THIS WEEK : MICHAEL ZINMAN Hard Times Shortly after the collapse of the twin towers in 2001, I came across an enterprising individual, Billy McKinney, pitching for 21st century alms in Columbus Circle in New York City. He had taken a piece of cardboard, and rather than plead his dire condition, came up with a different approach to getting by. READ MORE
CHANGE OBSERVER : ROBERT FABRICANT In Defense of Design Imperialism Is the local model the only way to meaningfully engage in social-impact initiatives, as Bruce Nussbaum suggests? Are American designers who want to have an impact on global issues in emerging markets kidding themselves? READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : PATRICK CHAPPATTE Study in Contrasts "Soccer Celebration in Africa," published in NZZ im Sonntag (Zurich), June 13, 2010. READ MORE OBSERVATORY : JESSICA HELFAND Viva The Villain: A Review of Despicable Me Despicable Me, the new CGI-animated feature from Universal, took in over 60 million dollars at the box office on its opening weekend. The New York Times reporter A.O. Scott panned it. But that's not why you should see it: you should see it because it is, in just about every way, brilliant. READ MORE OBSERVATORY : GERRY SHAMRAY Harvey and Me Harvey Pekar was a one-of-a-kind individual. He embraced the ordinary and made it extraordinary with his brilliant, insightful stories about day-to-day life. I have no doubt that people will be reading and learning from his clever observations on the daily grind for many decades, if not centuries. He was an artistic trendsetter who has been studied and copied by many who have made more from his influence than he ever did from his own work. I cannot believe he is gone. READ MORE PLACES : DAN PITERA Detroit: Syncopating an Urban Landscape Last week we featured "Borderland/Borderama/Detroit," Jerry Herron's thoughtful exploration of the decades-long decline of Detroit, and of the city's tenacity, against great odds. Here Dan Pitera, of the Detroit Collaborative Design Center, curates a portfolio of recent projects — a composite portrait of how artists, architects and activists are working to reinvigorate some of the city's abandoned landscapes. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : PHIL PATTON Murray T.25 City Car Gordon Murray's recently unveiled T.25 prototype promises to be the most efficient, if not the most adorable, urban car in existence. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : CONSTANTIN BOYM Teaching in a Time of Uncertainty Perhaps the new decade will go down in history as marking the outset of Design Uncertainty. For the first time ever, designers are willing to question, openly and publicly, the nature of their profession and whether they are dong the right thing. READ MORE OBSERVATORY : ERIC BAKER Today, 07.10.10 Here are Today's images. READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE Laurie Rosenwald Laurie Rosenwald is a graphic designer, artist, illustrator, writer, television actress and author. Listen >> More Design Matters Archive >> CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE One Car Per Family Report on Yves Béhar's design for a new "people's car." READ MORE OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE Squareness & Milk Containers On Words Figure/Ground PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2009 Infrastructural Optimism Learning from New Orleans, or why we really need a new New Deal. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES Academic Programs >> Competitions >> Conferences & Events >> Fellowships & Prizes >> Organizations >> Programs & Initiatives >> Publications & Websites >> Social Networks >> RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED Unit: Design/Research 02 Tony Brook & Adrian Shaughnessy Unit: Design/Research 01 Tony Brook & Adrian Shaughnessy, editors POP Steven Heller
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