John Thackara

John Thackara|Essays

Blood Minerals and Cellphones

Exploring the social and environmental back-story of electronic products and potential solutions.

John Thackara|Essays

It’s Not Just The Bags

Design + Craft: The Brazilian Path by Adelia Borges explores the complex relationship between designers from the Northern hemishphere and indigenous artists in the Southern hemisphere, specifically craft communities in Brazil.

John Thackara|Essays

Zurich Eco Lab

A report on the Zurich's thriving urban eco culture.

John Thackara|Essays

Design In The Light of Dark Energy

A shortened version of a talk on why the world has to reduce energy consumption, the five per cent energy solution and some of the people around the world who are leading the way.

John Thackara|Essays

A Reading List for Mr. Mario Monti

A (mostly) online list of readings for the new Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Mario Monti, and anyone else who is ready for a cold hard look at our energy resources and options.

John Thackara|Essays

Beer and Solidarity

If beer brewing wastes can enrich food chains, the craft brewing community can also be a source of solidarity for small farmers in trouble.

John Thackara|Essays

Roasted by a Chicken

Jobs and money are in short supply — probably forever. Are there ways that design can add new value to sharing, bartering, lending, trading, renting, gifting, exchanging & swapping?

John Thackara|Essays

Virtual Boring Agent

The Virtual Boarding Agent Orly Airport in Paris. It's spooky, clever and very well executed — and most people seem to ignore it after a first casual glance.

John Thackara|Essays

Navy Yard, GradComD, Brown Bag, Hard Hat

Talks and encounters in the US next week. I hope to see some of you there.

John Thackara|Essays

A Reading List for Mr. Monti

When the new Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Mario Monti, gave his acceptance speech to the Italian Senate before Christmas, he used the word "growth" 28 times and the word "energy" — well, zero times.

John Thackara|Essays

Why Walls Need Floors

The artist has worked with the knowledge that most of his site-and time-specific specific works are destined to disappear. Why?

John Thackara|Essays

From Milk to Superfoods: Supping with the Devil?

The social and ecological crimes Big Food is committing, in other parts of the world, so that you and I can eat what we damn well feel like.