Business

Aspen Editors|Event-Aspen

Aspen Design Summit Report: CDC and Healthy Aging

At the Aspen Design Summit November 11–14, 2009, sponsored by AIGA and Winterhouse Institute, the CDC Healthy Aging Project began with the initial premise to enhance the ability of public health entities to determine whether adults 50 …

Aspen Editors|Event-Aspen

Aspen Design Summit Report: Hale County Rural Poverty Project

At the Aspen Design Summit November 11–14, 2009, sponsored by AIGA and Winterhouse Institute, the Hale County Rural Poverty Project conceived of a socio-economic model of resource allocation through an online platform for accelerated …

Aspen Editors|Event-Aspen

Aspen Design Summit: Participants

The Aspen Design Summit, November 11-14, 2009, sponsored by AIGA and Winterhouse Institute, involved 64 participants — designers, experts, researchers, educators, and representatives of NGOs, foundations and businesses. This the …

The Editors|Books

Holiday Books 2009

Recommended books by Design Observer writers for the 2009 holiday season.

Andy Chen|Essays

The Value of Empathy

Andy Chen responds to the debate between David Stairs and Valerie Casey on the recent surge of social design activity.

Owen Edwards|Essays

Not the Same Old Same Old

It’s hard not to agree that cars, though better designed and engineered than ever, are often pressed into plebian duty.

Jane Margolies|Projects

Skin

Report on maternity clothes made in Colombia with local labor. (No seamstresses under the age of 50 need apply.)

Roger Martin|Essays

What is Design Thinking Anyway?

Most companies today rely on analytical thinking. Roger Martin applies these principles to business practices.

John Thackara|Interviews

Design & Development: Interview with 4baq

John Thakra discusses sustainability, design and development with 4baq.

Dmitri Siegel|Essays

Lost In the Supermarket

Dmitri Siegel gets lost in the Supermarket and encounters incredibly grippy toothbushes, spouts, nozzles, Thorstein Veblen and Adolf Loos.

Project|Projects

Kiva

Report on Kiva, the pioneering microfinance site, which won a 2009 INDEX award for humanitarian design.

Allison Arieff|Projects

WeCommune

WeCommune offers a technology platform for people who want to share resources and build community within particular subcultures.