Measuring the value of design
In the 20th century the role of designers was majorly understood as that of shape-makers, skilled folks who refine the way objects look. Think car-styling, or how the fashion industry delivers new clothing styles every season. Beyond surface and form, design is a skill that creates new products or services. Design has been embraced by…
SD Standard
How can a designer have a positive impact on the planet? What should designers consider? Should designers be accountable for the emissions they contribute to producing from the products they design? Or should we be held accountable for the human rights we promote? Or fail to support? The SD Standard is a project I’ve been…
Remembering Hassan Fathy
Some designers such as Karim Rashid, Hani Rashid (Asymptote), both born in Cairo, Karim Mekhtigian, Rami Makram (Alchemy), and Tarek Naga are some of the contemporary designers and architects from Egypt. At a critical moment in the history of the African country, after four days of protests against President Mubarak, I remember the architect Hassan…
Sustainability Actors Map
In recent months I´ve collected basic information on how organizations, companies, and public sector institutions are using design methods to solve sustainability problems in three broad categories (social, economic, and environmental impact). Doing a scan of 116 organizations and companies that are using design methods for business, social, or environmental innovation, some highlights became apparent: There…
Now House: A system to retrofit wartime houses to net-zero energy
Design as tool for home energy reduction and net-zero energy retrofits.
What if Greenland was Africa´s Water Fountain?
Design as conversation catalyst around Climate Change
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