Posts Tagged ‘global’

Designing Change / Changing Design

designingchange

At a time when the world is faced with rapid and dramatic changes in the economy, technology, and global communication, design can be a powerful agent for positive change.

The SEGD Annual Conference and Expo will be taking place June 2-5, 2010. This year’s theme is Designing Change/Changing Design, which will aim to encourage and inspire a movement of design for social change, as well as shift the approach of the design community towards global problems. Learn more about the conference »

New design approaches must be sustainable both economically and environmentally, must embrace our cultural and economic diversity, and must be accessible to all.

Global Color Infusion. Madras Morning

Pallette

Every so often, I’ll shoot a particular photo that ends up becoming a great source of inspiration. This inspiration can root from a variety of things, such as the color palette, the composition, the content, or even simply the memory of the moment.

In this post, I will present a particular photo that inspires me, follow up with a few design exercises, and then show how a particular theme is reflected around the world by presenting work from other photographers.

Madras Morning

I was wandering through a narrow Madras alley on a very hot morning in January. The sun was beating and colors appeared especially vibrant within the bright light. The streets were
crowded, Bollywood tunes blasting, and intense aromas of spices
and sewage filled the air. Amid the chaos, it was beautiful.

Madras Morning

Exercises in Shape, Pattern, Typography and Iconography

1

5

Type

icons

Further Inspiration from Around the World

photos

Aspen Design Summit 2009

Aspen Design Summit

“We envision a select group of 60 designers, change leaders, NGOs,
foundations and experts coming together to engage actively in
opportunities to demonstrate design thinking in crafting solutions
for large social problems, as well as to use existing networks and
programs to accelerate change.”

The impressive list of attendees of the Aspen Design Summit next week will be collaborating to come up with design solutions and create concrete two-year implementation plans for 5-6 new projects. The themes include poverty, health care and education and collaborating organizations include UNICEF, the Mayo Clinic, and the Center for Disease Control. The Summit will include considerable dialogue and discussion of role of the design industry in leading social change initiatives. The goals of the event are ambitious and promising, and I wish I could be there. Hopefully its outcomes will be visible in the near future.

Learn more about the Aspen Design Summit »

PopTech Accelerator

Transforming World-Changing Ideas Into Action.

“The PopTech Accelerator facilitates interdisciplinary,
world-changing projects that use new tools and embody
new approaches to significant global challenges.”

PopTech Accelerator has taken an active leap in the creative use of technology to help discover solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems. I am very inspired by their collaborative approach and definitely looking forward to seeing the outcome of their projects. Hopefully other innovative thinkers can gain insight from PopTech’s approach to process, and we will start seeing more projects transforming world-changing ideas into action in the near future.

Learn more about PopTech Accelerator »

Project Masiluleke

Project Masiluleke

PopTech Accelerator’s first project, Masiluleke (”helping hand” in Zulu), recently launched it’s first phase in October by sending out 1 million text messages. The project’s goal is to fight the HIV epidemic in Africa through innovative mobile technology and software. The intial focus is on KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, where HIV+ rates are some of the highest in the world. They plan to eventually spread the program throughout Africa. Project Masiluleke is a collaboration of frog design, Pop!tech, iTeach, Praekelt, Aricent, Nokia Siemens and others.

Learn more about Project Masiluleke »

10 Inspiring Visuals from the French Riviera

During a recent trip to France I was drawn into design inspiration on every street corner. The artistry and attention to detail were exquisite, as well as warm color palletes, beautiful typography, and organic illustrations. Many pieces were decorated with subtle handcrafted nuances, which provided additional charm. Here are a few of my snapshots.

French Typography 1

French Typography 2

French Typography 7

French Typography 4

French Typography 5

French Typography 6

French Typography 3

French Typography 9

French Typography 10