M and M Signs and Graphics ! ! !

Check out my brother's store ! ! !

http://www.mandmgraphix.com/

Karin van Lieshout

Karin van Lieshout, http://www.karinvanlieshout.nl/, is best known for her nature-inspired datadrives but here are some other works by her that are smart design.

Gocco.Gooco.Gocco! Join the Fun........

Gocco Mania! Today the NY Times magazine featured the article: The Cult of Gocco. Go to the NY Times website and check it out. It highlighted the website www.savegocco.com- check it out. From there.....tons of Gocco info. Check it all out.

In class I said that I would post on the Object Design blog info on putting together and order for Gocco screens, ink, etc from Paper Source which has a retail space in DC. After visiting their website and seeing that they are unable to provide the screens, the key material, I found printaddictjapan on the Etsy site and ordered some screens and bulbs from them. I am happy to sell these to you, if you would like. You are also free to go on Etsy and purchase your own. I wanted to get some of these materials on their way so that we could keep moving forward with projects. If you jave ideas and feedback, let me know.

New Books- Atomic Books/Atomic Pop, Falls Road

These are worth your while! I will bring them to school this week, if they sound enticing go check them out.....don't wait for me! I got them at Atomic Books on the Ave in Hampden but there is also some DIY at Atomic Pop on falls Road. Does Michael's carry DIY books? Also check out other booksellers.

Anti-Racism on a Starbuck's Cup

From the Designer“Upset with the new Gay Marriage Ban Ammendment in Virginia? Let the world know!”

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/gay+marriage/-/pv_design_prod/p_storeid.85561631/pNo_85561631/id_15601127/opt_/pg_/c_/fpt_#

Wear the Cause

http://wearthecause.com

This company produces shirts that represent a cause, and anyone is free to submit work. They highlight several social issues on their website. What I think is interesting is that they specifically ask for work dealing with one sided issues, which makes sense if you think about it.

Baltimore Free Store

I was listening to NPR the other day and they did a piece on the Baltimore Free Store. The Free Store is like a flea market, only everything is donated and everything is free. It's run completly by volunteers and was started by Towson Students! "The concept for the Baltimore Free Store grew out of the work of a number of social justice organizations centered in Towson, MD. Students from Towson University, Goucher College, and area high schools worked together on issues of Fair Trade, labor rights, anti-war, animal rights, and other pro community related issues. From fighting for a Living Wage for workers on university campuses to opposing corporate globalization, the students and the community worked together to make great strides towards achieving social and economic justice. "
Unfortunatly I don't think they're having anymore events this year.
http://www.freestorebaltimore.org

Giving Back Exhibition

Check it out at www.eisnermuseum.org and surf from there!
The second image here is pointing out the scroll bar on the website....for additional exhibitions. I have highlighted two that pertain to social design.

Metropolis Mag on line

I was on Metropolis magazine's website earlier today and noticed the headlines that relate to Design Like You Give a Damn....check it out at
www.metropolis magazine.com

Design Competition for Students and Young Designers- Annual

Reverse Graffiti- a new way to send a message

This was such a great idea. All he wanted was the tunnel cleaned. He didn't hurt anything just simple sent a message and got a response. Great example of an innovative design.



Alexandre orion removes soot to draw the skulls and create the intervention
OSSARIO: Art Less Pollution

Great discussion today of Massive Change and Cradle to Cradle.....it was nice to listen and watch you all today.

This project called HAKKI (NO/SE) is interesting, it focuses on establishing/maintaining the sesne of community in a town in Sweden. The townspeople are involved in a collaberation with the project facilitors in designing tshirts with images on them that represent aspects of their town. the shirts are sold locally and the proceeds are then reinvested into the town. its goal is to promote a sense of pride in the community. there is more info at http://www.socialdesignsite.com/index.php%3Fidcatside%3D54. I posted this because its cool, but i also feel like its applicable to theresa's social issue, theresa your blog is still having some kind of posting problem.

Did You Know? Video

Interesting video on the state of the world and the future:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U
The links at the end look interesting as well.
Enjoy.

One Laptop Per Child

I learned of this program when I first saw the Design for the Other 90% exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt in the spring of 2007. It has received a ton of press and is an interesting object/product and idea. There is a big push aimed at the public/individuals to launch this. Reading recent press about the push to launch this, I immediately put it on my charitable donations shortlist. Purchasing/donating to the cause is within many people's reach. I have asked the Metals Club to consider this as a fundraising project.

This computer is a great example of social design which brings me to this course. What do you all think of forming a loose design collective where participants would get together to create multiples of socially designed objects from our course and then sell them at our sales and perhaps online to raise money to support the One laptop per Child program?

Nicholas Negraponte, the person behind this, is the former director of the Media Lab at MIT, a position I believe he left to launch this program. Checkout the website at http://laptop.org. There are many great features; the software is open source which is also great.....Fuel the Revolution!