Design Like You Give A Damn

green diamonds

2008-02-14T12:19:00.001-08:00

One organization attempting to address the widespread destruction of farm land in Sierra Leone as a result of diamond mining is One Sky: Canadian Institute of Sustainable Living. Partnered with the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, their current project enables consumers to contribute a donation or allot a percentage of the purchase of a diamond to go toward the development of restoration of land and the development of a sustainable farming system. Included in the restoration plan there is an emphasis on community participation during both the restoration phase as well as the lands' maintenance thereafter.
Initially, I was skeptical about the way the organization proposed to generate the funds for the project (the sale of more diamonds). This skepticism was most likely present due to the fact that I came across this information in the midst of reading about the murder, mutilation, and torture of millions by rebel troops funded by illegal diamond trading. Although I am aware there are regulations in place to greatly reduce the percentage of blood diamonds in the market, in the context of what I had been reading, buying more diamonds did not seem a very palatable solution for any part of the destruction in sierra leone.
After reading more about this organization, and their other efforts around the world, I better understand their stance and reasoning for using this approach toward funding the project. While the recovery of this region necessitates a larger effort than that of a smaller grass roots organization, this project and others that i'm sure exist are good starting points for education and action.

2008-01-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

2008-01-06T14:55:00.000-08:00

Nick Denton- For those of you who are coming around to the idea that blogs might be more than personal rants...

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Give Make Swap Ad Designs

2007-11-21T00:34:00.000-08:00

Hello All. Yesterday afternoon I uploaded the ad designs onto my main blog. Please check them out and leave comments. http://piggabear.blogspot.com/ Thanks, Claire

Ovation TV ! ! !

2007-11-18T16:04:00.000-08:00

http://www.ovationtv.com/

BP Helios House ! ! !

2007-11-18T15:52:00.001-08:00

Check Out this green Gas Station.

I was watching Ovation TV's Art and the City and they were talking about Art in Las Angeles and this was one gas station that was more Art and Eco-Green friendly then any other Gas station. The world's only Green Gas station everything that is except for the Gas but a good move in the right Direction.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/bp_helios_house.php

My brothers store !!!

2007-11-16T19:43:00.000-08:00

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chantilly-signs-graphics-banners.com/images/MandMNew-Location.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.chantilly-signs-graphics-banners.com/&h=168&w=300&sz=18&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=pVmFpRAF2KbpXM:&tbnh=65&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAmirgholi%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

THINK ! ! !

2007-11-13T12:43:00.001-08:00

Everyone check out MTV link below... Look what great things are happening....

www.think.mtv.com

Thoughts on Project III

2007-11-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Does anyone think we should do Swap-o-rama-rama prototypes? Should we reconfigure our own clothing (like Mariam's Towson T-shirt with the ruffles) and use that some how in our advertising, so people get a better idea of what will be going on?
Also, would the leftovers have to go to Goodwill, or would the Art Ed. Dept. take them? Would they be able to use fabric scraps, or is there a program that they run that could use that kind of donation. Also Art with a Heart maybe? I'm just thinking that not all our leftovers will be wearable clothing.

www.mikeandmaaike.com/www.velvetdavinci.com

2007-11-07T13:33:00.001-08:00

Mike Simonian and Maaike Evers of the San Francisco-based Mike and Maaike scoured Google Image Search for low-res photos of some of the most famous jewelry in the world-an Imelda Marcos necklace, the Hope Diamond-doctored them in Photoshop, and transferred the pixelated images to leather. The resulting Stolen Jewels collection distills the originals' bold sizes, shapes, and colors into striking graphic forms with a healthy dose of computer-age irony.

www.thecollection.fr

2007-11-07T13:06:00.000-08:00

There's something very French countryside about Danish designer Lene Toni Kjeld's screen-printed Transitional Wallpaper, named for the sense of movement created by one pattern drifting into another. The design was recently picked up by The Collection, a boutique that champions girly wall hangings in Paris' Marais district. Available in eight different patterns and four hybrids.

Brainstorming Project III

2007-11-07T06:37:00.000-08:00

M and M Signs and Graphics ! ! !

2007-10-30T17:34:00.001-07:00

Check out my brother's store ! ! !

http://www.mandmgraphix.com/

Karin van Lieshout

2007-10-28T07:35:00.001-07:00

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........

2007-10-21T13:07:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-20T13:46:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-20T13:41:00.001-07:00

2007-10-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-09T05:24:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-06T06:03:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-06T06:00:00.001-07:00

Reverse Graffiti- a new way to send a message

2007-10-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-04T20:51:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-04T18:36:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-10-01T05:29:00.000-07:00

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!

John Bowe, Author on Jon Stewart

2007-09-28T11:58:00.001-07:00

The following is from the Comedy Central website there is a video component.

GREEN FESTIVAL ! ! !

2007-09-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

Washington D.C is Hosting a Green Festival on Oct 6 and 7 @ Washington D.C Convention Centerhttp://www.greenfestivals.org/content/view/625/280/

Cradle to Cradle ! ! !

2007-09-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

Cradle to Cradle ! ! !
http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm

Bloggin for a Cause

2007-09-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

Check this out.

Hello everyone

2007-09-17T22:04:00.000-07:00

Just checking in....My new hero is: Zach Hunter who founded Loose Change to Loosen Chains. On my spot, http://piggabear.blogspot.com/ I posted a link to his myspace page.

New Material

2007-09-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

The University bookstore carries something called "Wall Pops" which you can put on the wall, peel off the wall and reposition if you want. Apparently they aren't permenent. They come in all sorts of colors. You can get dots, blox, or stripes, but I don't see why you couldn't cut them to fit your needs.

Good Deeds- Check these out

2007-09-12T05:46:00.001-07:00

http://mygooddeed.org/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070910/ts_csm/adogood

Instructables Web Site

2007-09-07T19:21:00.001-07:00

Check it out: http://www.instructables.com/