Social Design.ed

Old Arizona Publication

2010-05-07T08:45:00.000-07:00

BIKE+COMMUNITY

2010-05-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

bikepluscommunity.com

NFB for Minnesota, Experience and Book

2010-05-06T03:43:00.001-07:00

This book shows our experience and process with the NFB project. Its not a process book but a book of our journey of learning a great deal of things while being involved with students and staff at the NFB.

The book contains documents in braille that enable you to write your own life manifesto, as well as how to critique artwork and prepare for being an artist in society.

The DVD in the back contains audio recordings of Emily, Alex and I talking about our experiences of the semester long project and relationship building. The other sounds are running audio of the tactile work exhibition and tour of MCAD. The screen prints are gloss acrylic on black paper that not necessarily about what is seen but how it feels different on the page. It is seen in a way that reveals pictures of things along the path of our walks to the National Federation of the Blind, but in a different visual context than showing a picture with colors. The screen prints act as dividers in between the braille documents giving different textures in between braille documents.

This was an amazing project for us. It was a lot of time and effort put into building relationships and re-thinking what graphic design can be in the light of the need or no need of objects and tangible things. It shaped our existing perceptions and gave us new ones we never knew existed.

NFB Coffee Cupping

2010-05-06T01:33:00.000-07:00

These are the first images taken for the NFB project.

We approached A.J. Warnick to do a coffee cupping for a few students and staff members of the NFB. Coffee can be a great part of social culture when appreciated so highly. Its something that people gather around to hang out and discuss life and what not to each other, and we wanted to have that experience with some members from the NFB.

US+THEM-->From Me To You

2010-05-03T01:23:00.000-07:00

In the last Us+Them meeting we had, I think everyone felt like we were hitting many dead ends and had come to a point where no one wanted to be a part of Us+Them. I think what we were interested in was the ideas behind it without all of the logistics. There were great things brought up though, about individuals and groups being able to interpret things on their own.

Well as a member just like everyone else involved in Us+Them, I thought I would act upon an idea keeping in mind that it can be my interpretation of what Us+Them means, based off of some things we discussed.

I decided to do From Me To You, a way of doing an art/design project by mail. It is form making, ideation, and dialogue. I send two screen prints. 1. is something that I think is related to community. 2. this is where the recipient puts an interpretation of what they think might be community related: This one they send back to me. The instructions are brief and are made sure to be clear that it is fun and very much open to what they want to do with it.

Project Open

2010-04-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

projectOPEN was conceived in 2005 to assist homeless populations in various communities throughout the US by providing a guide to meet four objectives:
The guide includes a list and map of organizations who specialize in services for the homeless.
The guide helps to locate services available to all citizens within a city that homeless people can utilize for free.
The guide includes a section on both personal rights and laws to encourage social education and to encourage people to follow the law.
The guide is portable and can be displayed as a poster to raise awareness about homelessness.

Austin Center for Design Website

2010-04-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

A wicked problem is a form of social or cultural problem that is difficult to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements. These problems are typically offloaded to policy makers, or are written off as being too cumbursome to bother with. Yet these are the problems that plague our world and our cities - poverty, sustainability, equality and health and wellness are issues that touch each and every one of us.

These problems can be mitigated through the process of design - through an intellectual approach to design that emphasizes empathy, abductive reasoning, and rapid prototyping. These are the problems that are addressed at the Austin Center for Design.

Learn more about wicked problems

http://www.austincenterfordesign.com/faculty.php

Austin Center for Design

2010-04-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

PROJECT

Austin Center for Design

In Austin, Texas, a school is launched to help designers build economically

viable careers working for social betterment.

By Kaomi Goetz

t’s a design school at least 15 years in the making, an idea that simmered in the

back of Jon Kolko’s brain. The interactive designer (an associate creative director

at Frog Design in Austin, Texas) and one-time Savannah College of Art and Design

instructor had long wanted to create an environment that could help designers find

more meaning in their careers. It was a concern of many of Kolko’s former

students, who were working at what were considered dream jobs, places like

Nike and Starbucks.

“They’re doing the things that everyone was led to believe one does in design

school, and now they’re questioning it,” he says. “They feel that they’re adding

to the consumptive nature of the world.”

http://changeobserver.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=13388

Rick Valicenti

2010-04-21T17:06:00.000-07:00

Call to Action / A Moving Design Workshop

Rick Valicenti, of Moving Design invites passionate, fearless, and brilliant designers to join forces inside the Archeworks Studio. Come together to advance powerful ideas in response to the glocalissues underscored in Archeworks’ Infrastructures for Change Conference. During 11 summer-evening sessions over 6 weeks you will convert design into a tangible and real social currency.

OA Bumper

2010-04-21T07:14:00.001-07:00

Hey guys,

Here's a bumper for Old Arizona. The look is supposed to be kind of DIY/GIRL POWER. I was wondering if the text is clearly readable? I know the type looks kind of stretched and wonky, but we'll fix it for sure. We just need a couple of extra set of eyes to make sure things are legible.

Tactile Mind

2010-04-16T06:03:00.000-07:00

Photographer Lisa J. Murphy has found a way to make porn truly touching with her bizarre Braille versions of nude images.

Thursday, April 15, 2010 17:21 GMT

TORONTO (Wireless Flash - FlashNews) – Porn has never been so touching – especially now that there’s a Braille version for the blind.

Photographer Lisa J. Murphy has just created Tactile Mind, a book of nude images sculpted on thermoform plastic pages – the same material used in Braille paper.

All the lines, ridges, and crevices of the body parts are touchable, so the pictures can be enjoyed by the visually impaired. To fully feel the erotica, they each come with an accompanying description in Braille.

Murphy, who’s a volunteer at the Canadian National Institute For The Blind, calls the book a “labor of love.”

Each sexy image took her about 50 hours to sculpt so it would be interpreted accurately by the sightless.

Her tactile creations include a woman’s naked breasts, an uncircumcised penis and testicles, and a shaved vagina.

None of her art seems to be getting lost in translation because in her words, “Blind folks say my work is good. Wink, wink.”

Flags Flags Flags!

2010-04-12T22:52:00.000-07:00

Here is a glimpse at our flag distribution today!

Dieter Rams: 10 Principles of Effective Design

2010-04-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

Back in the early 1980s, Dieter Rams was becoming increasingly concerned by the state of the world around him – “an impenetrable confusion of forms, colours and noises.” Aware that he was a significant contributor to that world, he asked himself an important question: is my design good design?

As good design cannot be measured in a finite way he set about expressing the ten most important principles for what he considered was good design. (Sometimes they are referred as the ‘Ten commandments’.)

http://www.vitsoe.com/en/gb/about/dieterrams/gooddesign

time to rethink design

2010-04-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

Culturally connected design

Making Design matter should be about ‘mind over matter’.

Using our creative minds, our collective imagination

and ability to evolve human construction. The act

of design is a truly powerful human intervention, but we

must do it lightly and we must think more coherently

before we act. All design should support or strengthen

life in one way or another.

Does design have a value if it does not favour the human

context? Design remains an isolated foreign object when

it has no sense of belonging; it employs no reward and

processes no genus loci. The best design has so often

managed to transfer social trends and lifestyle changes

into successful responsive products and services. It does

so by holding onto a holistic perspective, which respects

humanistic values and cultural identity.

Designs’ DNA needs to be reconfigured. Rather than

continue to focus its attention upon invention, innovation,

and enterprise, it should be reconciling the human

state and contributing humility, compassion, empathy

and beauty. To transcend the norm, and to leave the
world a better place than we found it.
Design is no longer about the lifestyle, but the lifecycle.

Everything that is man made is designed, so we cannot

blame nature for overreacting or the current design

aware generation for poor quality. We must orientate

our endeavours towards understanding ambiguity and

contradiction, embracing diversity over uniformity and

identifying inclusiveness, over exclusiveness.

Designer Naoto Fukasawa speaks about this kind of design

ethic, in a recent interview: “I understand that my

role is about enhancing our living…. I’ve become more

attached to the current life, and have started considering

the betterment of our lives in a reality where we all

belong, rather than predicting what could happen”. This

interview displays Naoto’s interest in the act of living

the now. He puts his ear to the ground and listens. He

brings sensuality and ritual back into our lives.
http://www.davidreport.com/the-report/time-to-rethink-design

Futurefarmers Lend a Hand

2010-04-08T05:29:00.000-07:00

Thank you to The Futurefarmers, a multi-disciplinary Artist/ Designer collaboration formed to "cultivate consciousness" , for coming through our class to lend their insight into our current design projects.

Thinking Wrong

2010-04-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

Edited by Chelsea Holden Baker / Photographs by Jarrod McCab

John Bielenberg discusses: Thinking wrong and doing right, living in an unprecedented time at the edge of the earth, the fearlessness of Icelanders, and the importance of pie.

John Bielenberg is an expert in thinking wrong. A partner in the San Francisco-based design strategy firm C2 (“Creative Capital”), Bielenberg lives in Belfast, Maine, where he started Project M (“Mentor) in the summer of 2003. Project M is a mental gymnastics camp for young creatives who are already inspired to contribute to the greater good, but are looking for a platform to collaborate and generate ideas and projects bigger than themselves. In the coming year, Bielenberg will convert socially-minded catalysts to “think wrong” in Saudi Arabia; Frankfurt, Germany; Hilo, Hawaii; and The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, among other locations, including one in Maine.

Bielenberg wears a black wristband that says, “THINKWRONG.” He is always ready to jump the tracks of lateral thinking if that means he can find a path to change.

He is actually, and not abstractly, concerned with pressing social issues: from an empty lot in Detroit to humanity’s stress on the world’s resources. He has a serious voice and a playful mind. His home base is the Bielenberg Institute at the Edge of the Earth in Belfast, Maine.

M: How did you find your way to “The Edge of the Earth”?

JB: Since about 1990 or so, my wife Dee and I began an attempt to get out of the rat race. We had a map that filled an entire wall of our house in San Francisco, and every time we heard about a place or saw a movie that seemed interesting, we’d put a pin in the map and visit those places. A River Runs Through It put a pin in Bozeman, Montana. Places like Taos, New Mexico; Boise, Idaho; and Nelson, British Columbia made the map. I ended up moving to Boulder, Colorado, for three years, but found that the rats were following us.

Moving was tied in to having kids. What we found was that there’s no utopia. It was hard to put together a pie chart that had everything we wanted in the amounts we wanted. My wife was in the fashion business, and she was working with a small software company in Camden that had production software for the garment industry. She loved Camden, and we ended up buying a vacation house there. I went on a bike ride one summer, came back and said, “Let’s just move here.” Then we discovered Belfast; it’s a little bit funkier, and less on the tourist route.

M: Did the move to Maine change the way you were working?

JB: I’m still a partner in C2— with Erik Cox and Greg Galle—which does design, brand strategy, and idea generation. We run “Think Wrong Tanks” around creativity and alternative thinking for corporations. I spend a quarter of my time at our studio in San Francisco. But moving to Maine allowed me to develop Project M, to inspire young creative people to shape a more positive future. This came out of my experience of teaching in California for over ten years, but also just living in an unprecedented time of tipping points: climate change and the end of peak oil, deforestation, species extinction, and the rise of the middle class in India and China. The status quo is not acceptable.

M: What are our options?

JB: You can be pessimistic or optimistic. The pessimistic view is that we’re doomed eventually. Or the optimistic view, which I prefer, is that you realize design, creativity, human innovation, and invention are really the only ways that we can change course and our behavior.

Once I made the choice to be optimistic, I looked at who could make that shift. It was not going to be old people—they have what I call “calcified synapses.” Once you reach a certain age, you pretty much just follow what you know. And we couldn’t wait until young kids are old enough to be in positions of power, it wouldn’t be fast enough. So Project M focuses on the 20-to-30 age range and tries to infect those kids with the idea that they can have a role in the future to shape the greater good. In the seven years that I’ve been doing Project M, I’ve seen a tidal wave of interest.

JB: We have four components: [1] There are the original sessions with a group of ten people for two or four weeks. We go someplace, completely immerse ourselves: meet people, talk, photograph, figure out a project, and do it. [2] We’ve also started Project M labs. These are places where there are projects happening throughout the year, usually staffed by alumni of the Project M sessions. The first was in Alabama, which is running now. We’re starting one here in Maine, one in California. [3] A third piece is ventures. Sometimes Project M creates things that have an afterlife. For example, a group in Maine went down to Alabama and
built “Pie Lab.” It’s a pie and coffee shop up front and an operating design studio out back. It’s an interface, a way to integrate the projects with community members. The conversations drive ideas, which drive design projects. We’re planning on opening more Pie Labs around the country. Another venture is Nada Bike, which I call “Zen and the Art of Bicycle Maintenance.” It’s really not about bikes as things, but about empowerment, mobility, and freedom from oil and marketing. You become a member of Nada for $100. Your membership card is a raw bike frame. [4] And recognizing that not everybody can take two or four weeks out their life, we also do “blitzes,” 48-hour projects—condensing Project M into the shortest time possible—to give people a taste of our process and methodology and hopefully create something out of that.

M: How do you approach sessions or blitzes?

JB: I don’t come in preloaded. It’s about the group figuring out what they want to do together. I want them to go through the experience of being social entrepreneurs, not waiting for a project, but finding something they feel is meaningful, and they’re passionate about, and then figuring out how to actually do something about it. My job is to push and pull. Thinking wrong is a big part of the process and philosophy. If you want to come up with truly new, innovative ideas that can potentially be more effective in solving these various problems, you cannot only follow pre-existing synaptic pathways in the creative process.

M: So part of your job is to be disruptive.

JB: Yes. And I have a toolkit for that. In the blitz we did at College of the Atlantic, everyone was thinking about Haiti. So we divide into small groups. Each group picks two numbers. A number between one and 300 and a number between one and ten. Let’s say a group picks 185 and two. You pick up an encyclopedia and turn to page 185 and the second word down is their word—horseshoe. They take that horseshoe and spend half-an hour free-associating. They can rearrange the letters to form other words, or it can remind someone of riding lessons which makes them think of black boots, which brings up licorice. You create a mind map off of horseshoe. At the end, you see if there are any connections between Haiti and all of the stuff that you’ve randomly generated. It’s interesting when you force the brain to make connections that never would have happened if you didn’t start with horseshoe.

M: You seem to have a fascination with the human brain. How conscious are you of your own thought patterns?

JB: I’m aware of this all the time. We are all creatures of habit—that’s how we’re designed. If you’re in a restaurant and you get a glass with clear liquid in it, you drink it. You don’t test it to see if it’s hydrochloric acid. There are certain assumptions that allow us to exist in the world. It only becomes problematic when we’re trying to innovate or be creative, when there’s a functional reason to think wrong.

M: You’ve taken Project M to many different types of communities and cultures. How does the experience differ?

JB: The first year we went down to rural Alabama. Everybody was from the North and came down with existing ideas about the deep South, about civil rights, about segregation and discrimination, ready to do something based on those preexisting expectations. As outsiders, it’s dangerous to do that. We had a backlash from a certain part of the community because of the project we did, which was to raise money to buy water meters to hook people up with fresh water. You would think that would be a benign issue—who’s against hooking people up with water?—but you’d be surprised. So we learned how to be more sensitive, how to be smarter about listening.
But I’ll contrast that with Iceland last February. This was when the economy of Iceland collapsed, and they overthrew the government, so the group of forty Icelandic students did projects related to that political and economic collapse. I realized that in Iceland there’s a lot of personal freedom. There’s a lack of racism and discrimination because the culture is very similar. There’s no litigation, so people are kind of fearless. There’s no crime. There are no murders. Police don’t carry guns. I was amazed at how courageous the students and even the institution, the Iceland Academy of Arts, were. As much as I learned in Alabama, it was almost the opposite in Iceland. Those kids could have done anything and they would have been embraced. So the places where we work influence the projects quite a bit—and they differ radically from one place to another.

M: Who is thinking so wrong that it’s right?

JB: My partners at C2 and I have recently launched MavLab which uses Project M
processes to address big important issues. The d.school at Stanford University also uses a lot of this type of thinking. There’s a guy named Paul Polak, who started D-Rev: Design for the Other 90%, who’s trying to change the world through design-thinking and tackling problems in unique ways. There’s a young woman named Emily Pilloton who has an organization called Project H—as in humanity. There’s a school in Denmark called KaosPilots. And of course, anybody who’s interested can contact me through Project M.

http://themainemag.com/features2/1202-thinking-wrong.html

To hear John Bielenberg speak about Project M
in person on April 27th, register for the Tech Maine event at: techmaine.com/uuug

Project M | projectmlab.com
C2 | c2llc.com
Pie Lab | pielab.org
Nada Bike | nadabike.com

How to Make Money and Save the World

2010-04-05T13:46:00.001-07:00

http://www.good.is/post/making-money-while-making-a-difference/

Old Arizona Events that sound awesome!

2010-03-27T21:24:00.000-07:00

April 9 - Wine Tasting
$20 pre sale $25 at the door
Sample and learn about a variety of fine wines, Imported and domestic cheese and small plates will be served.

April 10 - Spaghetti Western
$10
All you can eat spaghetti (watch out world! here i come!)
Clint Eastwood movies

PROJECT M: MIDWEST JULY 5-18

2010-03-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

Please circulate this to all young designers that you know. The structure will be that MCAD students will be accepted to PROJECT M through tuition cost, and another 8-10 PROJECT M'ers will apply through John and PROJECT M. I am going to post on AIGA sites as well as academic centers in Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Illinois etc. I will also send to the MCAD Alumnus and local design studios. Let's get the word out to make sure young designers are aware.

Minnesota Facts

2010-03-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of me gramps. Dudes crazy.

fits in with Tansoso's project pretty well.
check out the link. a good way of waste time.

http://drop.io/ol8cqqd#

SAC Money

2010-03-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

Would anyone be interested in donating their alloted SAC $$ for a pair of goats or a cow for ARAHA? Also does anyone know if that's even allowed?

BIKE+COMMUNITY

2010-03-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

http://bikepluscommunity.tumblr.com/

Take a look at our photos from B-Roll footage day for the Bike+Community documentary.

DA BOMB GROUP

2010-03-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

What differentiates the MCAD educational design experience from other schools?

What differentiates Minneapolis design from other regions/cities?

If the umbrella for your bomb is US+THEM (may be also include the DVD) and you include many of the projects being produced in this class along with some other examples would this project the image that defines what you are doing? To call other schools out to engage with real projects and to get serious about design.

I like the Ice Cooler Box, but I am concerned that it is going to be too large and bulky. It is going to take a lot of stuff to fill it and then it might be problematic mailing the sucker. Are there smaller coolers available? Can you make a smaller cooler?

I would like to see a prototype this week

2010-03-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

In response to our meeting for US+THEM this week, I decided to spend a
little time on mapping and getting out some ideas so that we can create an
outline to start putting up on the blog and sending out to people.

I know we can start sending out US+THEM to people and it can be a fun
thing. Lets forget move past whatever has made this not enjoyable for us
and take it into our own hands do something. We already know people we can
send this to.

-Dancin' Clair

Worldstudio/SVA: Social Change

2010-03-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

This is another reason why what we are doing is relevant and needed. This type of work needs to be owned by MCAD–send the DESIGN BOMBS

http://www.sva.edu/impact/

I HAVE SEEN THE ENEMY: DESIGN BOMB

2010-03-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

This is a MICA student portfolio site:

http://www.sincerelymichael.com

This is not a cardboard tube

2010-03-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

Design Indaba

US+THEM: blog

2010-03-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

Here is the link to the Us+THEM blog. I posted the rules and mission statement that I had at this point prepared.

http://usplsthem.blogspot.com/

I do not know how to add people on to the blog yet, so we can go over that in class so that everyone has access.
Also- A few questions that we need to discuss.
1. Should we instead have an abstract mark that would be shared and passed on too?
(Thank you Annie)
2. The concern with the use of iconography within the development of "US" and "THEM"?
(Thank you Ted)
3. Lastly, what is the meaning of the "+" sign?(Thank you Dylan and Dan)

I thought it was pretty decided upon in our discussion last week that any response in regards to the idea of US + THEM could be whatever is needed to be, so long as it's relatively positive and defined within the communities that the interpretation is effecting. The "+" sign reads as "and" or "plus", but what it means is any form of "action". What brings the individual, or group of individuals to react with communities and vice versa. What is that relationship? Does there need to be a better connection? ect.
What do you guys think?

Thanks!
-kasia

Park Nicollet Typographical Advertisement

2010-03-17T19:53:00.000-07:00

 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=294140773952&ref=m

BIKE + COMMUNITY

2010-03-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

It has been decided that the Bike+Community group will be putting together a small documentary about some individuals who are stepping up and doing extraordinary things just for the good of it all.

The focus right now is the North Minneapolis Neighborhood, and here is some "b-roll" footage we collected yesterday:

http://vimeo.com/10227261

We are scheduled to start conducting interviews this Friday.

Out,

Bike+Community

US+THEM : Discussion on Rules

2010-03-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

US+THEM

Hi guys,
> This is the email that is going to start our decision making in regards to
> the Rules of US+THEM.
> From what we discussed last Thursday, we decided that:
>
> 1. If the phrase "US+THEM” is used, the "+" symbol needs to be somewhere
> within the design/message. So long as “us” and “them” is used within a
> language, that is universal.
> 2. It is important to just respond.
> 3. The "US+THEM" blog will be a center for all internet communication and
> display.
> All individuals must contribute something first before joining the blog.
> 4.This is a question; a discourse. Not complete control. Let it be.
>
>
> Any concerns should be brought to light immediately. Bernard asked whether
> it would still be under the spirit of "US+THEM" if someone decided to
> make a smiley face+ butt as a representation of US+THEM. Myself and the
> rest of the group responded by deciding that there can be a positive
> intention, however if this is to go global, the representation will take
> on many forms.
>
> By Wednesday we need to accomplish this:
> The logo rules: come up with limitations of the identity
> and--
> Setting up the blog for US+THEM
>
>
> Thanks guys:)
> -kasia
>

Also-- please those who respond, declare whether you are going to join this group so that I can keep track on who to email and keep in touch with.

Also--There is a sweet t-shirt design competition that Bernard posted earlier this week, which could be a good vehicle to start making designs and thinking of ways to spread the message.

any and all ideas are welcome-- please respond by Wednesday

<3

Design Thinking for Social Innovation

2010-03-15T00:25:00.000-07:00

Read Article

Design Ignites Change: Create Don't Hate

2010-03-12T20:41:00.000-08:00

Propelling Ideas into Action

Ted Commented about the Create Don't Hate billboard project he is involved in at a local school and I thought I'd connect this project to the larger context of Design Ignites Change, which founded this, and many other, social initiatives.

Design Ignites Change, a collaboration between Adobe Youth Voices and Worldstudio, engages high school and college students in multidisciplinary design and architecture projects that address pressing social issues. Participants are encouraged to apply design thinking—the combination of unleashed creativity and executable actions—to problems that exist in their own communities.

Supporting Educators

Design Ignites Change enables high school and college educators to involve their students in projects that have positive social impact. The program offers guidance on running social-change projects and visibility for participating schools on the Design Ignites Change website.

Promoting Student Work

Student projects—in the form of case studies—are showcased on the Design Ignites Change website, a public exchange of ideas that gives visibility to the participants. Projects of note are promoted through the program’s public relations campaign to the business and creative communities, as well as the general public. View projects

Funding Innovation

Participating students and educators gain the entrepreneurial skills to secure funding for their projects. Using open-source documents and resources, the Design Ignites Change program provides a structure for students and educators to learn about various funding models that can help them carry out their projects.

Honoring Great Projects

Projects are eligible for a Design Ignites Change Award in one of two categories. The Idea Award will be given to a promising and innovate social change concept and the Implementation Award will offer grants for the real-world execution of a promising community project. In both categories, a jury of creative, business and civic leaders will select the project or projects they feel have the greatest ability to impact positive change on a local level.

Mentoring

Mentoring initiatives bring together college students and professional designers to collaborate with underserved high school students to execute a project around a compelling social theme.
Initiatives are supported by a robust set of open-source guidebooks and documents that give even the inexperienced mentor the tools they need to successfully complete the project while providing a rewarding experience for the student and themselves. Currently Design Ignites Change has two mentoring initiatives underway: Create! Don’t Hate. and School: by Design

Join Us!

To learn more about how your school or organization can participate in Design Ignites Change, visit the Join Us! section of the website.

For more information about becoming a partner or sponsor, visit the Partners section of the website or contact Andréa Pellegrino.

PROJECT M: Blitz

2010-03-12T13:30:00.000-08:00

http://themegryan.com/blitz/

Design with little Means

2010-03-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

Afrigadget

AfriGadget is a website dedicated to showcasing African ingenuity. A team of bloggers and readers contribute their pictures, videos and stories from around the continent. The stories of innovation are inspiring. It is a testament to Africans bending the little they have to their will, using creativity to overcome life’s challenges.

US + THEM: MIA TEE SHIRT

2010-03-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

GET ON IT: This project is taylor-made for all the projects being produced in class.

'Otto Neurath: Gypsy Urbanism'

2010-03-12T06:49:00.000-08:00

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/9410/otto-neurath-gypsy-urbanism.html

The exhibition 'otto neurath. gypsy urbanism' is dedicated to the work of the viennese philosopher and economist otto neurath (1882–1945). this scientist, housing activist and museum director, who constantly worked for the advancement of participative forms of democratic exchange, collaborated with architects, designers and artists of his day – including franz schuster, josef frank, and margarete schütte- lihotzky – and with protagonists of the so-called vienna circle, of which he was a member.

the exhibition concentrates on four essential aspects of neurath’s work. the first part contains artifacts and never-before-seen film sequences showing the viennese 'settlement movement' of the 1920s, a period during which neurath began his career and worked together closely with the architects franz schuster and margarete schütte lihotzky. following the dissolution of the austro-hungarian monarchy, austrian social democrats made housing construction in vienna their top priority. when settlers laid claim to public lands and began building houses and setting up gardens 'like gypsies', neurath recognized the phenomenon as an opportunity to institute housing reform measures that were to be based on grass-roots organization and barter.

the focus of the MAK exhibition is the austrian museum for social and economic affairs, which grew out of a series of touring exhibitions and was officially founded in 1925 as an association for popular education. taking on the role of museum director there, neurath introduced numerous concepts having to do with exhibition presentation, and photographic documentation of these is on display in the works on paper room. together with josef frank, neurath developed associative systems that were mobile and could therefore be shown anywhere. the idea was to portray the world via statistics and historical data – amounted to a political world atlas of civilization for laypeople.this project also thought of as a 'museum without borders' was the starting point for the 'is otype' image documentation system developed by neurath. in light of the political changes that coincided with the first world war, neurath ascertained that there was a deep reaching structural transformation from a society of labor to one of knowledge. the international pictorial language he developed together with the graphic artist gerd arntz can be understood as a reaction to these new conditions. taking pictograms as a basis, neurath and arntz created the 'vienna method of pictorial statistics' also known as 'isotype' (international system of typographic picture education), which facilitated generally comprehensible, precise depictions of complicated material such as numerical data and statistics. this means that complex relationships were portrayed in a simple, understandable way, independent of societal structures and language. neurath viewed social and cultural education as a motor of self-determination for the working class, as well as a catalyst of political change. a further part of the exhibition shows the dissemination of otto neurath’s ideas in england, the USA and what was then the soviet union. the exhibition is on display at the MAK works on paper room until september 5 in vienna, austria.

WHAT WE DO | SPARC Design

2010-03-11T15:16:00.001-08:00

WHAT WE DO | SPARC Design

SPARC represents a pioneering experiment to measure the effectiveness of an embedded design group within the institution as agents for change.

— Lorna Ross, Design Manager

The center's research and development origins trace back almost a decade — to Mayo's SPARC Innovation Program (See-Plan-Act-Refine-Communicate). SPARC is now the center's Design Studio and a bridge between the medical practice and human-centered design thinking.

This problem-solving approach is used to improve consumer health care experiences and delivery. SPARC designers use research methods such as observing patients and interviewing families, along with traditional consumer research, including visualization, modeling and rapid prototyping. Design thinking matches people's needs with what is technologically feasible and considers how a viable business strategy converts into consumer value.

technologically feasible and considers how a viable business strategy converts into consumer value.The Center for Innovation's SPARC Design Studio is the first to be integrated into a medical practice setting. The studio space includes an outpatient lab that allows for the observation of patients while they interact with providers in

the clinical setting.The Center for Innovation's SPARC Design Studio is the first to be integrated into a medical practice setting. The studio space includes an outpatient lab that allows for the observation of patients while they interact with providers in the clinical setting.

HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN

Leading companies are accelerating innovation through a concept relatively new to business strategy design thinking.SPARC designer/researchers work together from many different backgrounds, but all share a passion for understanding people's needs and then collaborating with others to design solutions that creatively address those needs. Designers marry tried-and-true research methods, such as observing patients, interviewing families and traditional consumer research, with design tools like visualization, modeling and prototyping, an approach not common to the health care setting.

Mayo's decision to fuse design principles and hypothesis-based scientific method is invaluable to uncovering the various human needs involved in the health care environment. This approach contributes to Mayo's ability to understand human needs and create a health care experience unlike any other.

SPARC CAPABILITIES AND SERVICES

Design research and strategy

Service and experience design

Product design

Design thinking education

Environment evaluation and modification

The studio space is located in a patient care corridor and includes exam rooms and a glass-enclosed, reconfigurable space. The space is designed to allow for team collaboration, and is also set in a live clinical area which enables the rapid prototyping of ideas in practice.

OUTPATIENT LAB

Center for Innovation designers also observe patient and provider experiences in the hospital, in patients' homes and in other settings. Before an encounter is observed, patients are asked if they are comfortable with the observation. "Mayo Clinic's culture of teamwork is well-suited for innovation and sets it apart from other health care institutions," says Spurrier. "Our patients have a long history of participating in our research and education endeavors."

http://centerforinnovation.mayo.edu/sparc.html

Do Something: The Half Campaign

2010-03-11T06:23:00.001-08:00

Do Something: The Half Campaign

GOOD Education > Widgets and Stone on March 10, 2010 at 12:00 pm PST

How designers are helping to turn around struggling schools.

Going to school is a right of passage, a common denominator in the experience of growing up as an American.

But in our schools, only half of a child’s education takes place in the classroom—the rest happens in the lunchroom, on the playground, in the in-between spaces. And only half comes directly from teachers—the rest comes from administrators, coaches, parents, neighbors and volunteers.

Except, of course, for when it doesn’t.

Our city of Chattanooga has some of the lowest performing public schools in Tennessee. In recent years, we have looked to state and foundation-sponsored solutions like magnet schools, infrastructure improvements and teacher development programs. These are important steps forward, but in doing so, we outsource the education of our kids to someone else—be it teachers, administrators, or policymakers.

But education isn’t the only place we do this. We outsource our health to insurance companies, our finances to banks, our neighbors to social services, our elderly to nursing homes. Why should our children be any different?

This is not an indictment of the whole system. We believe that teachers carry the weight of our kids on their shoulders; we should thank them more often. We should thank staff and administrators more, too. Rather, maybe the problem with schools is a problem with those of us who have long since graduated.

What if we were to do something truly revolutionary. What if we were to get involved, right now, for half an hour.

Last year, we called together a group of local architects, designers, community leaders and writers, along with Project M’s John Bielenberg and GOOD’s creative director Casey Caplowe, for a two-day convention called, “The End of Design (is to improve life)." The agenda was to find one great idea and take it beyond ideation—to actually do something.

After agreeing that grade school education is a major concern in Chattanooga, the team met with local administrators and teachers. A plan quickly evolved: The Half Campaign asks parents of students, professionals and retirees to volunteer for half an hour each month, to serve a local school and the children that attend it.

Since that time, we have been working with two of downtown Chattanooga's most challenged schools, Battle Academy and Calvin Donaldson Elementary. The hope of a planning period was to ensure that a great idea did not do more harm than good. Simply having a good idea, or just talking about it, is too often a substitute for sustainable change.

Half is not simply about innovation or a PR-worthy launch. It is about building connective tissue that connects the dots, because half an hour is a commitment, and it can make a real difference.

Patty Streip, a family partnership specialist at Battle Academy, said that the biggest benefit is changing students’ perceptions of themselves.

"Research is clear that parent involvement is one of the biggest factors in whether a child succeeds in school," she told our local news outlet, Chattarati.com. "For the child whose parent can't or doesn't choose to become involved in a hands-on way, having a 'respected adult' who comes to lunch once a month, or who reads for one half hour, the impact can be enormous."

Kim Honeycutt, who developed a writing course for low-scoring students at Calvin Donaldson, is using Half volunteers as coaches for her kindergartners and as tutors for older kids: "The main criteria is asking good questions because you genuinely want to know. Many of these students don’t have anyone telling them that their thoughts matter, that what they have to say matters, that their words are powerful.”

Every time a volunteer steps into a child’s school, into the lunchroom or classroom, the volunteer brings skills, knowledge and experience. But there is something deeper that happens, too, because the volunteer simply brings his or herself. We come into schools because we want to be there; a kid sees that, and can’t help wonder if school has more value than he thought. Even better, he soon comes to realize that it’s not really about the school. He is the reason why we’re there.

“The community member benefits by getting an inside look at something they otherwise might just read about,” said Streip. “The benefit of that is huge, because there is a lot more good happening in public schools than there is bad. She might well become an advocate for public education, and they can speak not from ignorance but from first-hand experience.”

There is, of course, something unapolgetically disingenuous about asking for half an hour. The hope is that, over time, people will be drawn in and give even more. But even if that remains the exception rather than the rule, as more and more people give half an hour, a lot of kids’ lives will be touched.

Change needs to start somewhere. A half an hour is a great place to start. And lot of half-hours add up—helping kids to grow whole.

Graphics via.

Widgets & Stone is a design studio that connects business with creativity. They design tools and strategies that benefit economy, communication, innovation and brand.

US+THEM

2010-03-10T21:11:00.001-08:00

In regards to US+THEM:
I sent an email to John which presented our mission statement, asking him to perhaps pick this message up and spread it to his colleagues. It wasn't decided upon exactly what he would or would want to do with it- so in order to keep the ball rolling on this project, I thought we should do another blitz perhaps this week, or we could decide upon a way to throw the message of US+THEM out to the public in a different format.
Any ideas?
Also- I wasn't aware of being project leader; and otherwise felt that this was a class effort in regards to most of our declared group projects. There is a meeting for US+THEM with Bernard tomorrow at 5:15. Is there anyone who would like to join we with this project? Please let me know.
Also:
Here is john's response:
Thanks for keeping me in the loop!

Also, spread the word about Project M in Maine this May.
http://www.projectmlab.com/downloads/ProjectM10MEpost.pdf

Best,
John

John Bielenberg

C2 and Project M
25 Congress Street / Belfast / Maine / 04915
207.338.0101 studio / 207.323.0792 cell

www.c2llc.com
www.projectmlab.com

Blind of Minnesota

2010-03-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

National Federation of the Blind for Minnesota:

TEAM:
Dan
Alex
Emily

Group Leaders:
Dan + Alex

We have met with Shawn who is the director of Blind Inc. and one of the directors at the NFB Minnesota chapter. We have learned many things about the NFB by meeting with Shawn. The organizations motto and goals are to equip the visually impaired with many skills as well as the confidence in life to carry out daily life and pursuing dreams.

The NFB has many programs for their members and students to take part in. Enabling students goes along with every activity and program in some way or another. We have taken interest in these activities and programs and discussed with Shawn today about some ideas of our relationship as design students with the NFB.

POSSIBLE STEPS/MOVING FORWARD
Possible outcomes we have begun to talk more about is to enable artists and anyone who wants to pursue creative endeavours. This might be a packet or survival kit for a blind artist, which is stemming from the idea of MCAD's use of the learning center and to do/survival forms for artists. JUST AN IDEA THOUGH.

CONTACTS SO FAR:

Shawn May0

Paul Wharton
Vice President - Creative at Larson Design

MSP Flag Meeting

2010-03-10T10:01:00.001-08:00

Hi!

The flag group met up last night-- here's a quick recap for anyone who was unable to come:

+ FINAL DESIGN DECIDED:
Minneapolis Flag on one side, St. Paul on the other. 100% True to original design (This means for screen prints that the St. Paul flag will be three Layers and the Minneapolis flag will be two)

+ MATERIALS & SIZE FINALIZED:
We will use both fabric and paper. Whatever white or off-white fabric we can get will be used for medium-large flags. Possibly one very large flag will be made using nylon flag material. Paper can be used for smaller sized flags such as business cards.
Also suggested was the idea of a poster of business cards that would be perforated so you could take them!

+ FUN STUFF ADDED:
The flags given out (not the smaller ones we will place & put up on our own) will be nicely packaged with a pamphlet explaining the flag, it's history & symbolism, how to hang it, etc.

+ START!
Paper is easy enough to get but we need to wait to get our fabric before we can screen print. We should have be able ot pick up some fabric this weekend, so the following weekend we will begin printing & manufacturing!

BIKE + COMMUNITY

2010-03-09T14:01:00.000-08:00

BIKE + COMMUNITY IS:

Mitch

Sonkaraly

Kasia

Dan

Tousue

Old Arizona

2010-03-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

Here's the nitty gritty:
Team: Alex, Alexa, Annie, Emily, Katie
Team Leader: Annie

Update: As of 3/6/2010

We met with Darcy from Old Arizona on Saturday to learn even more about Old Arizona. Some salient observations/questions raised by both our team and Darcy include:

+ Increase government and corporate funding "How can Old Arizona possibly compete with The Boys and Girls Club?"
+ How to educate off the street patrons about the Arizona Bridge Project while utilizing the retail space
+ Increase awareness and exposure to the community (they're very well known in the theater community, how to expand into main stream?)

Striking information:
+ Costs $40,000 to incarcerate a female inmate, the same amount to provide after school programs to 15 girls at Old Arizona.

Moving forward:

Old Arizona needs a vehicle that is able to provide a comprehensive overview of the history of OA, where they come from, what they do now, whose lives they've changed, and how potential funders can help. The newsprint publication seems to be the best option as it serves a variety of purposes: it filters & simplifies the Old Arizona story, it speaks to both potential funders and off the street patrons, it can be both educational and promotional material. We also foresee a possible web component, possibly just a web-location of the publication scanned so it can be easily passed around electronically.

Possible next steps:
Discuss budget from Darcy, Request newsprint quotes, consider content

PIE LAB Jobs

2010-03-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

This email came my way from Megan at PIE LAB. Please pass on to any MCAD Alumni who do not have a job or you feel might be interested in this kind of work.

Hey Bern, not sure if you received this email already from John..if so ignore this one. But..we're trying to recruit 4 new Vistas to replace Ryan and myself. Do you have any students who you think would be suited for the 1-year position? Please forward the below message onto them so they can fill out an application. Thanks Bern..and see you in a few weeks!

-megan

...

Hello and Great News!

We are currently accepting applications for the position(s) of Design Director(s) at the Project M Lab in Greensboro, Alabama for the 2010-2011 year. Are you a recent graduate who's interested in challenging the conventions of design? Are you a current student who'd like to put your skills to use in a real, live community? Are you an educator who may be able to identify the perfect candidate for this position? In any case, please visit our website and follow the instructions to submit an application. Click anywhere on this entire paragraph to be re-directed to said application website.

Care to view a sampling of the sort of shenanigans you might be involved with, should you assume the position? Look here. And here. Andhere. Oh and here.

If you're still confused, perhaps this position isn't for you...but do contact us first before withdrawing your consideration entirely. We will begin reviewing applications after the March 15th deadline.

Best of luck,
Megan and Ryan
on view here.

and sorta represented here.

Battle Sharks?

2010-03-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

The group using Battle Sharks as a temporary (possibly permanent) moniker, is

Lindsey
Eric
Ted
Michael

As we mentioned in class we have a few things in the works.

One of the projects that is in the works is dealing directly with the Minneapolis Police Department.

Project Leader: Michael

Project Status:
Sgt. Jesse Garcia has returned from bike week (he had a blast but the weather wasn't great). I talked with him this morning and he said he was willing to meet with us on Wednesday at 8:30 am (early bird). He had expressed interest in coming to MCAD to meet. I emailed him my contact info and he said he would call me. I am a little unsure of where that leaves us but am planning on having materials prepared to meet with him on Wednesday.

I am a Minnesotan

2010-03-07T12:12:00.000-08:00

My project’s test run at the lightrail wasn’t as successful as I planned. Upon entering the lightrail, I initially felt very hesitant to approach people and ask them to fill out the sheets. Luckily I was able to take a few risks and approach three people to participate in the survey. One of the guys I met on the lightrail, named Eric, was especially interested by the intentions of our advanced graphic design class. So far my list of adjectives are:

Reluctant
Happy
Norwegian
Native
Urban
Outdoorsy

Even though I received three filled out sheets, I feel a lot more confident to engage with the public.

If the class is still interested or would like to help out in some way, minor or major, download the jpg of the sheet, print as many as you want, go out into the community and engage with the people, stop by my studio and drop off the filled out surveys, or you can drop them off in my mailbox, #385.

Also, just a side note, a blog will be up and about for I AM A MINNESOTAN.

MSP Flag Project Group Info +UPDATE

2010-03-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

HI!

Here's the info Bern requested in Thursday's class.

Project: Minneapolis & Saint Paul Flag Project
Leaders: Alex & Michael co-leading
Participants: I didn't see everyone who raised their hands in class, so if you could comment on this post to let everyone know you're in that would be lovely, Thanks!

So far....
I think there was pretty much a consensus for using the flags that already exists. A few people suggested the idea that the flag would have the Minneapolis flag on one side and on the back would be the Saint Paul flag. I think that's kind of brilliant! We can talk about it here on the blog to come to a consensus if this is what we really want to do.

Also:
Michael has vectorized the MPLS Flag, so that's ready for printing! Thanks Michael!
We still need to vectorize the St. Paul flag.
Plus, Katie has a possible lead on some fabric we could use, thanks Katie!

Maybe we should also discuss materials-- do we want whatever fabric we can get? Should it be consistent (should we bleach everything??) Do we want to use paper as well, etc.

As soon as we get this nailed down we can start printing! Yayyyyyy! So let's figure it out!

~*~*~UPDATE~*~*~
The St Paul flag was vectorized by Ted, thanks thanks!

SO Here are the vectors of both flags for you to download!
DROP.IO/MSP_FLAG_VECTOR

So what day works best for everyone to meet so we can officially decide on stuff and start printing??

Identity System for the Flag Group

2010-03-06T13:07:00.000-08:00

While I was on my way to the lightrail, I stumbled upon this sticker on the side of an electric generator, on Hennepin Avenue. Personally, this simple, yet effective mark immediately made me feel something that I had never felt before, a sense of pride, a sense of belonging, and sense that I could immediately recognize the connotation it was referencing. So for the flag group, I hope this will help you in your endeavors. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m sure this wasn’t commissioned by the city to be made, but it’s definitely a possibility worth looking into. This mark, as simple as it is, makes a direct reference to the state being know for the "Land of 10,000 Lakes."

Events

2010-03-05T05:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some upcoming events at Old Arizona, I think the Beer Tasting might be awesome but I know a little pricier than what everyone would like to spend for more quality time with each other. Another event on that Saturday is Empty Bowls which sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday. EATING.

EMPTY BOWLS
Saturday, March 13th • 11AM- 7PM

A benefit to fight childhood hunger in our community.

Here's how it works… for $10 you get to choose a bowl created by a local potter, a community member, or a participant of Old Arizona youth programs; we fill your bowl with soup… you enjoy the soup and the company of friends and neighbors. When you are finished you may take your new bowl home and keep it as a reminder of the hungry youth in our community and that you personally did something to make a difference.

Proceeds from this event will go towards providing a healthy after school snack for Old Arizona’s youth program.

BEER TASTING OLD ARIZONA

2010-03-04T13:19:00.000-08:00

I lied guys, no movie, just 6 varieties of beer, cheese, and apps

$20 in advance Friday March 12

http://www.oldarizona.com/theater.php

U.S. Loses Innovation Crown to ... Iceland

2010-03-04T04:41:00.000-08:00

U.S. Loses Innovation Crown to ... Iceland

Posted by: Michael Arndt on March 03, 2010

Once upon a time—actually it was just last year—the U.S. was the world innovation champion, according to an annual report by INSEAD and the Confederation of Indian Industry. In this year’s study, the nation slumps to 11th place. Perhaps even more surprising is the new No. 1: Iceland.

Soumitra Dutta, an INSEAD professor of business and technology, who oversaw the survey, theorizes that the rankings show that, as in so much else, size matters. But in this case it’s the smaller the better.

He tells me that having easy access to a big marketplace still makes it easier for innovators to profit from their inventions. Would the iPod or the iPhone have been such big hits if Apple had been based in, say, Iceland? But the Internet is turning the entire world into one big market, to which everyone everywhere has access, he says. Also, it appears that smaller, homogeneous countries can unite to support policies, institutions, and infrastructure that promote innovation—in the developed world, at least.

Size certainly makes a difference in the 2010 Global Innovation Index report. The most-populous land in the Top 10 is the Netherlands, with 16.4 million people. It finishes in eighth place. Several of the biggest nations in the developed world cluster just below the U.S. Japan is 13, with Britain at 14, and Germany at 16. Of the so-called BRIC giants in emerging markets, China comes out best, at 43. Trailing are India (56), Russia (64), and Brazil (68).

This year’s report, financed by Canon India and released on March 3, evaluates 132 countries. Researchers used data from a number of sources, including the World Economic Forum, the World Bank, and the UN, to gauge innovation inputs—things such as education and business climate—as well as outputs to quantify scientific and creative advances.

The U.S. drops out of the Top 10 because it isn’t sufficiently providing many of the inputs or what the study calls “pillars of innovation.” It ranks 22 in political environment and 21 in regulatory environment. It ranks 22 in K-12 education, 22 in technology infrastructure, and 24 in exports and employment. “The U.S. is unable to create a coherent public agenda,” Dutta tells me on the phone from India.

So where does the U.S. score best? In market and business sophistication, which includes access to capital and openness to foreign competition and where it rises to second and third.

Iceland, by comparison, falls below the U.S. in market and business sophistication—no surprise, says the report, given the complete collapse of Iceland’s banking industry. But it outshines the U.S. in education and infrastructure. Iceland comes in fourth overall, for instance, in per capita mobile phone subscribers. Its general infrastructure is the world’s best.

Here’s the Top 10, with 2009’s rankings in parentheses:

1. Iceland (20)
2. Sweden (3)
3. Hong Kong (12)
4. Switzerland (7)
5. Denmark (8)
6. Finland (13)
7. Singapore (5)
8. Netherlands (10)
9. New Zealand (27)
10. Norway (14)

FLAG SKETCHES

2010-03-03T23:57:00.000-08:00

I thought more about the idea of non-exclusive unification. We have discussed many different cultures and communities existing together in the twin cities. There is a beauty about languages, signifiers, and ethnicity's sharing the greater space of two cities. They overlap, run into eachother, a weaving in and out that form rhythmic surface and structure.

There is something to be said about signs that reference the history of Minnesota and the twin cities. But what about a non-exclusive abstract format that anyone can reflect on?

I thought of those old toys that drew patterns, overlapping different colors and the patterns could be similar to each other but different, still existing on the same surface.

These are just some quick ideas that came up with. Regardless how you might view the appearance I believe there is something here. Let me know what you think.

What are you? What do you consider Minnesotan?

2010-03-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

This idea is inspired by Alexandra Roche and Theodore Guerrero. More to be explained in class.

FLAG PRJECT UPDATE

2010-03-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

So there were previous posts on the MPLS Flag Project, But Bernard's multiple warnings in all caps has prompted me to go over a few points JUST IN CASE!

The goal or missions is to unite everyone within the city (or twin cities) with the simple graphic statement of the flag. It serves as a point of pride and care that unites and acknowledges all communities existing within it. By acknowledging the flag and making it known, hanging it around the city, hopefully a sense of pride and unity can be brought to a more visible level of the city.

The ideals could be said to be:
Non-exclusive unification.
Positive sense of Pride.
Renewed care and curiosity for you city and thus your city-mates?

I believe this project is sort of falling under the US + THEM banner, a sort of amorphous class project, with anyone allowed to participate as much as they deem appropriate.

A few of us will be going to the city clerk tomorrow to ask a few questions and hopefully get a donation of some flags.
There is of course, still plenty of validity, merit, and beauty in the idea of making these flags ourselves (As Michael very eloquently stated in the comments of a previous post.) It seems like we should go to the city clerk and attempt to get some free flags because why not-- they would be free and help us with this dispersion that we desire. But if we really want a big presence, why not make some as well?

OK YAY!

Old Arizona Update

2010-03-03T16:55:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

There is a new post on our MCAD + OLD ARIZONA blog with a brief overview of the meeting we had today with Darcy. If you have a few moments stop by the blog and check it out - we can answer more questions tomorrow if you have any.

GOOD POLICE?

2010-03-03T16:53:00.001-08:00

Hello. The topic of Police relations with their community is a very touchy one, so we want to touch it.

The group right now is:

TED
MICHAEL
LINDSEY
ERIC.

We are in the Ideation stages and are mocking up some versions of some undisclosed documents.

There are also a few other veins in which our team has been looking into. We feel that maybe we can have many grand yet small projects flowing all together. Some ideas revolve around: Health Care, Generation Divide, Immigration, and Worker's rights.

We view it as every person having a role in each project, but the size of the role varies from person to person and project to project, this way we can cover more ground. That said, we feel there is always work to be done and the more the merrier. If you would like to be involved with us please speak up and if you have an idea that you would like any of us to be involved in, please speak up.

Federation of the Blind, and Blind Inc.

2010-03-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MINNESOTA.

Meeting with Shawn, the director of Blind Inc., will be a time to listen and work with her as well as other members who are visually impaired. The direction we are going in is based off of what the NFB and Blind Inc. in Minnesota already have; a goal to get visually impaired people involved in the greater community of where they live. By combining their artistic practices and passions with that of artists who are not visually impaired, we can embark on an interesting journey of learning from each other, art, communication, creative goals, and collaboration.

This statement is subject to change and evolve as we allow the project to unfold.

------For now------
-Continue Meeting
-Make connections of creativity and community
-Establish other contacts
>>within organizations for the Blind of Minnesota
>>outside community/organizations
-Let project unfold.....act on key connections/directions

LIST OF GROUP MEMBERS SO FAR.

-Alex Roche
-Emily Reile
-Dan Sinclair

Misson Statement

2010-03-03T09:26:00.001-08:00

In order to nail down some ideas that everybody can agree with I think it would be a good idea for everybody to post

1. three or so overarching ideas that they gathered from the project

2. suggestions for how to write it

For example:

1. making communities aware of each other, crossing community boundaries, proactive involvement outside the MCAD bubble.

2. maybe everybody could write their own mission statement/manifesto, and we could combine them/edit them in to one next class period

Thanks guys! I think it would be helpful to get a few of these ideas down.

BIKE + COMMUNITY

2010-03-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

BIKE + COMMUNITY

Our team is exploring the relationship between the bike community, and the community at large.

Our first meeting with Robert, a North Minneapolis resident that uses bikes and bike maintenance to reach out to his community is scheduled for this Friday.

Besides that we are also researching other possible connections with bike + community. And they are:

bike and the schools

bike safety for kids

biker friendly bike maps

biker friendly cities

community bike shops

Right now the group is:

Sonkarlay

Tousue

Christopher

Dan

Kasia

Mitch

Old Arizona

2010-03-02T17:45:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of the team for Old Arizona: Alexa, Alex, Annie, Emily & Katie. We have a blog right now at : MCAD+OLD ARIZONA if curiosity strikes. We will be meeting this coming Wednesday and Saturday. Also here's the url to Old Arizona.

MN (heart) TYPE (two)

2010-03-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

well here is my list of faces! not sure why really on most-based it on instinct. Lay some on me yo.

P.S. number 8 is the type face we used for US + THEM

US+THEM mission statement and goals

2010-03-02T07:31:00.000-08:00

I haven't gotten any response in regards to the rough draft of the US+THEM mission statement, aside from Bernard's comment. At this point this will be the final statement for US+THEM:

US +THEM
This statement represents an awareness of individualism, and the relationship between individuals and all communities. It is a positive discourse that celebrates discussion, and discovery of all cultures within communities.

Goals:
1. Positive discussion.
2. Positive realization.
3. Positive celebration.

MN (heart) TYPE

2010-03-01T13:44:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll -

not sure what ya'll think about this, but I was interested in this idea of a typeface that is "Minnesotan" or a typeface that could be associated with the midwest. I have a small list that I feel that may work (I will post them when I get outta work here), but hoping that maybe the class offer up some ideas on this. It would be really badass if we made our own, the research could also be really fun!

Anyone?

2010-03-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Bern had mentioned the other day about trying to find existing flags... I did a little looking around and I think this is something we'd have to talk to the city clerk about. I'm thinking of heading down there some time this week before class, asking a few questions, and seeing if we can get our hands on any flags. If anyone else is interested & wants to come along it would be great, let me know!

Tibor Kalman on Charlie Rose

2010-02-28T14:34:00.000-08:00

Though not directly related to this class, Tibor Kalman was definitely a stalwart supporter of socially conscious design in the 90s.

Rough Draft of US+THEM mission statement

2010-02-28T12:38:00.000-08:00

I sent a rough draft of the mission statement and goals of US+THEM through facebook to some students. I didn't have access to everyone so here is the rough draft for all in case no one forwards the message to you(which I asked someone to do). Please feel free to make suggestions on the statement or just edit it and send it back.
Thanks guys:

US +THEM

This statement represents an awareness of individualism, and the relationship between individuals and all communities. It is a positive discourse that celebrates discussion, and discovery of all cultures within communities, embracing disconnect and asking for individual response.

Goals:

1. Positive discussion.

2. Positive realization.

3. Positive celebration.

MPLS FLAG

2010-02-27T16:41:00.001-08:00

I did a quick google streetview down just a few of my favorite streets in downtown Chicago and found more than 30 lovely Chicago flags. A quick search in downtown MPLS and I found none! sad sad.

So to recap the idea from class:

We've been talking a lot about bringing people together, and how difficult that can be in such a diverse (and cold) city.
The presence of a city flag is, at least to me, a really simple way to show pride and unitedness. I can honestly say I care about the Chicago flag and have talked to strangers just because of its presence.

Everyone who is in Minneapolis is here for a reason, and everyone can unite under this banner. It means something to each resident. It's something to start conversations, take pride in, and care about.

It seems like no one really knows there is a MPLS (or St. Paul) flag until they're told. But there is a flag! So let's make, hang, and distribute tons of these flags and add some intrigue and pride to our city's streets!

OLPC -- One Laptop Per Child

2010-02-27T14:43:00.000-08:00

This laptop is distributed to children in third world countries. Design with a purpose that I think is effective.

FLAGS+TYPE+IDENTITY

2010-02-26T05:40:00.000-08:00

The conversation about the creation of what an identity is and the association to community unity and acceptance through through the use of symbolic imagery is still interesting. We must search further to address questions around how can a flag can unite people, or can a flag represent a community. There is not doubt that flags are important to national identity-the first thing protestors do is burn the flag. With that said we need to consider more important questions on how this conversation relates to the typographic discussion about culture and politics and region and how these issues inform US +THEM. For example, the idea of typographic relevance to culture leads me to ask what is the font that symbolizes the Mid West or Minneapolis and/or the Twin Cities? Does such a font exist and if not then surely it needs to be produced. What a wonderful research undertaking for a senior class project. What would such a font look like and how would that font be able to connect and represent all cultures and communities. The research/investigative component would have to look at, for example the Somali, Liberian, etc.cultures uses of type, lettering styles, script choices. The research would consider all ligatures and special characters associated with cultures as well as writing directions. The result could become a beautiful font that would be seen as a vehicle to unite and bring pride.

Baskerville

2010-02-26T05:39:00.001-08:00

THE FACE Magazine

2010-02-26T04:45:00.000-08:00

The relationship to the Frankie tee shirts and Neville Brody was paramount for me becoming a graphic designer. What is interesting to me is the typographic treatment and how typographic representation is always related to culture. It is, and always should be, an exercise in time. Typography is cultural and social-it marks time with the socioeconomic and political climate. Typographic choice and typographic knowledge have power. Baskerville, Caslon and Gill Sans, for example, speak to me, in a way that they do not speak to someone from a different country and culture. It is not that I use these fonts all the time it has more to do typographic vernacular. Sometimes typographic conversations remain in style and not substance and force mediocracy as the powerbroker. These covers and this magazine became a symbol of pride in the UK. People purchased this magazine because it celebrated design. People (designers and non designers alike) would want to be seen carrying this magazine. US + THEM should have and could have and will have a similar effect.

Ces Soirées-lå

2010-02-26T03:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAPzTFlVUN0

Another Limited Rebellion

2010-02-26T03:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.alrdesign.com/

FRANKIE

2010-02-26T03:38:00.000-08:00

US+THEM+ME+YOU

2010-02-26T03:33:00.000-08:00

http://store.americanapparel.net/rsa642ym.html

AMERICAN APPAREL ARE BITERS

2010-02-25T19:13:00.001-08:00

SOME CAMPAIGN AA IS DOING.
I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT BESIDES
THAT I SAW IT AT THE STORE TONIGHT.

Africans In Minnesota

2010-02-25T18:57:00.000-08:00

http://minneafrica.wordpress.com/

Soccer and Culture

2010-02-25T18:52:00.000-08:00

http://www.africanvision360.org/

Imagine the World Cup Soccer Tournament LIVE in your own backyard.

Hundreds of screaming fans, side-by-side, vying for their favorite team as

ten top countries compete for the ultimate trophy.

Time stands still as a moment is carved out in history...

you have the opportunity to be part of this historical event.

African Vision 360 and AIM (Africans In Minnesota) present

MINNESOTA AFRICA CUP 2009

JULY 31 – AUGUST 15

Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis, MN

The African Community is inviting the nation to be part of their annual African soccer tournament and festival. Expect to experience African cuisine, traditional dances, and live music. This tournament celebrates African culture by highlighting its many contributions to the world, both past and present. African Cup USA is a, once in a lifetime, historical event where countries and cultures come together to celebrate life through the common language of soccer.

Featuring African teams from

Djibouti

Eritrea

Gambia

Guinea

Liberia

Nigeria

Sierra Leone

Somalia

Togo

Design Ignites Change Winners

2010-02-25T17:23:00.001-08:00

http://designigniteschange.org/pages/39-about-2009-award-winners

Design Ignites Change Winner: Kansas City Art Institute

2010-02-25T17:21:00.000-08:00

Design Ignites Change Winner: Kansas City Art Institute

2010-02-25T17:20:00.000-08:00

Design Ignites Change Winner: PIE Lab

2010-02-25T17:17:00.000-08:00

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com

2010-02-25T09:31:00.000-08:00

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com

2010-02-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

General Mills Socially Engaged

2010-02-24T14:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.joinmyvillage.com/

Groups

2010-02-19T14:12:00.001-08:00

Hi all,

I don't know if everyone has decided on groups yet, I haven't. I thought
it would be helpful for people to reply on the blog as to what
they are interested in doing/groups.

-Lindsey

Need

2010-02-18T18:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.needmagazine.com/Issue04/NEED04_Digital/index.html

Wayne Hemingway

2010-02-18T18:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.enterpriseuk.org/waynehemingwayinterview

NOT HOPSCOTCH...

2010-02-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

I AM NOT GUNNA SAY ANY MORE.
CHECK IT OUT!

we should just do stuff like this.

2010-02-15T20:26:00.000-08:00

CHECK IT!

Just Thinking Out Loud

2010-02-14T12:25:00.000-08:00

Well I have been milling this Idea in my head for a while now, But really like the radio station KMOJ 89.9 "the Peoples Station", and when I ask peeps about it, usually they don't know about the station. So I was thinking that it would be hella cool to do some posters/ flyers, whatever (this part would involve some interaction with radio station), but I think it could be a good stepping stone into a community that I dont know much about and a just an over all cool possible project.

Let me know what you guys think about this, if you even think it's valid whatever get back to me yo! thanks peace onelove!

The Girl Effect

2010-02-10T23:29:00.000-08:00

Amazing...
http://www.girleffect.org/

I am also reading an incredible book right now dealing with this issue.
http://www.halftheskymovement.org/

There are 600 million adolescent girls living in poverty in the developing world. By giving one of these girls a chance, you start the girl effect. When girls have safe places to meet, education, legal protection, health care, and access to training and job skills, they can thrive. And if they thrive, everyone around them thrives, too.

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by poverty. Parents in many cultures don’t want their daughters to be educated. Research shows that an educated girl will invest 90% of her future income in her family (compared to 30-40 percent for males), yet less than a penny of every international development dollar is spent on her. 70 percent of the children out of school are girls. Many laws are discriminatory. Sexual violence is a big problem that is greatly underestimated. 75 percent of adolescents with AIDS are female, and they’re contracting the disease not from boys but from older men.

A young girl who has a baby before the age of 20 she is five times more likely to die in childbirth than if she is over 20. So family planning is important. In many countries women need their husband’s approval to get a passport, own property, get divorced, and do other things, including even the right to work.

http://www.businessweek.com/careers/managementiq/archives/2009/01/the_girl_effect.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-eitel/letting-everyone-in-on-a_b_181538.html

Leopold Kessler

2010-02-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

This is an act similar to that of Mierle Ukeles (the women Alex wrote about). One of my favorite public interventions which affects everyone and no one all at the same time.

Simple, honest and elegant, Leopold Kessler decided to trim the over grown hedge that was blocking this road sign (he does not work for any government agency). I can't remember when or where this took place and kessler's pressence on the web is very scattered, but its worth a little google trail if you ask me.

Bamboo Bikes

2010-02-10T20:29:00.001-08:00

john talked about this briefly during his lecture today, and i thought it was so interesting!

--

The Problem: How to build bicycles cheaply, using sustainable materials.

The Solution: The Bamboo Bike Project. Grow the materials used to make the bike frame out of native bamboo and teach these skills to local communities.

The Designers: A collective of designers and engineers at Columbia University

--

2010-02-10T15:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/06/berger.qanda/index.html

Katie had shared a link on social design site about saving the world. I think this idea is great. There is something in all of us that seems to want more out of a pursuit in life and our creative endeavors.

I dont know much about this book but it discusses the idea of saving the world and how to do it.

Has anyone read it?

THE PLAN!

2010-02-10T12:56:00.000-08:00

The best option that fits most seems to be RED DRAGON.

They have food and booze and are located by three other bars if we grow tired of this place.

Beyond that we will discuss in class the logistics of the night.

THIS WILL BE FUN.

Also I have a special drinking game I learned from some Thai hill tribesman that
I think would fit the night well. I will bring it up in class.

GET READY FREDDIES!

We Cannot Not Change The World

2010-02-09T21:11:00.001-08:00

I found this website while perusing the web and it's pretty interesting. As they describe it,

"SocialDesignSite.com is a non-profit organisation that aims to foster a discourse on social design through our international online platform and the organization of and participation in projects, exhibitions, conferences, lectures, etc."

Basically, it allows for anyone to venture into the realm of social design and become aware of what projects are being worked on all over the globe. Pretty cool.

www.socialdesignsite.com

the vote! (how do we do?)

2010-02-09T17:10:00.000-08:00

Here are thirteen options. Obivously there are more but heres some for sure good times. Think extravaganza. Some bars are by others. Bar hopping is fun. Most have food, and if not there is food near by.

POST YOUR TOP 3 CHOICES IN THE COMMENTS!
(Also you can post a series if youd like. note: alcohol+ big group = fluid adventure)

1. matt's bar
(big group wont be able to sit together; home of the juicy lucy)

2. Bryant Lake bowl
(bowling and more; need to make reservations)

3. Black Sheep Pizza
(not walking distance)

4. The Local
(great pub atmosphere)

5. Pancho Villa
(2 for 1 beers)

6. King and I Thai
( Dj at 9)

7. Best of India-Axeman
(not walking distance)

8. The Herkimer
(in house brewed beer)

9. Moto-I
(in house brewed sake, only place outside of in world outside of Japan)

10. The Cowboy Bar
( this is a bar!)

2, 8-10 same area

11. The Red Dragon
(the real deal bang for your buck condusive to big groups)

12. Leaning Tower
(pizza as well)

13. Mortimers
(three bars in one)

11-13 same area

Mierle Laderman Ukeles

2010-02-08T19:54:00.000-08:00

Another artist to note-- Mierle Ukeles. She has a few beautiful social projects, including:

Touch Sanitation (1970-1980)
In which she shook the hand of every sanitation worker in New York (around 9,000, I think) and thanked them.

and

Hartford Wash: Washing/Tracks/Maintenance (1973)
Where she publicly washed the steps of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Connecticut.

Unbelievably rich statements made with such simple gestures!