Design that matters

Design matters

Art Center College of Design

Art Center College of Design (commonly referred to as Art Center) is a private college located in Pasadena, California. It is one of the leading art and design colleges in the world. Art Center offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of art and design fields.
Art Center is particularly known for its Product Design programs. It also has notable photography, graphic design, advertising design, illustration, fine art, film, environmental design and entertainment design programs. Art Center offers graduate degrees in Fine Art, Media Design, Broadcast Cinema and Industrial Design.

The College maintains two campuses in Pasadena; both are considered architecturally notable. It has traditionally maintained a strong "real world" focus, emphasizing craftsmanship, technique, and professionalism Instructors are working professionals, and projects are intended to map to real-life assignments with some being sponsored by industry or nonprofit organizations including Nike, Disney, NASA, and BMW. During the past decade, Art Center has developed programs and projects that focus on design's potential to generate positive social change and improve people's lives through the College-wide initiative, Designmatters. In recognition of Art Center's commitment to addressing social and humanitarian issues through design, in 2003 Art Center became the first design college to ever receive NGO (non-governmental organization) status by the United Nations. Art Center offers programs year-round with three terms per year. Administrators and faculty want to develop "real world" work scenarios as much as possible.

NORTH SOUTH

(see here)

Dieter Rams

PolicyDESIGNThinking

see here

KYOTO DESIGN DECLARATION 2008

KYOTO DESIGN DECLARATION 2008

A statement of commitment by the members of Cumulus to sharing the global responsibility for building sustainable, human-centered, creative societies.

PROPOSING NEW VALUES AND NEW WAYS OF THINKING

All the people of the world now live in global and interdependent systems for living. We continue to enhance the quality of our lives by creating environments, products and services utilizing design. Design is a means of creating social, cultural, industrial and economic values by merging humanities, science, technology and the arts. It is a human-centered process of innovation that contributes to our development by proposing new values, new ways of thinking, of living and adapting to change.

AN ERA OF HUMAN CENTERED DEVELOPMENT

A paradigm shift from technology driven development to human centered development is underway. The focus is shifting from materialistic and visible values to those which are mental, intellectual and, possibly, less material. An era of “cultural productivity” has commenced where the importance attributed to modes of life, values and symbols may be greater than that attributed to physical products. Design thinking stands steadfastly at the centre of this continuum. Simultaneously, this development highlights the importance of cultural traditions and the need to extend and revitalize them.

THE IMPERATIVE FOR DESIGNERS TO ASSUME NEW ROLES

Global development and an awareness of the growth of related ecological and social problems are posing new demands and offering new opportunities for design, design education and design research. Design is challenged to redefine itself and designers must assume new roles and commit themselves to developing solutions leading to a sustainable future.

SEEKING COLLABORATION IN FORWARDING THE IDEALS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The members of Cumulus, representing a global community of design educators and researchers, undertake the initiative outlined in this, ‘THE KYOTO DESIGN DECLARATION’, to commit themselves to the ideals of sustainable development. Furthermore, the members of Cumulus have agreed to seek collaboration with educational and cultural institutions, companies, governments and government agencies, design and other professional associations and NGOs to promote the ideals of, and share their knowledge about, sustainable development.

FROM EDUCATION TO GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY

In order to fulfil its declared mission to contribute to sustainable social, environmental, cultural and economic development for current and future generations, and to contribute to an environment and culture that makes harmonious and healthy life possible, the Cumulus members make this declaration. Members will commit themselves to accepting their part in the further education of our youth within a value system where each of us recognizes our global responsibility to build sustainable, human-centered, creative societies.


THE POWER TO MAKE FUNDAMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR WORLD

Human-centered design thinking, when rooted in universal and sustainable principles, has the power to fundamentally improve our world. It can deliver economic, ecological, social and cultural benefits to all people, improve our quality of life and create optimism about the future and individual and shared happiness.  

Integration of the dashboard (Toyota Coaster)

Example of inserts (Handrails)

Metallic inserts

Example of threaded sections

Left side of CIVITAS bus, with their respective inserts

IDEANTES SOLIDARIOS

Somos profesionales especializados en consultoría y formación en el ámbito de la creatividad.
Podemos ayudarte, a ti o a tu organización solidaria, con métodos y técnicas que facilitan la generación de ideas. Y lo haremos gratis. Porque queremos ayudarte a cambiar el mundo.

(see here)

Weelchair

GAIA University

Gaia University offers a unique approach to higher learning by offering students (called Associates) access to accredited Bachelors and Masters degrees and Graduate Diplomas whilst the Associate is actively engaged in self and planetary transformation. Linking your ideals with self-directed practical experience, you act as a world changer, by working for local and global sustainability and regeneration, justice and peace.

Our self-directed action learning methodology enables you to study locally, at work or on project, in your own language, supported by Gaia University's Regional Organizers, and a worldwide network of learning providers, tutors and mentors.

No longer do you have to choose between earning a living and studying. With action learning your work and your projects become your places of study.


(Link here)

Place reserved for passengers with wheelchairs

Accessibility of the passenger with wheelchair to the bus

Projecto ReMev

Holder adapted to the two systems tests

Luggage area

EPDAH na Câmara de Arouca

Na passada sexta-feira, dia 12 de Março, o José Costa e a Beatriz Barros vieram apresentar à Câmara de Arouca a associação EPDAH, Engenharia Para o Desenvolvimento e Assistência Humanitária, de que fazem parte, bem como alguns dos projectos em que estão envolvidos. A organização, para a qual está a ser trabalhada a aquisição de estatuto de ONG, tem como base de trabalho o voluntariado, sobretudo na área da engenharia, e, como alvo, comunidades com necessidades específicas e com enormes carências. O apoio de engenheiros na elaboração gratuita de projectos na área da construção ou de artefactos com materiais locais é uma mais valia que, bem aproveitada, poderá melhorar substancialmente o modo de vida da população dessas comunidades.

Arouca, sendo um município de características rurais, tem ainda pequenas comunidades com saberes na área da agricultura e afins (fiação, tecelagem, fabrico de licores, pastorícia). Nesses locais, com muito pouca população, as pessoas são sobretudo “domésticas” e gostariam de uma ocupação, porque sentem que ainda podem fazer alguma coisa útil. A maioria das mulheres tem os filhos, já fora de casa, ou eventualmente ainda na escola (mas também fora de casa todo o dia), e o marido só chega à noite. Sentem-se muito sós e sem objectivos. Este é um grupo de pessoas para o qual gostaríamos de encontrar ocupação. Nos casos em que a actividade produzisse materiais, seria importante garantir o seu escoamento.

Também as pessoas com Rendimento Mínimo de Inserção, muitas delas saudáveis e ainda novas, poderiam colaborar em trabalho comunitário, sentindo-se mais válidas e dando assim mais valor a esse apoio estatal.

Pareceu-nos que a mediação de um grupo como a EPDAH, seria importante, nos dois casos.

Aguardamos mais alguma informação sobre os projectos da Associação e vamos simultaneamente trabalhar alguns dos projectos, ainda embrionários, que a Câmara quer desenvolver, para acertarmos com a EPDAH o tipo de colaboração a estabelecer.

Isabel Vasconcelos

Vereadora do Ambiente e Serviços Urbanos

Câmara Municipal de Arouca

New PLUG

(see here)

Telemóvel na DESIGNBOOM

(see at DESIGNBOOM)

O nosso acordo de dar notícias diárias do projecto?

Semanário "Discurso Directo" de Arouca - edição 19 Fevereiro 2010

Design Studio FEUP no projecto ROBVIGIL

Um consórcio de empresas portuguesas pretende lançar no mercado, em 2012, os "Robvigil", apresentados como os primeiros robôs vigilantes inteligentes do Mundo.

Dotados de uma capacidade de visão de 360 graus, estes robôs vigilantes serão capazes de detectar gases, incêndios, fumo e água no chão, e comunicar através de tele e videoconferência, quer com outros robôs quer com humanos.

"Pretende-se que estes robôs inteligentes simplifiquem as tarefas humanas, uma vez que podem ser teleguiados em tempo real através de controlo remoto, inaugurando um novo paradigma de cooperação homem/máquina", explica o INESC Porto, uma das entidades que integram o consórcio, citado pela Lusa.

Composto inteiramente por empresas portuguesas, o consórcio, que arrancou em Fevereiro, conta ainda com a participação da Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP) e as empresas Clever House - Sistemas Inteligentes, Strong Segurança e Sinepower Consultoria.

Segundo o Inesc Porto, a chegada destes robôs vigilantes inteligentes promete igualmente reduzir os riscos humanos inerentes ao sector da vigilância, "dado que as tarefas potencialmente mais perigosas passam a ser asseguradas pelo robô: seguir e cercar pessoas, atravessar locais perigosos (com gás, chamas, etc.)".

Na base deste projecto estão "tecnologias já testadas anteriormente com sucesso em projectos da FEUP e INESC Porto e que podem agora ser devidamente exploradas no mercado com os recentes avanços e a aposta nas RNG - Redes de Nova Geração".

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Link 2

EVOKE - "A ten-week crash course in changing the World"

"It is free to play and open to anyone, anywhere.

The goal of the social network game is to help empower young people all over the world, and especially young people in Africa, to come up with creative solutions to our most urgent social problems.

The game begins on March 3, 2010. Players can join the game at any time.

On May 12th, 2010 the first season of the game will end, and successful participants will form the first graduating class of the EVOKE network.

Players who successfully complete 10 game challenges will be able to claim their honors: Certified EVOKE Social Innovator – Class of 2010.

Top players will also earn online mentorships with experienced social innovators and business leaders from around the world, seed funding for new ventures, and travel scholarships to share their vision for the future at the EVOKE Summit in Washington DC. (Learn more about these rewards.)

EVOKE was developed by the World Bank Institute, the learning and knowledge arm of the World Bank Group, and directed by alternate reality game master Jane McGonigal.

EVOKE is for all ages; recommended age 13 and up."

Link: Urgent EVOKE
Link: Como jogar

The Healthcare Manifesto: A smarter role for design in healthcare

"The Design Points

01 “Healthcare is bigger than hospital” While much attention has already boon paid to solving issues around hygiene and patient dignity inside NHS hospitals using design, there now needs to be greater consideration to the bigger questions of health institutions beyond the emergency room and hospital wards. Design can make a huge contribution to reducing waiting lists, bringing down stay times, and saving money right across the healthcare system.

02 “Built environments for healthcare need to be thought out top-down not bottom-up” Patient environments are a complex set of multifunctional spaces, which need to be thought through as a whole. All too often these spaces ‘emerge’ as new equipment, fumiture and staff procedures are integrated into the big system. Design can re-think these challenges in a smart, cost-efficient way.

03 “Patient accommodation is not flexible enough” Individual spaces need to be redesigned to allow for a really wide range of different patient needs. In the ward this is often about better use of small spaces, creating solutions for toileting, or more solid dividing walls for better privacy. In care homes, and longer stay buildings, this is more around offering people the facilities to live more independently.

04 “Design spaces to fit” Environments are all too often built from a kit of parts that are just about doing the job, rather than being designed for the needs of the patients and care staff that use them.

05 “Modem equipment needn’t cost more” Equipment across the healthcare system is falling behind the times. With the right design brief, a better replacement can be developed that not only does a better job, using sustainable materials, but which also costs less to buy.

06 “Patient Care needs a big rethink” As the Parkinson Report highlights, nursing and patient care has become over-laden with processes and needs to be rethought in terms of ‘the patient journey’ not just how ‘the system’ functions if we are to restore dignity to healthcare."

Tirado daqui.
Ligação para manifesto na íntegra.

soon

at amazon

World history of design viewed in the big picture

Respected author, academic and design thinker, Victor Margolin chats with Russell Kennedy, Icograda President about future directions in design and his forthcoming book on the history of design.

Russell Kennedy: You are currently working on a book, which is believed to be the definitive book on the history of design. What is the book called and how does it differ form others on the subject?

Victor Margolin: The book is titled 'World History of Design' and it is truly a world history with significant attention devoted to all parts of the world. I write a lot about Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Near and Middle East, and the Commonwealth countries. The history of design in these regions has not been well covered in larger histories although books and articles on individual countries do exist in various languages. My intention is to explain how product and graphic design have developed in all parts of the world from the beginning of culture until today. Such a history is necessary because design is not practised internationally and everyone needs to find their own precedents in a widely conceived historical narrative. Although my book will be the first to cover design on a world scale, others will surely follow.

Read more >>

DIETER RAMS

Viarco | Duas exposições

Em actividade desde 1941, a Viarco é a única fábrica de lápis existente em Portugal. Tem agora duas exposições patentes ao público:
“Viarco. O desenho de uma indústria”, no Museu da Chapelaria, de 27 de Fevereiro a 9 de Maio.
“1 Século. 10 Lápis. 100 Desenhos” inicia, em S. João da Madeira, uma itinerância por várias localidades depois de ter passado pelo Museu da Presidência da República. Para ver de 27 de Fevereiro a 17 de Abril, na emblemática Torre da Oliva, imóvel industrial histórico há vários anos desactivado e que a autarquia adquiriu em 2009.

Programa Envelhecimento e Coesão Social | FCG

Nos próximos 12 meses, no âmbito do programa Envelhecimento e Coesão Social, a Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian pretende atribuir a um total de 18 projectos em Portugal e no Reino Unido um valor máximo de €30.000/£30,000 por projecto, com vista ao desenvolvimento de projectos-piloto intergeracionais para enfrentar um desafio do século XXI. Através deste convite a entidades privadas sem fins lucrativos, a Fundação procura receber novas ideias de organizações com um historial comprovado de bons resultados.
O prazo para a recepção de propostas da primeira fase termina às 12 horas de sexta-feira, 26 Março 2010.
Às candidaturas seleccionadas, a Fundação, através da agência de design social Thinkpublic, providenciará apoio ao desenvolvimento dos projecto, de modo a assegurar que este alcance o máximo impacto e garanta o envolvimento dos seus futuros utilizadores.
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Buckminster Fuller

Dimensional survey of joints of the floor to the chassis

On last Monday, we visited again the MOBIpeople to scale over some elements of the chassis that should be taken into account in development of the CIVITAS Bus.
As the suspension of the Toyota Coaster is only mechanical, it was important identify the different heights of the elements that connect the Toyota Coaster floor to the chassis, because the height of the floor of the new vehicle may vary (wtih more or less load).

Antes do LOM

Post para quem se lembra de fazer maquetas desta maneira.
Por Jörg Boner.

Biblioteca na Tailândia

O post anterior do Carlos Aguiar fez-me lembrar este projecto de uma biblioteca feita na Tailândia que vi há uns tempos também no designboom.

Autoria do projecto: Ritala Eggertsson Architects e a Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

earth architecture handmade school banglades

hand-built in four months by architects, local craftsmen, pupils, parents and teachers, this primary school in rudrapur, a village in north west bangladesh, uses traditional methods and materials of construction but adapts them in new ways. the architects, anna aeringer from austria and eike roswag from germany, made every effort to engage the skills of local craftsmen, helping them refine processes and learn new techniques that they could then use to improve the general standard of rural housing. (see here)