D4S Design for Sustainability

Google goes Carbon Neutral

2007-06-22T00:26:00.000+02:00

Official Google Blog:

Posted by Urs Hoelzle, Senior Vice President, OperationsClimate change continues to be one of the biggest, most challenging problems our planet faces, and we know that a sustained global effort is needed if we're going to have any hope of reversing its effects. In that spirit, today we're announcing that Google will become carbon neutral by the end of 2007. This is an important step in our long-term pursuit of holistic environmental solutions.Our plan to neutralize Google's carbon footprint includes three basic strategies:

- reduce energy consumption by maximizing efficiency
- invest in and use renewable energy sources
- purchase carbon offsets for the emissions that we can't reduce directly

Tom Dixon & Sustainable Design

2007-06-15T13:20:00.000+02:00

Inhabitat points us to this great video of iconic British furniture designer, Tom Dixon speaking about sustainable design.

Via PSFK Trend

Sony presents Odo line

2007-06-10T04:04:00.000+02:00

Sony, traditionally has been a leader in paradigm shifting technology with their large research and innovation design budgets all though they have lost a lot of ground in the last 5-7 years to companies like Apple and Phillips. Today Sony looks to regain some of that innovation leadership through the development of their fresh out of the oven 'odo' concept line of environmentally friendly products. The 'odo' line of products do not require any AC adapters or chargers because they are mechanically powered. There is the Spin N' Snap camera 'no display', the Push Power Play viewer, the Crank N' Capture video camps, the Pull N' Play headphones, and the solar array Juice Boxes for powering other devices.

Read the full story at Sustainable Day

1000 Words: A manifesto for Sustainability in Design

2007-04-08T23:38:00.000+02:00

an article by Allan Chochinov in core77: interesting perspective!

New D4S manual for Developing Economies

2006-10-24T19:27:00.000+02:00

The new UNEP Design for Sustainability for Developing Economies is now downloadable from http://www.d4s-de.org/

Results of 'Light Objects' design competition

2006-10-19T10:16:00.000+02:00

Winners are fine! but look at the notable entries for some inspiring environmentle friendly objects. click here

Sustainable Dance Club in Rotterdam

2006-10-04T15:15:00.000+02:00

Read more about the launching of the very first sustainable dance club at SustainableRotterdam.com

Next Generation

2006-09-28T16:06:00.000+02:00

Design Competetion

text from the nextgen webpage says... Win $10,000 for your design idea! The 2007 Next Generation® prize will finance the development of a bright idea that focuses on ENERGY, its uses, reduction, consumption, efficiencies, and alternatives. Now in its fourth year, the Next Generation® design competition recognizes design innovation on all scales--from the efficient desk lamp to the innovative city neighborhood plan, and everything in between. The competition is open to young designers in practice 10 years or less; including CAD monkeys in large offices, design students, independent firms or individuals. On your own or in teams we invite you to submit work on urban plans, buildings, interiors, products, landscapes or communications design. The winner will receive $10,000 to realize his or her idea, and will be featured in Metropolis magazine. Runners up will also receive full coverage to empower the next generation of design

Breathing map

2006-09-19T18:01:00.000+02:00

Quite revealing statistics about CO2 emissions, birth and death rates from different individual countries. Its an interactive map also, thanks to Core77 for the initial posting.

Van recycling tot Re-design

2006-09-06T15:05:00.000+02:00

Exhibition during the Inside design week in Amsterdam
from 14th September to 17th September, 2006

LSDP says that one is welcome to make thier own 'hip' products from recycled materials, helped by professional designers in the exhibition organized by Latin Sisters Design Productions and Stadsdeel Oud West. The exhibition is do with recycling and consumption excesses.

Do check out the organizers website, as everyday consist of a workshop.
venue: De Hallen, Tollensstraat 60, Amsterdam

India says no thanks to the $100 laptop

2006-08-29T10:08:00.000+02:00

...according to a wire story picked up in the Indian newspaper The Hindu , the Indian government – one of the largest would-be customers for the machine – has decided that it’s not interested in buying them. Worse for Negoponte, whose One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) non-profit, working with Taiwanese PC maker Quanta Computer, is working to come out with its first models by the end of the year, the Indian official who announced the news didn’t hesitate to criticize the whole idea of the $100 laptop. Education Secretary Sudeep Banerjee’s view: “We do not think that the idea of Prof Negroponte is mature enough to be taken seriously at this stage and no major country is presently following this. Even inside America, there is no much enthusiasm about this.” ... read more at BusinessWeekonline

MVURA - WATER PURIFIER

2006-08-23T19:50:00.000+02:00

1.2 Billion People in the world do not have access to safe drinking water resulting in 2.2 million deaths each year. Mvura is a household water purifier targeted at rural Africa. It is intended to be distributed through aid organisations already operating within communities in need. The cost will therefore be subsidised and the product introduced with training on hygiene and the use and maintenance of Mvura. It utilizes the simple technique of pasteurization using solar heat. 15 litres of water is heated to 65ºC within two hours, which kills all harmful bacteria.

Mvura (meaning 'water') is culturally sensitive in its design to be carried on the head. It is then opened into a pasteurization position. In this state a large surface area of water is exposed to solar heat. This combined with the small depth, black bottom and insulating panels all aid in maximising heat absorption. The panels also serve to protect the bag of water during transport. Soybean wax melts at the appropriate temperature to indicate that the water is pure enough to drink. With replacement parts readily available and its easily repaired hinges, Mvura is designed to be sustainable at a local level.

Industrial design graduate, from The Faculty of the Built Environment, Julie Frost has been awarded the Bronze Australian Design Award - Dyson Student Award respectively at the 2006 Australian Design Awards.

Link to Dexigner article over Mvura

Universal Hanger

2006-08-22T15:59:00.000+02:00

Any sheet material which has a sufficient safety factor (cardboard, corrugated cardboard, thin sheet plastic material) is the main material for the structure of the “universal hanger”. The hanger can be used in clothing stores, hospitals, hotels and other institutions. Due to the minimal thickness of the pattern it is convenient for warehousing and transportation (1000 pieces 3mm thick form a pile 3000mm high). The pattern is transferred to the complete product very quickly and easy. The sheet of the material obtains its volume and final look of the object ready for the proper use. All the hanger area can serve as a big surface for graphics and ads.

thanks to Core77 clogger

website of industrialdesign.ru

INDEX:Award 2007

2006-08-04T10:09:00.000+02:00

Design to Improve Life -design that substantially improves important aspects of peoples' lives.
INDEX: asks that nomination bodies to think horizontally – across design categories and industries – when selecting the best nominees for the five categories vital to human life: Body, Home, Work, Play and Community.

Hippo Roller and Life straw were among the past winners.

Index homepage
Last date for nomination: November 18, 2006

Fhybrid Hydrogen Powered Scooter

2006-07-30T20:00:00.000+02:00

Crijn Bouman, Graduate Student of our school developed a simulated prototype of hydrogen powered scooter, which he calls the Fhybrid. The Fhybrid tops out at 65 km/hr (40mph) and has a range of 200 km (124 miles)--the range is extended due to energy recovery during braking. Acceleration is better than the average traditional scooter. The perfect city flitzer, this bike emits no noise nor fumes. It is driven by a 69 Nm motor in the front wheel, and has a unique parking assist capability: the scooter can be powered slowly in reverse to aid slotting it into that last tight spot on city streets. That's the theory at least.

Power purse

2006-07-25T14:10:00.000+02:00

“Power Purse” from Solar, designed by doctoral student Jo Hynek. The “Power Purse” is a truly functional purse that is covered in solar panels and can charge mobile accessories such as cell phones, mp3 players, etc. Is it worth the $300 pricetag though?

source: mobilemag

Happy Planet Index

2006-07-15T18:07:00.000+02:00

The Happy Planet Index (HPI) is an innovative new measure that shows the ecological efficiency with which human well-being is delivered.

Light Objects: A design competition on sustainability

2006-07-05T11:52:00.000+02:00

Open to anyone, entrants are encouraged to go beyond mere “sustainability,” and push the idea of lightness - creating objects that are actually beneficial for the environment instead of just less bad.
Deadline: 13th August 2006
competition homepage

LightCap

2006-05-17T13:47:00.000+02:00

Solar Powered LED Light & Water Bottle

the water bottle with a light in the lid. The LightCap is one-liter water bottle with solar powered LED light. The cap has a built-in waterproof solar panel, battery pack and LED light.

solar powered LightCap™

World Challenge 2006

2006-05-13T23:04:00.000+02:00

BBC World, Newsweek, and Shell present the World Challenge 2006, a competition aiming to find individuals or groups from around the world who have shown enterprise and innovation. You can let them know about that project you are aware and believe it deserves recognition. Winning entries will receive juicy prices to beneffit the projects.

The rules read:
• We are looking for your nominations for innovative projects or ideas that demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit working for the benefit of the community whilst adopting a responsible approach.
• A project that shows initiative, the innovative use of technology or an invention
• Small business projects that increase investment into the local community
• Projects that take a responsible approach to the environment in which they are operating

World Challenge 2006
Submit an entry

Power Studio @ Interactive Institute

2006-05-09T11:34:00.000+02:00

"In objects typical of the domestic or personal sphere, such as lamps, refrigerators, mobile phones, energy is often left either to the user’s own devices (in the choice, for instance, of a light bulb or brand) or it is an invisible aspect of ongoing product experience that shows up in periodic electricity bills, when power runs out or is shut off. Electricity, as a product, is easily reduced to an abstract, invisible phenomenon whose only concrete representations are ‘two holes in the wall’. In a series of design examples, we explore how everyday products might be designed to better express – and thus stimulate reflection on – daily or long-term patterns of energy use"

Interactive Institute
Via Miguel Bruns (thanks!)

Intocontext

2006-05-02T00:07:00.000+02:00

Cale Thompson & Jon Rodriguez from DfS are involved in a project in Uganda. At their site we read "this project aims to clarify which technology interaction forms can facilitate person to person microfinance. The research will be developed through the case study of the person to person Internet lending system Kiva in eastern Africa"
For fresh updates of what Cale & Jon are doing down there, check regularly their blog where they post impressions of the trip.

Intocontext website
Intocontext Blog

GRID Arendal Library of Sustainability maps

2006-04-25T00:42:00.000+02:00

This service is an on-going project to collect and catalogue all graphic products that have been prepared for publications and web-sites from the last 15 years in a wide range of themes related to environment and sustainable development.

Earth Day

2006-04-22T13:06:00.000+02:00

Today is Earth Day, so you have the perfect excuse to consume sustainable experiences to spice it up. Here some suggestions:

- Build a project from the guys at Readymade
- Set aside stuff to be re-used during Konninginendag
- Set plants and flowers over the house
- Switch off that light & unplug unneeded devices
- Build up a solar air heater

Puma Folding Bike

2006-04-20T23:55:00.000+02:00

On a recent trip to US we spotted few interesting sustainable initiatives that called our attention. The following four posts show the most eye-catching ones.

It seems that the guys of Puma are exploring new business opportunities by partnering with bike manufacturer Biomega and gear specialist Vexed Generation. The result is UM (Urban Mobility) a concept embracing a folding bike and a collection of urban gear. According to what we saw at the Puma Store, the bike is robust and has lots of details that make it and interesting artifact. Furthermore, the catalogue mentions that it has “all the benefits of a folding bike but without looking like one”. Regarding the gear, we saw a sneaker designed for street bike performance which protects your pants from the chain meanwhile looking pretty cool.

Puma UM site

HP meets Starbucks

2006-04-20T23:49:00.000+02:00

You are all well aware that Starbucks is present all over the States, becoming in relatively short time a business success by offering “premium” coffee while keeping a commitment with the environment and societal issues. We mention earlier the acquisition of Ethos, a water company donating 5 cents per bottle to water projects in developing countries. So, what was going to be next surprise when getting our favorite “Moka Frappuccino Grande”? A partnership with printer manufacturer HP to "take away old PC’s, printers and guilt”. Imagine the scope of this campaign; millions of Americans are asked to use HPs take back system every time they put cream in their coffee. HP has been recently awarded for this initiative, amongst others.
Check the flyer hanging at DfS….on top of the printer!

HP Recycle site
HP Global Citizen Report

Zipcar: Car Sharing

2006-04-20T23:43:00.000+02:00

Meanwhile car sharing initiatives can be found all over Europe, not so many are present in the US. But if it happens that you visit Boston, New York, Washington DC or Denver, you can use the services of Zipcar. The company rents cars that have parking lots spread through the city applying rates according to hours using the service.
Convenience of the system is twofold: flexibility of use (private transportation when needed) and attractive localization system. When visiting the site, availability and location of cars is shown using Google Maps.

Tasty Energy Saving Initiative

2006-04-20T21:42:00.000+02:00

Last, but not least an energy saving initiative with wine and cheese flavor. Visiting a medical research lab in Boston we spotted this ad hanging form the message board. The note invites lab teams to save energy by switching off the fumes hood when not used, after two weeks monitoring energy consumption a winner lab will receive a wine & cheese party!!

It cannot be that something like this never happened at some other places, and I’m not pointing at you…Shall we do a competition? DfS vs. DDI? How is in?

Rotterdam Tour on Video

2006-04-07T02:45:00.000+02:00

Check the Sustainable Rotterdam Blog for a videosnap of the tour

Sustainable Rotterdam Blog

2006-03-21T17:16:00.000+01:00

Currently the city of Rotterdam is exploiting its cultural and creative character with the aim to position itself in the knowledge economy. Therefore, the city is an excellent ground for innovations in the field of sustainability related disciplines like mobility, urban planning, social cohesion, architecture etc. The Design for Sustainability program is involved in many of these new sustainability initiatives by graduation projects, PhD work, alumni etc...

The City Innovator of Rotterdam (also known as Prof B.), Onsustain and DfS took the initiative to organise an interactive exploration tour through Rotterdam. The outcome is available at the blog from the event.

Visit the Blog "Sustainable Rotterdam"

Electronic Vampires

2006-03-11T19:31:00.000+01:00

How much does your DVD player consume in standby power?
Intuitively you would say almost nothing, actually some estimates put the proportion of residential consumption due to standby power as high as 13%.
Check it out in the "Technology Quarterly" in the latest issue of the Economist.

Wind Turbines: history repeating?

2006-03-11T18:36:00.000+01:00

Do you have in mind the design of wind turbines with their old-fashioned windmill-shape? Probably they will be history in the near future.
The common wind turbines have blades rotating about a horizontal axis.Instead, TMA, a company based in Wyoming, announces the production of new wind turbines with blades that rotate about a vertical axis.
The advantages of the vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) ?

TMA claims that its system harvests 43-45% of the wind's available energy (conventional turbines, 25-40%).
It will work in extreme wind conditions (the conventional ones need to be shut).
It is less expensive to produce, because the cross-section of the blades do not vary from top to bottom, unlike the conventional ones
it is even less noisy.

However, the TMA's idea is not new: Simple VAWTs have been around for centuries, and were being used in Persia thousands of years ago. What is different now is their application, not on land but offshore. It seems that off the coast VAWTs may become commercially very attractive.
Check out the "Technology Quarterly" in the latest issue of the Economist for more information.

TimeOut goes green

2006-03-10T13:14:00.000+01:00

Lately, several mainstream magazines are publishing special "green" issues. First it was fashion magazine Elle, then Vogue, Vanity Fair, and now it's the turn for TimeOut London. Issue #1855 reads the following "The good life explained, with 100 ways to spring clean the capital and your conscience. Including how to recycle your old beds, glasses, fridges, faxes and phones; eco-friendly clubbing and Londoners who can work wonders with waste" So, if you plan to have a romantinc weekend with your partner visiting The City, don't forget to get a copy of TimeOut to make it a bit green.

TimeOut Green Issue
Elle
Vogue
Vanity Fair

Timberland footprint

2006-03-08T17:38:00.000+01:00

Timberland is coming out with a new box for its footwear, which is supposed to be much moreenvironmentally friendly than the old one. Furthermore they are going to put a 'nutricion' label on it stating the 'footprint' that was created by making the product.

“For the first time in the footwear industry, every Timberland box will feature a “nutrition” label that reflects the footprint we make in creating the product inside,” states Timberland promotional copy regarding its fall 2006 launch of a one-piece corrugated box that might be called the “eco/envirobox.”

Much like a nutrition facts label on food packaging, the pressure-sensitive shoebox labels will include:
• An “environmental impact” section defining energy needed to make the shoe.
• A “community impact” section detailing the company’s stance on child labor hours and community service.
• A “manufactured” section identifying country of origin and factory name.

(www.packworld.com)

Best Dutch design of the century

2006-03-06T13:09:00.000+01:00

After the example set by the British, Dutch Newspaper NRC has started a quest for the best Dutch design of the last century. At the site http://www.nrc.nl/kunst/bnd you can see the suggestions made by the paper. Looking through the list one does not see a lot of Eco-Design. As it is possible to make your own suggestions until Sunday the 12th of March, here is an opportunity for us. Nominate your favorite Dutch Eco-design product!

Turning nature's design into scientific breakthrough

2006-03-05T23:38:00.001+01:00

How nature inpires the design of technological breakthroughs like super efficient fans for laptops, low energy waterpumps and more!

ChangeX

2006-03-01T17:28:00.000+01:00

CHANGEX is an annual design exhibition taking place in Sydney that address issues of sustainability, environmental responsibility, social equity and community. Now in its third year, the exhibition will be complemented by an expanded series of events of interest to young designers, professionals, and community members alike.

Changex

Hippy Shopper

2006-02-28T22:47:00.000+01:00

An nice alternative for Treehugger if you are looking for an update of sustainable products: Hippy Shopping

Ethos Water bought by Starbucks

2006-02-27T20:34:00.000+01:00

Ethos Water comes in a tasteful bottle with a bold claim on the front: "Helping children get clean water." This refers to the fact that 5 cents of every $1.80 (or so) bottle purchased is put toward water projects in underdeveloped regions. The company has been recently purchased by Starbucks.

Ethos official site
The New York Times on Ethos
Interview to Founders at Influx

2nd Hand Electronics: Illigal!

2006-02-23T18:15:00.000+01:00

From April 1st 2006, ALL electronic products sold in Japan before 2001 will be prohibited from the 2nd hand market. The Japanese government is studying this option since the Japanese electronics industry proposed to apply the same kind of law already applicable to cars. What may be the environmental consequences? Well, the already short lifespan of electronics will be even shorter and the amount of electronic waste will increase. We’ll keep a close eye to this issue.

Via Akihabaranews.com

Useful Resources

2006-02-22T00:33:00.000+01:00

Massive Change an itinerant exhibition by Bruce Mau about the design of the world. The exhibition is campaigned by a book and a site reviewing global trends and developments in mobility, energy, information, market, materials, manufacturing, military, and wealth.
The site is a great source of information in the format of videos and stories.

Massive Change in Action
Bruce Mau Design

PC for the Poor: Which design will win?

2006-02-19T18:06:00.000+01:00

It's easy to list the benefits of bringing inexpensive computers to the billions of people who live in rural villages and urban centers in the developing world.
Designing machines that are resilient, powerful and cheap enough to reach those not yet online, though, has proven a lot tougher than expected. India's Simputer, an inexpensive handheld, flopped. Brazil has worked for years on a Linux PC for the poor, to no avail.
Recently, some new ideas have come to the forefront. Here's a quick rundown of their pros and cons.

The other 6 Billion People

2006-02-11T22:40:00.000+01:00

More Base-of-the-Pyramid by large electronics? Check how is HP brainstorming about the issue. The site reads: Hewlett Packard hosted DesignAbout, The Other Six Billion People in Palo Alto, Calif., a stone's throw from Hewlett Packard's world headquarters and smack in the middle of Silicon Valley. Sam Lucente, IDSA, the director of brand, design and experience at Hewlett Packard, and Ami Mehta, HP's emerging-markets experience architect, led the event. Designers from across the globe and from multiple design industries gathered with anticipation for what they would learn about the world's other 6 billion people and the new methods and processes they could develop when designing for this underserved group.

Dowload the reports from the different sessions

1. Design for the Individual (PDF 155kb)
2. Design for the Masses (PDF 118kb)
3. Design with the Cultural Perspective (PDF 148kb)
4. Design for the Flat World(PDF 120kb)

Business In Development Student Competition

2006-02-09T23:02:00.000+01:00

The BiD Challenge student award stimulates students to come up with a business plan for poverty reduction and profit in a developing country. It gives you as a student an extra incentive to participate. Young people are innovative, flexible, energetic, sociable, and knowledgeable about new trends and technologies.. all characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.

Students all over the world are eligible for the special BiD Student Award of €10.000 ! The award challenges students to make poverty reduction their business.

EcoPanorama

2006-01-30T23:04:00.000+01:00

Acquart Mathieu is a French industrial designer with an interesting project; visit 15 countries in 8 months with the sustainable design theme in mind. According to his website he will be visiting The Netherlands (Delft included) in August after UK, US Canada, Australia, Japan, China, India, Norway & Sweden. Let’s try to ask him to visit DfS and share experiences/ideas.

Ecopanorama.com

Who gets what?

2006-01-26T23:28:00.000+01:00

Did you know that 40% of total EU budget (€43.5 billion for 2004) was spent on agricultural subsidies (plants, animal products, ancillary expenditure and rural development)? Someone wake up! Check it at Farmsubsidy.org, a right-to-the-finger site "where you can find out who gets what from the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy"

$65 billion fund for Green Design

2006-01-21T00:00:00.000+01:00

By John Thackara:

"Is advertising a source of harmful emissions? Industry forecasts anticipate that advertising spending will break through the $400 billion mark this year. That's $555 per person in the USA, (compared to $209 per head in France, $25 in Latin America and $8 in China). Those billions have just one purpose: to stimulate consumption - most of which will be environmentally damaging. I doubt that even one percent of this year's global ad spend will be used to create demand for environmentally positive goods, services or behaviour. One response would be to curb environmentally harmful marketing, much as we are trying to reduce carbon emissions. But curbs and limits are an unimaginative solution. Far better would be for adland and its clients to divert just ten percent of their budget - $10 per person, worldwide - to the redesign of products and services to make them sustainable."

Doors of Perception

IDEA Awards includes Eco-Design category

2006-01-20T17:25:00.000+01:00

Celebrating its 26th year, the Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) are dedicated to fostering business and public understanding of the importance of industrial design excellence to the quality of life and the economy. Winning the IDEA is a distinction like no other that brands your design as the very best in the business, among your peers and clients, and to consumers around the world.

New for 2006 edition is the eco-design category to recognize design that employ environmentally sustainable principles and solutions.

Deadline: February 13th

TuttoBeNe in Milan '05

2006-01-19T20:14:00.000+01:00

This spring TuttoBeNe will be present at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, Italy. The presentation will take place from 5 till 10 April 2006. TuttoBeNe focuses on presenting design that contributes to a more sustainable lifestyle. The applied work will be selected on its social responsible character, and its innovation in economic and ecologic sustainability (in production as well as consumption). The selection committee consist of: Cindy van den Bremen, Paul Hekkert and Danny Venlet. Please note that designers should be from, or based in, Belgium or The Netherlands. Applicants should apply before 27 January 2006!

TuttoBene site
Download pdf on how to participate

Via O2 mailinglist

Portable Light

2006-01-19T20:10:00.000+01:00

Approximately 2 billion people worldwide lack access to electricity. Sheila Kennedy's Portable Light project brings together ancient textile weaving techniques and contemporary solid state electronics to design a new material form for light: a cost-effective, de-centralized renewable lighting device. Lightweight, easily rolled or compressed, readily shipped, transported and carried, Portable Light can be deployed at a global scale for education, household health and economic production and community practices.

Portable Light site
Via Core77

Cortica Chaise

2006-01-19T12:15:00.000+01:00

"Daniel Michalik is a recent grad from the department of Furniture Design at the Rhode Island School of Design. With a focus on sustainability, he has developed several cork pieces ranging from lounges to ottomans. It's a beautiful collection made with an unconventional material used in a very innovative way."

danielmichalik.com

Via Mocoloco

Non battery-dependent bicycle pedal light

2006-01-17T12:02:00.000+01:00

Pedalite is a non battery-dependent bicycle pedal light with integral energy storage. Pedalite provides a unique light signature and 360° visibility. Pedalite utilises an energy storage capacitor rather than any form of chemical battery.

Read more at http://www.pedalite.com

Another recycled PVC accessory

2006-01-17T11:38:00.000+01:00

Well, interesting post in treehugger about recycled stuff from RUW. The trick is that if you choose their most recent design a small percentage of the price of the bag will go to a charity working to prevent domestic violence... some body is thinking! right

Read the post here

Ecoproducts Videopodcast

2006-01-17T10:58:00.000+01:00

So, are you already a podcastmaniac? Few days ago we’re introducing the power of podcasting with a series of lectures from The Champions of Sustainability, today we go a step further and introduce videopodcasting. What’s all about? Someone goes to an event, records it in video and posts it on the net for you to enjoy it as you were there. You can download the videos directly from the websites or subscribe to them via iTunes.

We’d like to recommend you two of our favorite videopdcast:

* Coolhunting Video from the renowned design blog
* Ecoproducts Exhibition (I, II, III) from TechToys Videpodcast

Shelter in a cart

2006-01-08T01:16:00.000+01:00

Designboom social awareness award 2006

Design a cart that can provide shelter and storage. Participation is open to applicants from every country in the world,to design professionals, students, and design-enthusiasts. Free participation.
urban homeless use carts to carry their possessions and to collect goods (like bottles, cardboard, etc.) that they then return to various recyclers in exchange for cash. This provides a small and valuable income. It is essential that your cart design not only accommodates all these functions but that it is affordable (for production and for private parties or charity organisations who wish to donate them).

Deadline: february 28th,2006 (for registration) march 10th, 2006 (for submission). check it out.

Sustainability Podcast

2006-01-06T13:58:00.000+01:00

Podcasting is the new way to enhance your Mp3 player. Instead of downloading music files, now you can browse the net for thousands of audio files covering a wide variety of subjects. Why is this cool? Imagine you can find lectures from your favorite gurus in sustainability and listen to them in your Mp3 player on the go or in your computer without the need to be physically present in a conference room. Instead of working out your imagination just click this link and download audio files with lectures from people like Richard Florida (The Rise of the Creative Class). The files are also available through iTunes under "The Champions of Sustainability" podcast.

The Champions of Sustainability

British SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

2006-01-05T22:32:00.000+01:00

The DTI, working with Defra and the Design Council, commissioned a scoping study on design and sustainability. The report maps UK sustainable design and draws out issues such as procurement, skills and public policy and makes some initial recommendations for taking sustainable design forward. Click here for downloadable reports.

istand - Stand and drive

2005-12-31T14:12:00.000+01:00

A two person car for the city that has an ultra small footprint for parking and recharging The car has three independent wheels combined with a 'standing room only' volume for passengers.
This is part of SOFT cars project of Mitchell Joachim.
There are some more projects (including some bamboo!) on this website and the intention is to comprehensibly establish a green framework for solutions that fit within the natural environment and urbanized areas.

The Thin Green Line

2005-12-29T12:21:00.000+01:00

Toyota's campaign to brand its "hybrid synergy drive" avoided the word green, instead focusing on simple environmental claims such as "Less gas in. Less gasses out."
This article (CMO Magazine) is worth reading for its insight on "green marketing" - what works, and what doesn't. The article makes the point that deliberately branding youself as "Green" carries with it quite a bit of risk.

Sustainable Designers

2005-12-27T16:05:00.000+01:00

Part IV, Best of Treehugger

Sustainable designers! sounds very interesting, right? This link published in TH and these designers had to do more than just one thing well. The designs had to be numerous, varied and excellent, and after much research, time and thought, blabla blabla... ...

check out also previously selected designer series: Part I, PartII and Part III

Next Generation

2005-12-23T16:57:00.000+01:00

DESIGN COMPETITION
To a designer or architect seeking seed money to develop a Big Idea that will make our designed environment better, safer, and more sustainable.
Deadline: 12.15.2005 Late Deadline: 1.15.2006 Download here the application
Metropolis seeks to identify the next generation of Big Ideas by the next generation of designers. The offer is $10,000 to an individual or team of designers seeking to develop a Big Idea that will make our designed environment better, safer, and more sustainable.

Ecodesign 05 Fotoalbum

2005-12-22T10:55:00.000+01:00

D4S blog has its own fotoalbum. Check some pics from Ecodesign 05 Symposium in Tokyo (side bar).

Bamboo Information Sources for Students

2005-12-21T16:24:00.000+01:00

Bamboo Information Sources
Posted by Pablo van der Lugt
p.vanderlugt@io.tudelft.nl
December 21, 2005

Books and magazines

A lot of good information can also be downloaded from http://www.inbar.int/outreach/main.htm
The TU Delft as a affiliate can log in to download all information in pdf, this is for students and TU Delft staff only. Contact me for the inlog data.

In the library of the TU Eindhoven/ architecture there is a lot of bamboo literature available

For further sources I refer to:
http://www.baardadegoede.wolters.nl/_theme/baardadegoede/frameset.asp?MID=192&DID=396
to execute a search on your own, especially Google Scholar is recommended.

CD ROMs
Several CD ROMS published by reliable sources (UNIDO, GTZ, NID, etcetera) are available in my cupboard at DfS which can be copied by students

Bamboo internet sources; Some good starting points (also check out their links):

Building & Construction

RWTH Aachen
http://bambus.rwth-aachen.de/

Product development and Socio Economic development

National Institute of Design, India, Prof MP Ranjan
www.homepage.mac.com/ranjanmp

Guadua (Latin American Species)

European funded Guadua Project
http://web.catie.ac.cr/guadua/

Bamboo in general (broad scope)

International Network for Bamboo and Rattan:
Contact me for the TU Delft login data (TU Delft is an INBAR member)
http://www.inbar.int/

World Bamboo Organisation
http://www.worldbamboo.org/

Environmental Bamboo Foundation
http://www.bamboocentral.org/

Bamboo Thematic Network
http://www.bamboonetwork.org/

Some interesting bamboo products:

Snowboards and skis
https://mail.ocp.tudelft.nl/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.indigosnow.de/1_framesets/ind_uebers_framset_e.htm
1000 examples
http://www.bambus.de/infos/1000/indexx.php
flooring
http://www.moso.nl/

E groups
Biggest bamboo discussion egroup (you can easily become a member)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bamboo-plantations/

Business Week Special Report

2005-12-18T13:54:00.000+01:00

Normal stuff!

2005-12-18T01:17:00.000+01:00

Trash-can made from 99% re-claimed automobile tires and recycled plastic or aluminum trim.

Eco-friendly toothbrush

2005-12-18T01:08:00.000+01:00

from recycled yogurt containers
Its toothbrush from recycled yogurt containers. Yes, the whole of the brush handle. Recycline, Inc., partnered with the University of Massachusetts at Lowell to design the brush. And the Stonyfield Farm Yogurt is to supply the material. Recycline, Inc., the manufacturer of environmentally-friendly products is located in Waltham, Massachusetts. The toothbrush is simply designed. Narrowing at the head, the brush handle is sleek, with a subtle curve out from the base. Apparently allowing for a gentler brushing technique, the brush is curved reverse, ie the handle backward. To increase the ease and benefits of brushing, the brush handle is made curved.

More eco-friendly products and lifestyles at http://www.ecofriend.org/

Re-use of wate materials with real purpose

2005-12-18T00:38:00.000+01:00

Recyclicity.net
The objective of Recyclicity is to promote re-use of waste material for construction applications with as little added energy as possible for transport and processing of materials.

In Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, recycled advertising billboards serve as rain covers on the tents of earthquake refugees. source: sfgate.com

Look for more examples at recyclicity.net

Creative Sustainability #1: Magazine stool

2005-12-17T13:49:00.000+01:00

Our favorite magazines' collection requires lots of space in the house. By tightening the magazines with a suitcase belt (€1.5) they acquire a new functionality as seating artifact.

More pictures

Ecodesign Brains

2005-12-17T13:29:00.000+01:00

Ecodesign 2005 was non-stop networking and thinking for la crème de la crème of sustainable design.
Taeko Aoe (Panasonic), Casper & JC. More insiders’ pics to come soon.

Rapid recharge batteries

2005-12-15T10:26:00.000+01:00

0.3mm thick and recharges in 30 seconds

NEC has debuted some ultra-thin and flexible quick charging batteries named ORB, for Organic Radical Battery. Their 0.3mm thickness that allows them to be flexible, or the fact that they can be recharged in about 30 seconds. The organic radical materials inside the battery are in an “electrolyte-permeated gel state,” which is supposedly about halfway between a solid and a liquid. This helps ions make a smooth move (no, the other one), reducing resistance, allowing the batteries to charge faster. 1 square centimeter will give you about 1 miliwatt hour. That’s not enough to power your laptop!! it it is may be th efuture for electronic paper, wearable computers, and other such technologies stepping up to the plate in the coming decade.

Uri Dreams Away in Dream Machine

2005-12-15T03:41:00.000+01:00

Live report from Tokyo.... Uri is in love with this minimalistic massage chair, good design.... No worries, I am on my way to the Eco-Products Fair and hope to comeback with better examples...

Bamboo products

2005-12-14T23:16:00.000+01:00

Here one can find 1000 examples for Bamboo applications. One can wonder for some products why it need to be in Bamboo! check it out.

Climate Change special issue Economist

2005-12-08T20:15:00.000+01:00

That the climate is warming now seems certain. And though the magnitude of any future warming remains unclear, human activity seems the most likely cause. The question is what, if anything, can or should be done.

ECO PRODUCTS 2005

2005-12-04T21:03:00.000+01:00

Eco-Products" is the largest eco-related exhibition in Japan.
Over 150 thousand people from every walk of life gather to this exhibition to exchange their views on "spreading eco-products" and "protecting the environment." And as you kno DfS is hanging around over there....so if you need some specific form this exhibition, let me knwo and I will explore it.

The new world map of tehmillenium goals

2005-12-03T12:35:00.000+01:00

See the world map based upon achieving the millenium goals (in Dutch).

hOLAnDA Latin American Design

2005-12-01T00:44:00.000+01:00

Cultural exhibition filled with the latest living, furniture, and design accesories from Latin America. The event centers its attention in four main areas: new materials, aware products, domestic design, design & crafts, and t-shirt design. Within the range of products you can find the work of Escama from Brazil.

Visit the exhibition during 1-4 December at Poosthornkerk (Haarlemmerstraat, Amsterdam).
site hOLAnDA

Responsible Design and the Management of Ethics

2005-11-28T13:09:00.000+01:00

The last number of Design Management Reveiw takes a look at responsible design as it relates to corporate ethics. The author, who is executive director at the Center for the Advancement of Applied Ethics at Carnegie Mellon University, begins with a definition of design that might surprise some readers. Design, he says, is "an activity of appropriately relating means to ends within a set of constraints.... Designers and design managers must know what is to be done (ends), how to do it (means), and the limits within which they can act (constraints)."

It is worth to have a look to the printed version in most of the design libraries... The digital version only for members

MIT Media Lab $100 laptop : Frog variant

2005-11-27T12:57:00.000+01:00

In June 2005 the MIT Media Lab asked frog to explore a $100 laptop for the education markets in emerging countries. With a goal of distributing 100 million computers, the "One Laptop per Child" project has the potential to revolutionize the way the world’s children are educated.

Taking the future for a drive

2005-11-27T11:30:00.000+01:00

Honda's experiment of leasing a fuel cell vehicle

Mr. Spallino, a 40-year-old executive at a California construction and engineering firm, and his wife, Sandy, have been leasing the FCX, a car worth about $1 million, for $500 a month since July in one of the more unusual experiments in the auto industry's history.

Article in NYTimes

Sustainability indicators

2005-11-27T11:10:00.000+01:00

As we all know that Indicators of sustainability are different from traditional indicators of economic, social, and environmental progress. Above illustration shows web of interactions among the environmental, the economical and societal aspects.
I am trying to develop transportation indicators for a community/context, and come accross this sustainable measures web source, which is attempted to create database of indicators by categories and keywords.

Simputer: simplicity or sustainability?

2005-11-27T10:25:00.000+01:00

Aimed as low cost access device that can pervade the rural landscape,especially in third world countries. Is it doing the trick? Linux operated, 32MB storage space and 64MB DRAM! costs around $200 for base model and goes upto $400 to have more features/accessories.
Check out more info at http://amidasimputer.com

It just looks and feels like Palm Tungsten, how penetrative it is in the low end market? only time and its reliability might answer these!!

Reuse and Sustainability

2005-11-26T20:24:00.000+01:00

Studio Hergebruik, Coolsingel 47, Rotterdam

Studio Hergebruik is a shop, open workshop and exposition of use and reuse of waste materials. Not much info on the website http://www.studiohergebruik.nl/, but in the shop one can find lot of inspiration!

2005-11-23T23:21:00.000+01:00

Conference, Deadline Abstracts December 1st. Sustainable development,the environment, a trade balance between the North and South, an inherent respect for each person, the smoothing out of existing inequalities. The designer as a professional as well as inventor has a lot of pertinent and efficient remarks to make concerning these burning questions. "ETHICS : Design, Ethics and Humanism" will take stock of existing research as well as the experience accumulated and results achieved in various design fields.

on-line conference on d4s

2005-11-21T11:44:00.000+01:00

This can be a new concept to reduce the travelling to conferences no need to fly and plant trees online (je,je). If we could only catch part of the experience...

And..video of the $100 = €80 MIT Laptop

2005-11-20T14:15:00.000+01:00

And a video of this human powered €80 laptop.........

D4S Design for Sustainability

2005-11-20T12:26:00.000+01:00

You can see pictures of the new 100$ laptop. Looks like a nice design for sustainability isn´t it? Even the colour is green...
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3

Reanim

2005-11-15T20:30:00.000+01:00

"Reanim as in reanimate, a new series of prosthetics for wounded furniture by french designers 5.5. There's a crutch to replace a chair leg and a bandage for a seat top. All of which is compelling in that it juxtaposes the mass produced (read disposable) with re-use and the creation of what is generally unique pieces. The color green is a reference to garbage trucks in France." www.cinqcinqdesigners.com

Via Mocoloco

Oil Price Up...Renewable Energy Companies more successfull: the top 10

2005-11-15T17:34:00.000+01:00

Ten Eco-Friendly Companies
Alternative-energy projects used to be the stuff of high-school science fairs. But pricey oil has changed the game, and the stories of these firms show that new technologies are winning over investors and customers, and saving the environment.

Water & Works

2005-11-15T14:00:00.000+01:00

Projects by Lucy en Jorge Orta

The work consists of a series of vehicles and machines that can filter and transport water, designed by the artist herself. see the link at Boijmans webpage

Orta's weblink

The Persuaders

2005-11-11T22:46:00.000+01:00

"The Persuaders" explores how the cultures of marketing and advertising have come to influence not only what people buy, but also how they view themselves and the world around them. The 90-minute documentary draws on a range of experts and observers of the advertising/marketing world, to examine how, in the words of one on-camera commentator, "the principal of democracy yields to the practice of demography," as highly customized messages are delivered to a smaller segment of the market.
Full documentary at Frontline. Especially interesting the chaper on Emotional Branding.

Behind Philips' "High Design"

2005-11-11T11:33:00.000+01:00

Philips Design CEO Stefano Marzano draws on multidisciplinary knowledge to mold the look of tomorrow. His goal: Humanized tech
Read here the article and his views from Businessweek

Get back in the box by Douglas Rushkoff

2005-11-08T17:11:00.000+01:00

Innovation from the inside out
yes I agree, what is new about this book? we are D4S blog! what is this link doing here?
after a big buttt... it is interesting to read excerpts from the author Rushkoff's blog itself

About the book: On a landscape that seems to be transforming itself with every new technology, marketing tactic, or investment strategy, businesses rush to embrace change by trading in their competencies or shifting their focus, altogether. All in the name of innovation. (more about the book)

‘Cultural differences’ even in IKEA manuals

2005-11-07T13:34:00.000+01:00

'Ikea manuals sexist, says Norwegian PM' in The Guardian International… only men are shown assembling furniture in its instruction booklets…

See funny article IKEA voor iedereen (sorry... it is in NL)

Is it just one indirect example about the influence of cultural differences on the way we do things? or is it really means some thing for the future???

International Conference on Life Cycle Engineering

2005-11-07T11:33:00.000+01:00

O.k. I know we are not so hardcore life cycle engineering anymore as we used to be....but for those interested to go to Belgium: May 2006 International Conference on Life Cycle Engineering in Leuven. Deadline abstracts Half November 2005... one week to go.

Tier and the B.o.P.

2005-11-06T20:04:00.000+01:00

The aim of the TIER project is to address the challenges in bringing the Information Technology revolution to the masses of the developing regions of the world. Historically, most projects that aim to do this rely on technology that was developed for the affluent world, but these imported technologies fail to address key challenges in cost, deployment, power consumption, and support for semi- and illiterate users.

Have a look to one of their workshops html
workshop agenda

The 10 faces of Innovation by Tom Kelley

2005-11-05T12:45:00.000+01:00

Innovation is all about people. It is about the roles people can play, the hats they can put on, the personas they can adopt. It is not just about the luminaries of innovation like Thomas Edison, or celebrity CEOs like Steve Jobs and Jeff Immelt. It is about the unsung heroes who work on the front lines of entrepreneurship in action, the countless people and teams who make innovation happen day in and day out.

(read more) read here the excerpt from the book

Centre for Alternative Technology

2005-11-04T17:44:00.000+01:00

CAT is concerned with the search for globally sustainable, whole and ecologically sound technologies and ways of life.

Look at Green shop for different applications and inspiring ideas...

example...

product for those who have a bike and a mobile phone. Consists of a 6V/3W dynamo and handlebar bracket, quick-release charger unit and power lead. All you need is the car charger cable suitable for your phone. It can charge any make of mobile, as well as other low-powered devices such as radios, digital cameras, videos etc as long as they have a car charger as an accessory. 70 minutes of cycling at about 12 mph will charge an average phone from flat to full; shorter trips will top it up. 450g.

Godoy lab

2005-11-04T11:22:00.000+01:00

Emilliano Godoy is a Mexican Industrial Designer commited to Sustainable design. He has developed particularly interesting designs from Bio materials. For products that are "impossible to collect" for recycling he applies sugar. Golf pegs, shooting targets and seed packaging are products that he has designed for this "Sweet disposable project". He has also designed several products, such as chairs and structural panels with Maplex, a biodegradable cellulose fiber material. For more info see: http://www.godoylab.com/

Quotes from Sustainable Innovations '05

2005-11-04T11:06:00.000+01:00

Martin Charter
“Think more broadly what sustainability may be”
“Over the past ten year products have not become significantly different. “

Fumi Masuda
“We should not sustain society as it is, but change society for sustainability.”
“Eco-value= Essential Comfort value”.

Bob Willard
Confront companies: “To what extent will your market value be influenced by climate change?
“Saving the world is not on the list of business opportunities”
“The biggest threat to national security is climate change”

Ursula Tischner
“Ecodesign is done, we know how to do that, you just have to do it”
“PSS has potential, but it is not the golden path”
“Designers should become incubators for sustainable solutions”

Ken Peattie
Nature’s cyclic approach works: “never trust a model that goes from left to right”
“How much as really changed, are we really in an age of innovation?”
“The sustainability agenda is like an undergraduate party”

Edwin Datchefski
“There are a massive amount of bad products… there are 100 million products to make sustainable”.
“We should redesign everything”
“Problems have become invisible and pervasive…products look clean and niche, but there is a hidden ugliness”
“Buddhism is similar to sustainable design”
“We should create harmony between the designed and the undersigned”.

Alastair Faud Luke
“We have failed to put the individual in the middle of the sustainable design debate”.
“We are not very good in understanding the emotions of sustainable product design”.
“We should stop dictating sustainability”
“I believe in the power of design”

Ezio Manzini
“I think a lot of things have happened…if you consider the average, there is never good news”.
“It has become normal to live in this risk society”.
“Sustainability should be seen as a discontinuity, use it only sometimes”
“Never trust a man that can only spell a word in 1 way”

Utrecht Manifest

2005-11-04T10:32:00.000+01:00

Utrecht Manifest questionsthe role that industry, cultural field and designers play in a society where consumption and individualism set the tone. Lifestyle, image and profit seem to be the main concern. Utrecht Manifest investigates alternatives for this attitude through exhibitions and theory development: Utrecht Manifest visualises and stimulates the role that design can play in contributing to society through commitment. Sustainability, product quality, and design attitude are important elements raised in the discussions.

The event is over (23-30/10/2005) but you can find inspiring information at the site.