It's Thursday and my turn for the blog.
I'm stood here in my kitchen in Ludlow, looking out over the river Teme to Whitcliffe Common. Last year, the floods came up the garden twice. Could have been worse – if I knew how to put pics into this posting, I'd show you what one of the bridges in town looked like after the flood destroyed it... and not even over the main river, but a (usually) small tributary.
So, the power of water – and that's just in a provincial middle England town.
It's lovely when you've got plenty of water like us, but that's no reason to be complacent.
I'm gonna toss into the soup a couple of pieces of work that link to things we talked about in Belfast.
First, there's the No-Wash Sweatshirt, because water and energy use through washing is a bigger resource sink for clothes than manufacture. For those of you who don't know the lovely collection of design stories that is 5-Ways from Kate Fletcher and Becky Early, do take a look at them all http://www.5ways.info/docs/projects/nowash/projects.htm - so simple yet such clear signposts to core ways for design to make more sustainable products.
Kate is now Reader at LCF, and was at at the Fashioning the Future Summit meeting there last week. So too was (eco)architect Mike McDonough. He preached that the way towards a durable/sustainable future involves appropriate technology. I have found that a good way to use 5-ways is as a challenge to technologists “Kate and Becky use simple design routes to make their stories come to life – can you add to it/do it better through technology”
On the no-wash subject, really bringing the Man in the White Suit to life is one of the projects that I've always wanted to do to link fashion and technology. Perhaps this is one for Universities United.
Then there's the magic greenhouse. I've lost all my late-stage concepts on this, but I have an early sketch to show you sometime (again, I would post if I knew how - perhaps someone can advise!). It is all about using the power of bacteria and condensed water to create a living “washing machine” . This was territory explored by some young industrial designers at RCA back in 2005 – and I'm very pleased they have stayed good friends. The main idea they worked on was for a low-water, hand powered washing machine, probably more practical, but it is the greenhouse that really catches my imagination.
That's it for now. I've still got a water use visual meter to talk about, but am trying to contact the designer to get some information on current status – so hopefully more soon.
Best wishes
Phil
What is 'Free Radicals' (formerly known as Universities United)?
The project aims to embed social responsibility into the corporate activities of the HEI sector. We will bring together cross-disciplinary academics from three UK universities, together with private and public sector partners who will ‘volunteer’ their time to develop original ideas and projects that can have profound societal impact.
A core aim is that ideas will be both developed and realised, thereby formulating a model for other universities to apply. Our goal is that each university will embed social innovation as a key theme within their approach to corporate responsibility, creating an example of best practice for others to follow.
Who is involved both institutionally and individually?
The project will be delivered by three main academic partners and the Helen Storey Foundation (HSF). The academic partners are leading UK Universities which represent a range of institution types and a wide geographical spread. The University of Sheffield (UoS), University of Ulster (UU) and the University of the Arts London/ London College of Fashion (UAL). The Helen Storey Foundation is a not for profit arts organisation which seeks to inspire new ways of thinking by instigating cross-collaborative art, science and technology projects.
Other partners from industry/private sector will add valuable input with their experience of creating innovative ideas and products and bringing these successfully to market. Evaluators and those with experience in the marketing and PR sectors will also be key to the success of this project.
What are the aims and desired outcomes.
• To create a ‘think tank’ of leading academics, public and private sector partners to create cross disciplinary, innovative solutions to global dilemmas.
• Use the networks available across HEIs and the private and public sector to secure resource to test and implement these solutions.
• Taking into account the economics of social innovation, to investigate mechanisms which would develop and commercialise ideas from the HE sector in these areas.
• Take learning from the private sector, where Corporate Responsibility has driven the development of successful social innovations, and improve HE sector performance in this area.
A core aim is that ideas will be both developed and realised, thereby formulating a model for other universities to apply. Our goal is that each university will embed social innovation as a key theme within their approach to corporate responsibility, creating an example of best practice for others to follow.
Who is involved both institutionally and individually?
The project will be delivered by three main academic partners and the Helen Storey Foundation (HSF). The academic partners are leading UK Universities which represent a range of institution types and a wide geographical spread. The University of Sheffield (UoS), University of Ulster (UU) and the University of the Arts London/ London College of Fashion (UAL). The Helen Storey Foundation is a not for profit arts organisation which seeks to inspire new ways of thinking by instigating cross-collaborative art, science and technology projects.
Other partners from industry/private sector will add valuable input with their experience of creating innovative ideas and products and bringing these successfully to market. Evaluators and those with experience in the marketing and PR sectors will also be key to the success of this project.
What are the aims and desired outcomes.
• To create a ‘think tank’ of leading academics, public and private sector partners to create cross disciplinary, innovative solutions to global dilemmas.
• Use the networks available across HEIs and the private and public sector to secure resource to test and implement these solutions.
• Taking into account the economics of social innovation, to investigate mechanisms which would develop and commercialise ideas from the HE sector in these areas.
• Take learning from the private sector, where Corporate Responsibility has driven the development of successful social innovations, and improve HE sector performance in this area.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
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1 comment:
send me your pics and i'll pop them up if you like.
chef x
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