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The Secret to True Sustainable Design....
Gadi Amit, president of NewDealDesign has some pretty interesting things to say about sustainable design, and we can't help but agree.
Gadi writes:
"We should harken back to design in its classical sense, in which an object is so beautiful or functional or otherwise pleasing that it elicits an emotional reaction."
The nett of it: Our role as designers it to create products that people fall in love with, so much so that they'll hold on to it for the longest time. Gadi reckons that a product that is used for 6 years would be a lot more sustainable compared to say a product that is made with eco friendly materials, yet thrown away after a year or two. He cites his Apple Macbook as an example ( another Apple fanboy it seems ).
Read Gadi Amit's full article here.
Gadi writes:
"We should harken back to design in its classical sense, in which an object is so beautiful or functional or otherwise pleasing that it elicits an emotional reaction."
The nett of it: Our role as designers it to create products that people fall in love with, so much so that they'll hold on to it for the longest time. Gadi reckons that a product that is used for 6 years would be a lot more sustainable compared to say a product that is made with eco friendly materials, yet thrown away after a year or two. He cites his Apple Macbook as an example ( another Apple fanboy it seems ).
Read Gadi Amit's full article here.
Designing Through a Depression
Manufacturers, companies and those who decide what products will be produced need to do some serious re-thinking.
There’s no excuse not to examine and re-examine what’s made, how it’s manufactured, what materials are used (and which are recyclable), what benefit it’s giving the consumer (or lack thereof) and what contribution, if any, it’s making to anything other than landfill.
.....At its heart, design is about problem-solving, but it’s also about problem-identifying. Instead of creating a need for things, designers can now focus on responding to things we do need. We may have never been confronted with as many problems as we are today; the blame for them can’t be attributed to designers, but many future solutions can — and will be.
Read the full article here.
There’s no excuse not to examine and re-examine what’s made, how it’s manufactured, what materials are used (and which are recyclable), what benefit it’s giving the consumer (or lack thereof) and what contribution, if any, it’s making to anything other than landfill.
.....At its heart, design is about problem-solving, but it’s also about problem-identifying. Instead of creating a need for things, designers can now focus on responding to things we do need. We may have never been confronted with as many problems as we are today; the blame for them can’t be attributed to designers, but many future solutions can — and will be.
Read the full article here.
Bright Ideas for Dark Days
In tough times, it's the brightest ideas that get noticed. And for those who can adapt quickest, recession offers a chance to steal a march on the competition. Check out this article from the UK Guardian.
"Innovation can give you a strategic advantage but that advantage will diminish over time, so you can't afford to just park ideas,"
"Innovation can give you a strategic advantage but that advantage will diminish over time, so you can't afford to just park ideas,"
Mass Customization: Behold, the Un-Readymades.
Does the future of product development belong to mass customization (as opposed to mass production)? Anyhow, this is one of the best interpretations we've seen. Read More.
Design to Overcome a Downturn
Design is a powerful tool during a downturn. Here's an insightful piece which includes facts, figures and case studies. Read More.
Courtesy of the Design Council, UK.
Courtesy of the Design Council, UK.
Welcome
Warmest greetings and a blessed Chinese New Year; from all of us at eXpedio.
Every week (at the very least), we plan to fill these pages with the latest insights into the world of product development. More importantly, what goes into designing products that truly add value to our clients lives, their clients, and just about everyone who comes into contact with said product/service.
We may not have all the answers, but we're working on that, and what better way to build on our new ideas and experiences but by sharing. So stay tuned for more.
Every week (at the very least), we plan to fill these pages with the latest insights into the world of product development. More importantly, what goes into designing products that truly add value to our clients lives, their clients, and just about everyone who comes into contact with said product/service.
We may not have all the answers, but we're working on that, and what better way to build on our new ideas and experiences but by sharing. So stay tuned for more.