another link courtesy of K. Coogan

google cooks up something noteworthy for thesis

and in spirit of our awesome NYC field trip this week, a link to the 

dexter sinister library

also cool but probably unrelated stirling engine models: 

Links/Subjects

awards for 'do-gooder' design

http://causeaffect.aigasf.org/



http://www.worldstudio.org/home.html

"Works to engage the creative community in shaping a better world for tomorrow"



Immense Listings!

http://www.creativeforacause.org/websites.html

"The internet is a dynamic resource for people seeking to use the power of Visual Communications to foment positive changes in society. The websites and blogs included in this listing will provide individuals with a solid foundation as they strive to achieve that goal."

John Bielenburg

Potential interviewee, John's work exhibits a strong commitment to the idea that designers have the potential and perhaps a responsibility to affect positive social change. Beginning with work produced in the early 1990's exhibiting this train of thought, his ideas were (hopefully) circulated around the design community by placing in design annual contests. Most recently his thinking and efforts have been channeled with what he calls "Thinking Wrong" in which we must ask ourselves to examine every possibility in order to move forward with the best solution. The definition as posted on the Project M website reads:

The human brain tends to think along pre-determined linear thought pathways. Such linear thinking can inhibit true innovation and creative exploration. Project M will encourage, and provide techniques for, “thinking wrong” to generate new ideas and design directions to challenge the status-quo.

He manifests this, primarily for young, fresh-out-of-school designers with a studio program he began running in 2003, called Project M.


http://www.projectmlab.com/



The outcome of these workshops are design pieces that function to promote awareness, raise money, but best of all, stimulate thought.

www.thisisnotgrass.com




www.buyameter.org

Otto Neurath..

Was amazing. Invented ISOTYPES (International System of Typographic Picture Education) in order to help facilitate the rebuilding of Germany and Austria after WWI by making the situation easier to understand for the common people so they would get behind all the plans. The aim was a more universal self-explanatory visual representation. "Neurath believed that, in the same way that the cathedral was the bible of the illiterate in the Middle Ages, his visual system would allow common people to grasp statistical data, making them more informed and better citizens." from Uncharted Kahn: The Visuality of Planning and Promotion by Andrew M Shanken, Art Bulletin June 2006 p 317

Insane collection of book and magazine scans on Neurath and ISOTYPES
http://www.fulltable.com/iso/index.htm

His ideas are similar to that of Wurman's, in that we can all be liberated if only we could better digest the information around us. Span the distance with good design!

Topics...

Bruce Mau
Russian Constructivism
De Stijl
Otto Neurath
First Things First Manifesto (both 1967 and 2001)
Wim Crouwell
prefabrication
the Vignellis
Jan van Toorn

In my binder...

I have articles photocopied from periodicals. I have read:

Les Yeux Ouverts, Novum November 2006 - A review of the exhibition "Fabrica: Les Yeux Ouverts" at the Centre Pompidou. Includes images of the work in the show.
Fabrica 10 From Chaos to Order and Back, Eye no 56/05 - A review of the book Fabrica 10.

Education by Design, GOOD Magazine Sept/Oct 07 - How school design affects an entire community. Movements toward sustainable schoolhouse design for emproved learning environments.

Real World Studio, GOOD Magazine Sept/Oct 07 - Project M, their Hale County Project. Extensive, images of the participants, studio and the finished product.

The GOOD Guide to R. Buckminster Fuller, GOOD Magazine Sep/Oct 07 - Extensive guide to the life and work of Fuller. Includes images of his work (diagrams and photos of buildings) and direct quotes.

Government Style: Design Consciousness and the Feds, Phillip Meggs, AIGA Journal of GD vol 6 no 1 - Philip Meggs talks about the government's stab at improving their design during Nixon's presidency.

KT Meaney: Greening the Grocery Store, Design Observer Blog - Includes 4 design solutions to raise awareness about recycling as you buy groceries.


Have yet to read:

The Corporation in the Classroom, by Teal Triggs, PRINT March/April 2001 - Talks about Fabrica, its connection with industry and the successfulness of its approach. Includes images of work.

A Computer Will Save You, by Walter Aprile, Domus Oct 2006, - Two guys discussing the plausibility and capability of the one laptop per child machine and plan. Includes awesome big pictures.

Branding Youth in the Totalitarian State, Design Observer blog - How Germany's youth fueled the nazi effort.

Milton Glaser on Darfur

SVA Designer as Author podcast: Milton Glaser on Darfur

Discusses his personal views on design for social benefit and specifically discusses the process behind the Darfur poster series. In particular he notes his choice to circumvent the cliche use of shocking imagery.

http://miltonglaserposters.com/index2.html

Topics Investigating

Buckminster Fuller
Tibor Kalman
John Bielenberg and Project M
Modernism
One Laptop Per Child
Colors, Benneton and Fabrica
Richard Saul Wurman
Helmut Herfelda (aka John Heartfield)
William Morris
Vienna Workshops (Wiener Werkstaette) Koloman Moser + Josef Hoffmann