contemporary Isotype descendant

by way of a post in the GOOD Magazine blog, http://www.good.is/?p=13752

The post indicates that this is a public service video released in order for the Japanese to deal with the emerging food cost/import/use of oil crisis. The execution and intent I notice are very similar to that of Neurath's ISOTYPES, simplified images and primary colors are used to create symbols which represent quantities and relationships between sets of data which might otherwise be complex, but whose comprehension by the majority of society is nessecary in order to resolve a current issue. Obviously the major difference is the dimension of time, which I think was used beautifully, showing how time affects the data as well as using time to narrow which data the audience learns in which order. The clip of two people sitting at a table and the food presented in front of them, is in itself a representation of a certain piece of data, and this is cemented in the viewer's mind each time the clip is repeated (even though the food changes). The two people sitting at the table with food in front of them is a universal communication that these people are going to consume this food.

The blog post also directs one to the US government's public service database, which at minimal investigation is filled with mostly live-action tapings about things the majority of society neither has any interest in, or even knows what is. Interesting.

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."

words from John Bielenberg about thinking

ran across this on the monster site.

It's the economy! :) GOOD Sheet

This week's good sheet, on the US economy situation

http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/goodsheet/goodsheet006economy.html

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!