The Centre for School Design

The Centre for School Design is a new independent think tank being launched today by Ty Goddard and Ian Fordham. Hosted by The British Council for School Environments its mission is set “to lead thinking and shape policy and practice in education, design and the built environment.”

It’s encouraging to see the project has immediately identified its intention to harness the power of social media. Eagerly wanting to find out more, I’m off to the launch event in London this evening with Duane Melius :)

Speakers tonight include: project founders Ty Goddard and Ian Fordham, Stephen Bayley (author, cultural commentator and architecture & design correspondent, The Observer), Baroness Morris of Yardley (former secretary of state for education) and Steve Moore (Director, Policy Unplugged & advisor to Channel 4 Education).

You can follow the event happenings on twitter via #cfsd or @cfsd

Filed under: On Education, On Events, cfsd, Design, Education, Ian Fordham, london, School Design, Steve Moore, The Centre for School Design, Ty Goddard

‘We Are The People’ Screening

With almost half of all 11-19 year olds saying they find school boring or irrelevant, how can we be more creative educators? How can we re-engage with our young people to ensure they enjoy learning and reach their full potential? What do we want our children to grow up to be?

On Tuesday 9th February, I am hosting a free screening of the feature film on education ‘We Are The People We’ve Been Waiting For’, which will be followed by an informal discussion. We have invited teachers from across North London to join us for the event, but places are open to anyone interested in seeing the film and joining the conversation.

Organised by Dr. Morgan Philips and Limina, the screening will be held at the Arcola Theatre in North London, from 4.30-6.30p.m. Free tea and cakes will be served! :)

To book a place, please email rsvp@limina.org.uk

Filed under: On Education, On Events, Arcola Theatre, Creativity, Education, Limina, Teaching, We Are The People We’ve Been Waiting For

Cineforum: The Road to Ecotopia

On 4th December 2009, Fair Knowledge and Tomorrow’s Company presents a Cineforum on Climate Change: The Road to Ecotopia – an innovative collaboration hub and conference in London.

The Cineforum on Climate Change: The Road to Ecotopia is offering a unique chance to dive deep into the issues that will be defining the strategic choices of businesses, policy-makers, innovators and citizens over the coming years.

Filed under: On Events, On Sustainability, Cineforum, climate change, Conference, COP15, Designing Ecotopia, Ecotopia, Fair Knowledge, The Road to Ecotopia

The Bigger Picture: Festival of Interdependence

Responding to current economic, social and environmental crises, London’s NEF (New Economics Foundation) are this month running “The Bigger Picture”, a series of creative activities and events, exploring the possibilities of ‘a new kind of economy’, an economy which is low in carbon and high in well-being.

The event series culminates in a large-scale, public “Festival of Interdependence” in central London on 24 October 2009 when an interactive, living exhibition will be staged in the dramatic post-industrial setting of the Bargehouse on London’s South Bank.

Filed under: On Culture, On Ethics, On Events, On Social Design, On Society, climate change, Festival of Interdependence, NEF, New Economics Foundation, The Bigger Picture, Well-being

Greengaged – Sustainable Design

After an energetic ten days during London Design Festival 2008, the sustainable design hub – Greengaged is making a big return for 2009. Co-designed with thomas.matthews and web designer Daniel Howells, I’m pleased to announce that Greengaged.com has had a big makeover this year!

With an intent to advance the designs industry’s capacity to respond positively to climate change, Greengaged was founded in 2008, by Sophie Thomas from thomas.matthews, Sarah Johnson from [re]design and Anne Chick from The Sustainable Design Research Centre at Kingston University.

Filed under: Art & Design, On Education, On Events, On Graphic Design, On Social Design, On Sustainability, Design Council, Greengaged.com Greengaged, Kate Andrews, London Design Festival, Sophie Thomas, sustainability, Sustainable Design, thomas matthews

The Age of Stupid at RSA

Pitched to be this year’s most talked-about climate change film, The Age of Stupid is a new movie from director Franny Armstrong (of McLibel) and producer John Battsek (of One Day In September). In this epic tale, Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

Filed under: On Events, On Social Design, On Sustainability, age of stupid, climate change, Film, Franny Armstrong, RSA, sustainability

Alice Rawsthorn on Good Design

On Sunday 28 June 2009 at London’s Conway Hall, Alice Rawsthorn (design critic of the International Herald Tribune, columnist for the New York Times and a leading authority on contemporary design) will host a ‘sermon’ at The School of Life entitled “Alice Rawsthorn on Good Design”.

Filed under: Art & Design, On Ethics, On Events, On People, On Social Design, On Writing & Criticism, Alice Rawsthorn, Good Design, Social Impact, The School of Life, What is Good Design

Cumulus Conference: Confronting Challenge with Change

Asking how technology, globalisation and sustainability will impact the creative sector? And, further, how they impact the education sector? Ravensbourne College of Design & Communication presents the 2009 Cumulus Conference: ‘Confronting Challenge with Change’ at the O2, on 27 – 30 May 2009. Key note speakers include Lord David Puttnam, Dr Angela Dumas, Sir Ken Robinson, Prof. Robin Baker OBE and many other industry and education leaders.

Filed under: Art & Design, On Education, On Events, On Social Design, On Sustainability, Confronting Challenge with Change, Cumulus Conference, Design, Globalisation, sustainability, Technology

Bruce Mau: In Good We Trust 2010

In Good We Trust

Filed under: On Community, On Culture, On Ethics, On Events, On Social Design, On Society, Bruce Mau, In Good We Trust, Massive Change

Blank Canvas

On April 30th, in the heart of London, four students from London’s Ravensbourne College of Design will present Blank Canvas, a silent auction of customised design work by the likes of Milton Glaser, Ken Garland, Non-Format, Jonathan Barnbrook, Si Scott, Julien Vallee, James Goggin, Graphic Thought Facility and many more!

Blank Canvas is an event organised by the students on the BA (hons) Design for Moving Image and Graphic Design course to raise funds for their graduation show. They will be sending a list of top designers and illustrators random items, found in various jumble sales and charity shops across London (anything from an old teapot, to a rusty cog, to a vintage suitcase). They will then be asked to customise these items to then be collected and put to auction on April 30th at the Vibe Bar on London’s Brick Lane.

Brilliant idea guys, I’m looking forward to seeing some old stuff made new!

Filed under: On Education, On Events, On Graphic Design, On Social Design, Auction, Barnbrook, Blank Canvas, Graphic Design, Ken Garland, london, Megan Riera, Milton Glaser, Ravensbourne, Si Scott

Affluenza Exhibition

In collaboration with the Samaritans, talented photographer Hege Sæbjørnsen is organising ‘Affluenza’… THE exhibition. With an aim to promote “creative self-expression as a powerful tool to develop an understanding of ourselves and the world around us”, an exhibition of works from over thirty international multidisciplinary visual and performing artists, “…aims to inspire an open debate about the destructive impact of consumer values on our emotional well-being and our integrity as human beings.”

The call for artists has been launched, and entries will be selected by a prominent panel of judges, including Jonathan Barnbrook, ‘Affluenza’ author Oliver James and the Design Museum’s Michael Czerwinski.

The deadline for submissions is 30th January 2009 and the events are scheduled to begin in March. For full details about the project visit AffluenzaExhibition.org, and you can also join the exhibition’s group on Facebook.

Filed under: Art & Design, On Events, Affluenza, Hege Sæbjørnsen, Oliver James, Samaritans

New Views 2: Conversations and Dialogues in Graphic Design

The New Views 2: Conversations and Dialogues in Graphic Design symposium and exhibition opens at London College of Communication this week.

With introductory speeches from Design Council Chairman Sir Michael Bichard KCB and Live|Work Founding Director Chris Downs on Wednesday evening, the symposium running through Thursday and Friday will bring together leading academics, professionals and students to explore the practice of graphic design for the future.

Co-ordinated by Professor Teal Triggs (LCC) and Dr. Laurene Vaughan (RMIT), New Views 2 is structured with intent to allow open dialogue. Over the two-day symposium, six topical clusters – formed from the selected paper submissions, allow attendees to join discussions specific to their interest areas:

• Cluster 1: Design Writing/Criticism: Repositioning the Debate.
• Cluster 2: Graphic Design: Interdisciplinary.
• Cluster 3: Graphic Design: Practice and Methods.
• Cluster 4: Research/Innovation: New Critical Thinking.
• Cluster 5: Responsive Curricula: Shifting Paradigms.
• Cluster 6: Graphic Design: Changing the ‘Real World’.

The clustered group propositions are now available for download from www.newviews.co.uk

Filed under: Art & Design, On Ethics, On Events, On Graphic Design, On Research, Conversations and Dialogues in Graphic Design, Design Council, Design Criticism, Design Writing, Design Writing/Criticism, Graphic Design, graphic design future, livework, london, London College of Communication, New Views 2, Public Service Design, Social Change, Social Design, Teal Triggs

TCT at The Royal Albert Hall

Previously unreleased footage from the legendary TCT at The Royal Albert Hall will be available on DVD from Monday 14th April 2008.

Packed with performances that capture the spirit of this unique event, including one-off collaborations between Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller and Razorlight and The Who’s Roger Daltrey, the DVD will be available from the Teenage Cancer Trust website immediately at a special preview price. All profits from the sale of the DVD will go to Teenage Cancer Trust, helping them to continue to build specialist teenage cancer units within the NHS for young people with cancer.

What a great contemporary design for such a great purpose! It would be great to see this design style attached to the main Charity website though!

Filed under: On Ethics, On Events, On Graphic Design, On Social Design, Royal Albert Hall, TCT, Teenage Cancer Trust

Steven Heller Masters Series

“If you missed Steven Heller’s exhibition and lectures at the School of Visual Arts last year, this site is almost as good as the real thing” [Michael Bierut]. 

Via MB on DesignObsever

Filed under: On Events, On Graphic Design, On People, Exhibition, Graphic Design, Michael Bierut, Steven Heller, Steven Heller Masters Series

Eye Discussion: Ethics in the Creative Industries

I just stumbled upon an event I can’t quite believe I missed out on. Early this month, Eye Magazine teamed up with Camberwell College of Art, to host a forum on Ethics in the Creative Industries.

On the 11th of March 2008 the Design Cluster at Camberwell in association with Eye Magazine held a discussion forum to examine how ethical issues are being addressed within the creative industries. Key writers, designers and thinkers presented their thoughts in discussion with staff, students and representatives ‘from industry’. Speakers included: Ken Garland, Anne Odling Smee, Rick Poynor, Lucienne Roberts, Rathna Ramanathan and Noel Douglas.

“The event featured talks based on previous Eye articles. First there was a conversation between Ken Garland and Anne Odling-Smee, followed by designer Rathna Ramanathan talking about her work for the BBC World Service in rural India. In the afternoon we heard from designer-activist Noel Douglas and Eye columnist Rick Poynor, whose talk ‘The value of no’ encapsulated and expanded upon many of the themes triggered by the Camberwell students’ interest in First Things First and its aftermath.”

According to the recent eye-newsletter [via email today], the forum review will be published in the forthcoming Eye Mag – due in the shops next month. Whilst we all eagerly await the discussion reviews, the forum’s blog is a worthy visit if you are in need of some designer ethics.

Filed under: Art & Design, On Ethics, On Events, On Graphic Design, On People, On Social Design, Creative Industries, Discussion, Ethics, event, Eye Magazine, Ken Garland, london, Lucienne Roberts, Noel Douglas, Rick Poynor

Design|Value

Singapore’s Design Management Institute present Design|Value, a unique international conference that aims to demonstrate how to use design and design thinking to solve business objectives. On 13-14 March 2008, at Grand Hyatt in Singapore, a panel of international experts, will communicate how to create value through design, based on the triple bottom line: economic, social/cultural, and environmental value.

Filed under: On Education, On Events, On Social Design, On Society, Business, Conference, Design Management Institute, Design Thinking, Design|Value, DMI, Singapore, Social Design