RED

Energy Efficiency Charette 25 May

On May 25 RED hosted the Design Council's first design 'charette'. The aim of the day was to draw out some new service solutions and policy recommendations to reduce the energy demands of London's domestic sector - currently accounting for 44% of London's CO2 emissions. The focus was on able-to-pay owner occupier households which represent a major opportunity for energy efficiency retro-fits.

matthew

Read more about what we did, who was there, what they did, and how our policy audience responded at the briefing that followed.

Jude | LINK | ENERGY PROJECT | COMMENTS (0)

RED Director nominated for Designer of the Year

RED are very proud of our Director, Hilary Cottam, who has been shortlisted for the Design Museum's Designer of the Year award.

Hilary's work is dedicated to using design thinking to renew public services - and the processes that develop and deliver them - by connecting the users of services to policy makers through project work.

Jude | LINK | RED TEAM | COMMENTS (1)

In May RED will be hosting a 'charette' (co-sponsored by the London Climate Change Agency and the London Energy Partnership) in the lead up to our 'pink' project on energy efficiency. The question that I am now faced with on a nearly daily basis is - what the $%*& is a charette???.....
The term 'charette' evolved from a pre-1900 exercise at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in France. Architectural students were given a design problem to solve within an allotted time. When that time was up, the students would rush their drawings from the studio to the Ecole in a cart called a charrette. Students often jumped in the cart to finish drawings on the way. The term evolved to refer to the intense design exercise itself. Today it refers to a creative process akin to visual brainstorming that is used by design professionals to develop solutions to a design problem within a limited timeframe. (Thanks to Carnegie Mellon University library website for such a fabulous definition.)

Jude | LINK | DESIGN METHODS | COMMENTS (0)

Sponge competition for green graphic designers

Sponge is a network of open-minded individuals who share a particular interest in sustainable development. These individuals generally work in, or are associated with the development of our built environment; from bricks and mortar through design, engineering and planning to communities and regeneration. On the sponge newsletter today I noticed a competition for 'budding creative sustainability types' - Sponge are looking for someone to create postcards to communicate who they are and what they do - check the sponge website for details if you're interested.

Jude | LINK | SUSTAINABILITY | COMMENTS (0)

London Remade runs: the Enviro-Entrepreneur Summer School

The Enviro-Entrepreneur School aims to encourage aspiring entrepreneurs who have a passion for recycling and a belief in the importance of environmental technologies. The Enviro-Entrepreneur School is open to all aspiring entrepreneurs who have a great idea for a sustainable business or want to create an exciting recyclable and recycled content product. It is open to all sectors and is particularly suited to :
Arts, Engineering and Creative Industry graduates and alumni who want to make or design something using recycled and recyclable materials. And business specialists who want to develop a sustainable business.
The school will support their entry into the marketplace by taking candidates through an intense three-day programme delivered by seasoned entrepreneurs and environmentalists.

Jude | LINK | SUSTAINABILITY | COMMENTS (1)

In the Bubble: Designing in a Complex World

John Thakara has published his new book In the Bubble - 'a book about designing a world that is based less on stuff, and more on people'. On the 1st of June at 4pm we're having him to tea to talk about it and - you're invited too. To reserve a place RSVP Jude

Chris Vanstone | LINK | SYSTEMS | COMMENTS (0)