RED

Next...Neighbourhoods.

By email David Saxby of Zero Zero has suggested RED look to neighbourhoods for our next project.

Many government initiatives relate to neigbourhoods and communities and devolving power to neighbourhoods and communities. However 'Neighbourhood' can and often is interpreted very traditionally.

Zero Zero believe it needs to be thought of beyond just a physical place, more as a wider concept of the relationships existing in/passing through any defined location. They propose a project that would go beyond the 'nostalgic' idea of neighbourhoods to develop alternate mechanisms to construct 'neighbourhoods'. 'Neighbourhoods' that would relate to our increasingly diverse culture, flexible work and lifestyle patterns, the rise of ageographical virtual networks and our post-industrial/service/knowledge age.

What do you think? See what others have suggested and add your comment here.

Chris Vanstone | LINK | FUTURE PROJECTS | COMMENTS (0)

Static Again

Today we met with the Power Unit of the Interactive Institute Sweden (TII). They told us how some buses in Sweden run off the methane by-products of slaughterhouses and that having publically voted against Nuclear Power their country is now heavily investigating alternative energy sources.

Their particularly enlightened ministry for energy is investing in several design led projects at TII. We've linked to their Static project before, but you should take another look as it's been updated.

The glowing Power-save cord has been patentent and they are now looking to take it into production.

Chris Vanstone | LINK | ENERGY PROJECT | COMMENTS (0)

The Other Energy Blog

During our energy project earlier this year we were used a rather raw blog to collect and share our research amongst the team. Energy enthusiasts might find it useful

Chris Vanstone | LINK | ENERGY PROJECT | COMMENTS (0)

Norsk Form Annual Conference

RED Design Associate, Colin Burns, will be speaking about RED's work at the Norwegian Center for Design, Architecture and the Built Environment (Norsk Form) annual conference in Oslo on the 7th of December. Norsk Form is an information and project-based institution that serves as an arena for interdisciplinary studies, innovation, debate and network-building in the fields of design, architecture and urban area planning. 2005 was appointed the official year of Design in Norway and this conference will focus on using design as a problem solving tool in different ways - aiming primarily to discuss how design can be used to improve peoples' lives

See the website for details or to register

Jude | LINK | EVENTS | COMMENTS (0)

Content Lab

RED Director, Hilary Cottam, will be opening this year's Content Lab conference in Birmingham next Thursday 1st December. Content Lab is PACTs annual conference for independent interactive production companies. It brings key creatives together with commissioners and policy makers.

Content Lab has a uniquely intimate atmosphere with around 100 delegates mixing with around 30 speakers. The sessions split between case studies of cutting edge projects and plenaries focussing on the issues of public policy, commercial opportunity, creative challenges and business growth within the creative industries.

This year the case studies will include Channel 4's new public access filmmaking initiative 4Docs, new creative service ventures in online learning (Serious Games, c21vox) cultural heritage (Node Explore) and user generated content (Flickr). Plenaries will focus on the creation and distribution of mobile content and OFCOM's Public Service Publisher proposal as well as a scenario forecasting exercise (Digital Lives 2015) and a humorous finale where we consign interactive design clichés to Interactive Room 101.

For more details or to register visit the PACT website

Jude | LINK | EVENTS | COMMENTS (0)

John Thackara @ the RSA

When John Thackara joined us for the first in RED's Towards a New Aesthetic seminar series we were inundated with interest and ended up running two sessions to meet demand. I thought then I'd just give a heads up that John will be giving a lecture at the RSA on Monday 12 December at 6pm - Solidarity Economics and design: life after consumerism. Contact the RSA for details and to register.

Jude | LINK | EVENTS + SUSTAINABILITY | COMMENTS (0)

A similar vein - research at the LSE

The London Multimedia Laboratory for Audiovisual Composition and Communication(LML) is a research unit at the Institute of Social Psychology, at the London School of Economics (LSE). It provides an international research basis for resource, curriculum and policy development in three sectors:
. Education
. Development, Health and Community Enhancement
. Innovation and Creativity in Organisations

There are definietly parallels here with RED's work and it may be of interest to those working in these areas or just interested in the processes. The Newsletter has further details.

Jude | LINK | MISCELLANEOUS | COMMENTS (0)

Energy Research & Design Studio

Kolpa Architecten te Rotterdam and Droog Design are running a research and design studio at the IM masters department of the Design Academy Eindhoven called Single Life Energy. Download the program details here.

Jude | LINK | ENERGY PROJECT | COMMENTS (0)

Ageing gracefully

One of our potential themes for future RED work is Ageing. There was an interesting article in the Guardian on a different approach to nursing homes and care for older people in the Netherlands which is in the extended entry here. What do you think about the potential for 'designing-out' the need for old people's homes? Could new recreation and wellbeing services prevent or allay the ills of later life? Do let us know what you think or forward any other examples of innovation in this sector.

READ MORE..."Ageing gracefully"

Jude | LINK | PUBLIC SERVICES | COMMENTS (0)

Signs of the times

The Design Council's Director of Design and Innovation, Richard Eisermann, speaks out against brand pollution on British motorways - see the BBC for the article.

This made me think perhaps we could have designated quiet streets / suburbs / towns - like the quiet carriages on our trains - where signage, particularly advertising material, is kept to a bare minimum? Or maybe advertising for things like MacDonalds on motorways should be communicated to potential customers via a signaling device in all cars - if you're looking for a burger you turn it on and it pings you when there's an appropriate outlet up ahead. If you're not in the market you turn it off or switch it to a healthier frequency for alternative purveyors. Just some thoughts.

Jude | LINK | MISCELLANEOUS | COMMENTS (0)

A round up of the polls

According to ballot the Energy Statement is a great idea (145 votes), One Million Roofs is a close second (123 votes), and the Home Monitoring Display is pretty good too (97 votes).
These are some of the ideas on the Future Currents website - if you haven't already voted please do. After this week's launch event our partners are considering how best to take these ideas forward so your opinion does count. You can vote on the policy recommendations too - where One Millions Roofs is in the lead (99 votes) followed closely by Home Energy Production (84 votes). Check the website for the details.

Jude | LINK | ENERGY PROJECT | COMMENTS (0)

RED: Future Currents

The final outputs from the RED: Future Currents project can now be found at www.futurecurrents.org. This marks the conclusion of the RED investigation on energy and forms the record of the ideas developed. For any comments on this work please use the comments and suggestions pages on the website.

If this work has inspired you, or if you are interested in developing ideas arising from this work and want to meet other people who could help, please feel free to use the comments section on this blog to start conversations.

Nick Morton | LINK | ENERGY PROJECT | COMMENTS (1)

6 ages of design

A nice article on 6 ages of design

Jude | LINK | INTERESTING READING | COMMENTS (0)

Beyond Green and Grumpy

RED are hosting the next WestFocus Sustainable Design Lecture, "Beyond Green and Grumpy : EcoDesign Interventions In Australia" by John Gertsakis here at the Design Council on Monday 28th November 6pm. The flyer has details and contact Paul Mickelthwaite for more information and to register.

Jude | LINK | EVENTS | COMMENTS (0)

What do you think we should be looking at next?

RED are looking forward. We have identified 9 broad themes that might be considered for our upcoming programme of work. There is still work to do to define what the opportunities for design are, and where we might add value and make a difference (we have set out some initial thoughts in the extended entry). We are really keen to broaden our thinking and would love to have some input from a wider context. So suggest a theme - we'd like to make it to 10:

Pensions & Savings
Homes not Housing
Food
Agriculture
Ageing
Birthing
Olympics
Community Security
Death
....

Jude | LINK | FUTURE PROJECTS | COMMENTS (18)