RED

Complex systems and activmobs

"We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems." John W. Gardner

This quote appears in an interesting article by the Plexus Institute on why the increasingly centralised, controlling and mechanistic healthcare services which have been developed across the globe, fail and will continue to fail to deliver services which satisfy users and staff alike. It suggests that study of Complex Adaptive systems can suggest a way out of this situation. It says that "The defining feature of complex adaptive systems is emergence: (where)the order that emerges through the interactions of components in complex systems is "greater than - and different from - the sum of the parts"

Nick Morton | LINK | HEALTH PROJECT | COMMENTS (0)

The key to creativity

Is "A healthy disrespect for the impossible" combined with the virtues of constraints the key to creativity, as espoused by Marissa Meyer from Google in a recent discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos? Or would you side with Ideo's Tim Brown, who suggested that creativity is spurred by approaching problems with a beginner's mindset, and by exploring ideas through the use of rapid prototyping?
See Fast Company's weblog for the background.

Nick Morton | LINK | MISCELLANEOUS | COMMENTS (1)

Oliver King on Beautiful Minds

The Britsh Library is running a series of events celebrating the vital role of creativity in the arts, sciences and entrepreneurship as part of the new Beautiful Minds programme. It is now quite late notice but Oliver King of Engine is speaking tonight - Is there a difference between invention and innovation? Can anyone be a designer, inventor or entrepreneur? Oliver King will look at the some of the unusual design processes which have resulted in objects which we all take for granted but cannot live without and explores the designer's role in turning original ideas into things people want and in creating visions of how we might live our lives in the future.
See the British Library website for details.

Jude | LINK | EVENTS | COMMENTS (0)

Script Debate at Design Museum

The RED team attended Script last night - the Design Museum's inaugural design debate event last night, in support of Hilary Cottam, who was asked to sit on the panel.

Colin Burns, RED's Design Associate joined the debate from the floor.

Designers only do 3 things - and they are all activities shared with many other professions - so who's not a designer..?

| LINK | TRANSFORMATION DESIGN | COMMENTS (0)

Design2.0: Discussions on Design, Strategy & Innovation

Core77 are launching this new initiative with their first panel discussion taking place in New York City on Tuesday, February 28th, at the Union Square Ballroom (swanky!).

They've got design evangelist Bruce Nussbaum moderating, along with all-star panelists Kevin Farnham from Method, Marissa Mayer from Google, Jeaneanne Rae from Peer Insight, and Andrew Zolli from Z-Plus Partners. It'll run from 1pm - 6pm, with check-in and snacks, presentations, panel discussion, Q&A, networking, and a full-on cocktail reception.

Here's the link.

Jennie Winhall | LINK | EVENTS | COMMENTS (0)

Social Capitalist Awards 2006

Fast Company and Monitor Group named the top 25 groups who are changing the world through social entrepreneurship yesterday. According to Fast Company - 'What defines an entrepreneur (as well as an entrepreneurial organization) is that relentless problem-solving approach, not the specifics of the problem itself.'
With that said you'd think that designers should be up there at the top of the list? Check out this year's winners here.

Jude | LINK | MISCELLANEOUS | COMMENTS (0)

RED needs interns

Work in a team, with real problems!

RED is searching for designers who want to change the world. We're looking for two design graduates or post-grad students to join RED Unit for a six month internship starting March 06. You will be part of our next project, tackling social issues by designing with real people at locations across the UK. Our studio is located at the Design Council in central London.

We want you be as talented at design doing as you are at design thinking. You will probably have studied interaction design, product design, communication design or similar. Your work will show that you put people first and most importantly you will inspire us.

For more information download the details.

Jude | LINK | RED TEAM | COMMENTS (0)

Energy, IT and Design - Jennie goes to Sweden

On the 17th of January our Senior Design Strategist, Jennie Winhall, will be speaking at the Swedish Energy Council's Energy, IT and Design Conference in Eskilstuna, Sweden. Jennie will talk about design as a means to address social and economic issues using the Future Currents project as a case study. The conference is a collaboration with the Power Unit of the Interactive Institute Sweden (TII) who we have mentioned before on this blog with reference to their Static project. If you are interested in further details for the conference best to email the conference secretary, Lars, who should be able to give details.

Jude | LINK | ENERGY PROJECT + EVENTS | COMMENTS (0)

What isn't design?

What isn't design? This is your chance to engage in the controversy over the changing definition of contemporary design, together with 2005's Designer of the Year Hilary Cottam, product designer Jane Dillon, Mark Delaney of Plan and Marcus Fairs, editor of icon magazine, in Script, the first of a new series of topical monthly design debates in the Design Museum Space. The debate will run from 7pm to 8.15pm, with doors opening at 6.45pm. Tickets for each Script session - including a couple of drinks - cost £5 each.

For information about Script and to book, please contact 020 7940 8783 or email the Design Museum directly.

Jude | LINK | EVENTS | COMMENTS (1)

The RED team expands

In this shiny New Year we are so pleased to welcome 2 new RED team members, Matthew Horne who joins us as Head of RED, and Nina Penlington who is our RED Co-ordinator.

This brings the core RED team to a full contingent and we are very much looking forward to working with Matthew and Nina as we develop the proposals for the future RED programme.

We will also be looking to recruit 2 RED interns shortly - stay tuned for details.