RED

We-think: the power of mass creativity - what do you think?

RED Associate, Charles Leadbeater, has realeasd a draft of his new book, We-think: the power of mass creativity, prior to publication and invites review and comment. The book looks at the rise of the likes of Wikipedia and Youtube, Linux and Craigslist and what this means for the way we organise ourselves, not just in digital businesses but in schools and hospitals, cities and mainstream corporations. Charlie's argument is that these new forms of mass, creative collaboration announce the arrival of a society in which participation will be the key organising idea rather than consumption and work. People want to be players not just spectators, part of the action, not on the sidelines. Take at look!

Jude | LINK | INTERESTING READING | COMMENTS (0)

The Journey to the Interface

Not quite hot off the press but still still warmish - Demos' The Journey to the Interface is essential reading for anyone looking at, thinking about, or doing public service design.

Authored by Sophia Parker and Joe Heapy, 'the pamphlet argues that service design can offer policy makers and practitioners a vision for the transformation of public services, as well as a route to get there. It outlines an agenda for action which spells out how service design approaches can be applied systemically.'

Jude | LINK | INTERESTING READING | COMMENTS (0)

Architecture of happiness

Why make architecture of contol when you can make architecture of happiness?

"One of the great, but often unmentioned, causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment: the kind of walls, chairs, buildings and streets we are surrounded by." writes Alain de Botton in his new book.

Chris Vanstone | LINK | INTERESTING READING | COMMENTS (0)

Neal Lawson on New Collectivisim

It happens rarely but you know those wonderful moments where you discover that there other people, even better a group of people, out there are worrying about the same problems as you, pretty much in the same way - but you know you might be able to help them and they can almost certainly help you. That was the feeling after 60 mins with the RED team discussing public service reform.

Jude | LINK | INTERESTING READING | COMMENTS (0)

6 ages of design

A nice article on 6 ages of design

Jude | LINK | INTERESTING READING | COMMENTS (0)

A Whole New Mind

Saw this book referenced by Tom Peters (in his new 'essentials' book on design). We're biased, of course, but it might be a good read ... It's called 'A Whole New Mind' and here's an excerpt:
"The last few decades have belonged to a certain kind of person with a certain kind of mind - computer programmers who could crank code, lawyers who could craft contracts, MBAs who could crunch numbers. But the keys to the kingdom are changing hands. The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind - creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers. These people - artists, inventors, designers, storytellers, caregivers, consolers, big picture thinkers - will now reap society's richest rewards and share its greatest joys."
More on Dan Pink's site

Jennie Winhall | LINK | INTERESTING READING | COMMENTS (0)