Blog

Posts related to: Sustainability + Social Impact

Humane Solutions for a Resilient World

By Curt Meissner
Sustainability + Social Impact

The idea of humane solutions for a resilient world would suggest that our world is resilient, as in durable or resistant to decay. In reality, the inverse is true. Our world is very fragile, and demands solutions that can balance out our expanding needs with the need to sustain our world.

Resiliency would be a word that I would use to describe ourselves. Humans exist in nearly every place imaginable on earth, and show amazing tenacity to adapt to their surroundings. What we need most right now is for that amazing human penchant for adaptability to meet our shared challenges.

The challenges are well documented. The nature of globalization has essentially localized nearly every major problem, from oil spills to volcanic eruptions. It is an accepted fact that we now collectively face complex problems that relate specifically to the demands we place on the earth – climate change, natural disasters, wars, famine, and water access are but a few of these interconnected issues.

The positive side of the global connectivity is that there is now a global communication network, that allows people to communicate ideas and resources freely. Designers across the globe can become aware of needs, design solutions to address those needs, and provide methods to implement designs.

Read more

Humane Design as Instinct

By Matt Weisgerber
Sustainability + Social Impact

As part of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design’s (ICSID) World Industrial Design Day 2010, I was asked to comment on the theme of “Humane Solutions for a Resilient World.”

Wow. What a thought! Let’s think (or not think) humanely for a second… Is our instinct as designers and humans to continually imagine scenarios where the outcome is positive and compassionate for all other humans, not to mention the other inhabitants on this planet? For the planet itself? Certainly not always, but to describe our world as “resilient” suggests that we may be starting in a positive direction.

Design at its best intelligently advances solutions to human needs and promotes the understanding of complex issues. Now that most of us have access to resources, which allow us to communicate globally – for business, on a whim, or when in need, the assumption is that we can respond globally to the areas and situations that require the most attention.

In this vein, I challenged myself to think of specific examples of design solutions that might be considered humane. Here are a few:

Read more

desigNYC + Coffee = Inspiration

Michelle Mullineaux
By Michelle Mullineaux
Sustainability + Social Impact

Today was an inspiring day. The desigNYC community — client organizations, design partners, desigNYC advisors, as well as our volunteer communication specialists and documentary team — met for an informal get-together to mix, mingle, share updates and celebrate the progress of these exciting collaborations. The event was generously hosted by Maddy Burke-Vigeland and Monica Schaffer at Gensler’s gorgeous Rockefeller Center office.

About two and a half months ago, desigNYC launched its first round of pilots by matching 12 organizations (nonprofits, community groups and city agencies) doing great work in the city with 12+ talented design professionals who are leaders in the fields of architectural, landscape, interactive, interiors, lighting, graphic and communications design. The projects are creating solutions impacting a range of range of social and environmental issues including affordable housing, sustainable development, social justice, health, green space, urban farming / local food systems, youth leadership, and more.

Read more