Good Job Bag// Guerilla Tactics Project

Part One: Raising Awareness

To raise awareness about reusable bags before I distributed the bags themselves, I used wheat paste to put up mini-posters all around the shopping center I would be distributing the bags in.  I enlisted the help of my friend Greg so I could document the work, as well as make a quick getaway if necessary.

Part Two: Providing the Means

Making the Bags: I made several prototypes of a reusable shopping bag before coming up with the final design.  I drew from my experiences with other reusable bags, and I also dissected several types of plastic bags.  I also asked my friends/followers on social media to let me know what would make them more likely to use a reusable bag, so I could incorporate those features.

Distributing the Bags: I distributed the bags in the parking lot of the shopping center where I had put up the mini-posters.  It was actually way more nerve-wracking than I anticipated.  I cruised the parking lot for cars parked in such a way that I could pull up right next to the car and be facing the other car's driver's side door.  I gently tied each bag to a different car's door handle, hoping I wouldn't set off an alarm!

Part Three: Interacting and Encouraging

In order to engage the community and encourage the use of reusable bags (both the ones I distributed and otherwise), I created a blog and a twitter account to disseminate information about plastic and reusable bags.  I also asked the recipients of the bags to tweet pictures of themselves to @goodjobbag.

additional project material:
creative caffeine
issue editorial
regular reading/social issues
prezi presentation

Occupy Wall Street

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Occupy Wall Street, the protest seemingly initiated by Adbusters, is blowing up the blogosphere, though not the mainstream news.  The following video, of several female protestors being maced, is one of the most widely circulated:

You can also watch a livestream of the protests here.

Der Spiegel// 9/23/11

France's burqa ban went into effect months ago, but the first fines are just now being levied for violation of the law.  I find the ban deeply disturbing, and ethically on about the same level of actually requiring women to wear burqas.  While I certainly understand the reasoning behind the law, which is supposedly to keep women from being forced by men to wear such "backward" dress, it is also blatantly discriminatory.  Read more about it here.

In a slight change of pace from my normal worldly reportings: some good news! This article details how Munich's Oktoberfest became a magnet for the gay community.  The fact that gays from around the world are able to gather in a traditionally conservative region without backlash (at least to my knowledge) is great.  I initially clicked on this article because last year I went to Oktoberfest... in Peru.  It was a very strange experience, including guinea pigs (a Peruvian national dish called cuy) dressed up in lederhosen.  Anyway, gay rights aside, I find it interesting that such a specifically German event can be converted to so many different themes.

The Guardian// 9/20/11

A large-ish part of me is looking forward to the day when we just run out of oil and all the gas companies are forced out of business.  The more rational part of me is aware that running out of oil could spark world war and everything could just get real awful real fast; it's just difficult not to desire some sort of punishment for all the gas companies that get away with so much.  This article describes a still open case over Chevron's pollution of the Amazon rainforest- in the 1970s and 80s!  The most recent development is bad news for Chevron, but I'm appalled that pollution that was done over thirty years ago has still gone unpunished and uncorrected.

It seems as if Troy Davis will be executed tomorrow, despite much evidence pointing to Davis's innocence, or at least showing that the case is deeply flawed.  I am firmly against the death penalty (as previously discussed!), and to me, this case represents a lot of what is wrong with the capital punishment system.  What is his death going to achieve?  If it is possible to keep a criminal safely away from the rest of the population, I see no reason for capital punishment, especially when there is a question of the individual's guilt.

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What's the Issue?// Plastic Bags

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Plastic bags- they're convenient, they're everywhere, and everyone knows why they're bad.  Over one million bags are used every MINUTE.  Every minute! (source)  Over 100,000 marine animals die every year due to these suckers.  12,000,000 barrels of oil are used to produce the plastic bags each year for the U.S. alone.  Then, they take between 400 and 1,000 years to decompose.  (source)  They are the worst, and everyone knows it.  It seems like every store you walk into is selling a reusable bag, from Trader Joe's to Michael's.  Still, the problem persists.  Even people who are cognizant of the problem still find that they end up with one of these dolphin-killers fairly frequently.  So what's the solution? Ultimately, I think it will take charging people for plastic bags or eliminating them from stores altogether to drastically reduce their use.  In the meantime though, using your own reusable bag is a great way to eliminate your own role in the plastic bag disaster, and it can also remind others to do the same.  Through my guerilla project, I hope to provide a reusable bag that's convenient, sturdy, and rewarding to use.

New York Times// 9/14/11

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The latest report on last year's BP oil disaster was released last week, and found that BP took many "shortcuts", which ultimately led to the spill and the ensuing environmental disaster.  I'm just filled with so much sadness about the spill and all the lives that were affected.  Even with the best clean-up, the results will still be devastating for years to come.  Full report can be found here.

A rape case against the single richest man in the Arab world was recently reopened.  The case was originally closed back in July 2010 due to supposed lack of evidence.  However, tests confirmed that the victim had traces of both semen and a sleep-inducing chemical in her system.  As the semen has not been tested as to whether it is Price Alwaleed's or not, I can't see how there is a "lack of evidence" The article goes on to say that Alwaleed in general is outspoken about opportunities for women.  I almost feel like stating this undermines the idea that he could be guilty.  Why not just let the DNA test decide?

Reusable Bag Prototype

Just finished whipping up a reusable bag prototype.  It's made out of upcycled cotton and has reinforced seams and handles.  The bag can be folded up inside the inner pocket when not in use, and then seals with velcro.

Creative Caffeine// Guerilla Project

For my "creative caffeine" for the guerilla project, I asked on a number of social media sites what would make my friends/followers more likely to use a reusable bag.

I found everyone's responses to be really helpful.  I had previously thought of just making a very simple, plain bag that could be produced quickly and easily.  Since folding-up in some way seems to be a major concern, I'm now thinking of incorporating a snap or perhaps a way for it to be packed up into a smaller bag.  Jimmy's statement about the bags getting dirty made me want to stick with using cotton for the material, as it can be easily washed (and is also ultimately biodegradable, I think).  My sister Colleen's comment about the cookie made me laugh- that's a very "Colleen" thing to say.  It gave me the idea of maybe stenciling the phrase "GOOD JOB" on some of the bags though- just a nice reminder to the user that they're doing something good.  "Likebear"'s comment about the ugly designs of many reusable bags made me want to make something cute, but simple.

Everyone's responses have definitely encouraged me to get designing and sewing!

Guerilla Tactics// Research

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Candy Chang turned the side of an abandoned house into a huge chalkboard, inviting passersby to fill in things they want to do before they die.

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Adbusters is "a global network of culture jammers and creatives working to change the way information flows, the way corporations wield power, and the way meaning is produced in our society."

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Yarn bombing is an international movement that involves stitching knit "tags" on anything that could use some warmth.  

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Say Something Nice.  This is awesome.  Watch it.  

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Moss graffiti is a great way to get your message across without causing permanent damage or degrading the environment.  

Keri Smith has been one of my favorite people since high school, and I think a lot of her work really lends itself to guerilla encouragement, like the above statement! We all need to hear it sometimes.

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People making artsy chairs and placing them at sad, seat-less bus stops.

Let's be honest, the Western Wall (often called the Wailing Wall) has got to be one of the oldest and longest-running examples of guerilla art.  Visiting the wall was one of the most powerful experiences I had while in Israel.  Jews from all over the world come to pray, and many leave their thoughts, prayers, and wishes in the cracks of the wall.  So many are left that they litter the ground.  

Der Spiegel// 9/12/11

For a frontrunner of an aggressively "pro-life" party, Rick Perry doesn't seem to have any qualms about being pro-death when it comes to only questionably guilty criminals on death row.  According to this article, Perry's state has executed 234 inmates- an incredibly high number for modern times.  The "pro-life", pro-death penalty stance of the Republican party in general mystifies me.  I don't get it.  Why is a fetus's "life" more important than a full-blown thinking, feeling adult's? The default answer for many would be that these adults are guilty of hideous crimes.  However, time and time again, inmates put to death have been proven to be innocent after their executions.  A man who says he has no trouble sleeping at night because of these deaths is not a man I want running our country.

How 9/11 Triggered America's Decline- now there's a headline.  I experienced an undeniable sinking feeling while reading this article.  Can anyone really deny that we are a country divided, immersed in more than one bloody war, spending money on arms instead of education? The article states that we've gone from victims to perpetrators, and in doing so isolated ourselves from the rest of the world.  Still, this article was very clearly one-sided.  There was no mention of the U.S.'s recent successful role in Libya, or the election of our first black president- not that these accomplishments erase the mistakes made in the last decade, but occurrences like these give me some small hope for the future.

The Asian Connection// Extra Credit

The latest show at the Asian Arts Gallery in the CFA at Towson University features art by western artists that have been influenced by Asian art and culture.  One of the speakers mentioned that this is a departure for the Asian Arts Gallery, which, as one might suppose, usually features Asian artists.  The show itself was a pleasant mix of several series of different artists' works, with a few individual pieces of other artists thrown in.

One Of Irish's Ceramic Pieces on Display (photo source)

Jane Irish, who had a collection of paintings and two ceramic pieces on display, spoke at the opening.  Her work is informed by her time spent in Vietnam as well as conversations with Vietnam veterans.  While the majority of her paintings look like fairly tame abstracted landscapes, her work actually has a strong political agenda.

One of Baldwin's prints, inspired by her journey along the river

I most enjoyed the work of Katie Baldwin.  She wasn't present at the opening, but the curator of show, Dr. Isaacs (who is also my art history professor) spoke about her work.  I really liked it even prior to hearing the explanation, but it was really neat to understand why her work was set up the way it was.  Her printmaking work was displayed on three walls, and in the center of this peninsula type shape is a very long bench with a felted knitted object that runs the length of the bench.  The object is actually a knitted river, and the prints that surround it are from experiences she had along the river.  Pretty cool!

Another of Baldwin's prints

Baldwin's and Irish's work took up the majority of both the gallery and the opening talks, but there were a few other pieces.  There were several artist's books, which nicely complemented the book arts show upstairs.  I noticed a book full of erotic haikus.  I think that's a great idea and I wish I had thought of it first.  The opening also included food, and I was pleased to see that I was only allergic to one thing out of the whole spread, which is extremely unusual.  I was disappointed to see that the drink selection consisted of canned and bottled beverages, accompanied by plastic cups and ice.  That sort of thing drives me crazy- so much needless waste! Chilled pitchers of water (or soda if we must!) and cups, and boom, done! The wasteful drink set-up aside, I enjoyed both the exhibit and the curator talks.

The Guardian// 9/10/11

This article on the long-term effects on the minds and bodies of those who survived the Fukushima disaster was incredibly heavy.  Instead of PTSD, many residents of the area are now dealing with chronic depression and uncertainty.  Unsure if they can trust the government, the soil, or the air they breathe, many people are suffering with extreme doubt.  Obviously this is all very depressing, but I was happy to read about Zen monk Koyu Abe (pictured above).  He came up with the idea to distribute sunflower seeds all over the region so that they could be planted and absorb the radiation from the soil.  They will have to be carefully disposed of later on, but I thought this was an ingenious example of design thinking.  There is something very beautiful about the idea of all these righteous sunflowers soaking up the radiation, protecting people from our own mistakes.

Apparently many British farmers are being encouraged to take up US-style dairy farming, and this article explores why the US model is actually economically (not to mention environmentally!) unsustainable.  I hope they learn from our mistakes.  They should watch Food, Inc.  Everyone should watch Food, Inc.

Design Thinking

Design Thinking

According to Fast Company, design thinking consists of four steps:
1. Define the problem
2. Create and consider many options
3. Refine selected directions
4. Pick the winner, execute

Tim Brown, writing for the Harvard Business Review, defines design thinking as, "a methodology that imbues the full spectrum of innovation activities with a human-centered design ethos."

Design Skills


Ken Musgrave of Fast Company since there are ten crucial skills designers need to be successful:
1. Passionate Curiosity
2. Imagination
3. Objectivity & Self Awareness
4. Crisp Communication
5. Effective Storytelling
6. Flawless Executive
7. Business Acumen
8. Global Awareness
9. Context
10. Talent

Creativity


Bruce Mau says this about creativity, "Creativity has been made into a mythology. Certain people have it and certain people don't. The reality is it's hard work." (source)


Albert Einstein, on the other hand, said, "The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." 
Perhaps Einstein was referring to the idea that it's impossible to create in a vacuum, and that everything is inspired by something else.  

What is Social Design?//Project One

Sarah Forst and Rebekah Hallisey

What is it?

Social Design is essentially design for good.  It is design that improves the world in any myriad of ways, from sustainable product design to building recycled homes for the needy.  Social Design requires the acknowledgement that designers have power, and that it can be used for good or ill.  Every decision that a designer makes has an impact, and social design aims to make that impact as positive as possible.

Social design is a somewhat general, yet ambiguous term referring to the possible change we can make in the world. It is really up to those of us who give a damn to make it happen, putting our heads together to creatively solve problems and make a positive impact on the world. It becomes our responsibility to use design to make social change. 

Who does it?

Emily Pilloton.  

Emily founded Project H, which designs systems that improve communities, from the Learning Landscape Network, a playground network, to "educational environments.

Samuel Mockbee.

Samuel Mockbee used architecture to improve communities and individual lives by building homes for the poor, often using recycled materials.  He taught his students to use architecture for good, and even after his death his impact lives on.

Deborah Adler.

Deborah Adler, past known for her innovative prescription bottle design for Target, strives to make people's lives easier and safer through better product design.

Bruce Mau.

Mau both writes and designs for a better, more socially conscious world.  He is a leader of the social design movement and author of the book Massive Change.

Cameron Sinclair.

Cameron Sinclair co-founded Architecture for Humanity and co-edited Design Like You Give A Damn.

Michael Murphy and Alan Ricks.

Murphy and Rick, along with four other Harvard graduates, use architecture to make a difference in development, recovery, and healthcare operations.  

Kallie Dovel.

Kallie Dovel founded 31 Bits after seeing the potential in Ugandan women's bead-making skills.  The company now sells the beads in order to fund English lessons, finance training, community groups, AIDS and health education, as well as vocational training.  

What resources are out there?

treehugger

material connexion

GOOD magazine

core 77

design 21

design can change

droog

ecouterre

inhabitat 

fast co design

What is interesting?

Bruce Mau's Incomplete Manifesto for Growth

Tejo Remy's Chest of Drawers.

Architecture for Humanity's school in Ica, Peru.

Project H's Educational Environments.

Schools across the country are establishing social design programs.

On Design Thinking and Creativity: Sarah, Rebekah