Assignment 3 written for The International Design Magazine

Can design thinking change the world? *Living Climate Change from IDEO

In 2006 Al Gore was successful in making the public aware of their contribution to the issue of climate change in his film An Inconvenient Truth. On numerous occasions and in numerous ways this threatening issue has been addressed with a number of initiatives seeking to manage the problem. As a global community we have been told to change our habits, clean up our lives and adapt to a more eco friendly life style. Big businesses have adapted the way they promote their services and all over the world people are equipping their homes with the latest in carbon neutral technology. But does any of this really make a difference? What exactly does our carbon footprint mean in the grand scheme of things and should we be looking at a different approach rather then merely adapting?

It seems whilst we are striving to make our lives ‘greener’ we have stopped the dialogue and lost sight of what the issues really are. The world is booming with countless innovations in technology and ideas and it was a matter of time before someone decided to take a different approach to tackling this growing problem. We live in a design conscious society, which is evident in the abundance of recognised branding. From Fashion to Transport and simply eating lunch livable design exists everywhere. We previously discussed the changing face of New York City thanks to the design conscious administration and now it seems this idea is expanding to help change the way we discuss the worlds altering condition.

Tim Brown, CEO of design firm IDEO is attempting to change the world through design. Many have tried, some have been successful, some have failed mostly the ideas have not reached far enough. ‘Design Thinking’ is Brown’s attempt to pioneer a mission that fuses design, business and social consciousness to create a researched and understood set of ideas. Brown understands how creative thinking works and is intent on encouraging a dialogue using a platform that everyone is familiar with, the Internet. IDEO recently launched a site called Living Climate Change. This site is will be an open forum that encourages users to share their ideas on this global problem. Living Climate Change is available to everyone and encourages discussion and experimentation that may change the global perception of this issue. Simply put livingclimatechange.com is attempting to expand the conversation.


Both through this forum and in his book ‘Change by Design’, Brown insists the site “invites you to imagine what life will be like in 20 or 30 years, as we move along a path toward reduced carbon emissions. Will the targets be reached? Which behaviours will need to change? Which will we choose to preserve?” By redesigning a conversation that has been attempted numerous times Brown is injecting much needed innovation into the issue and encouraging the global community to explore design thinking and maybe change our future.



Your home as art: looking at the style aesthetics through online DIY design.


*photo credit to Todd Selby, theselby.com

We all know how important it is to have a haven. The place you go after a long day, long flight or long lunch and can just sit and relax, expelling the world and switching off. Environment plays a big part in who someone is and the way they create which is why it is so fascinating to be able to take a look into someone’s living space. The popularity of style blogs proves how interesting what someone wears is and now it seems their design ideas are just as intriguing. The growing popularity of websites such as The Selby and Apartment Therapy prove just how interesting your living room can be.

What these sites have in common apart from a home design focus is the emphasis they place on personality. Whilst they provide insights into where the reader can purchase the latest Ralph Lauren paint, they also look at how much of themselves people put into their living spaces. Just as Jackson Pollock literally included a footprint in his canvases, these living environments hold as much of the owners identify as the work they create.

Reminiscent of style makers such as Jak and Jil and Purple Journal, The Selby takes a look at ‘interesting people and their creative spaces’. From fashion designers to magazine editors, chefs and models, Todd Selby has taken a unique approach to capturing the identity of his subjects. The focus of his striking photography is not only on the person but on what he or she chooses to surround themselves with. From posters on the wall, the colour of curtains, animals in the background and Paris themed ashtrays, the website delivers unique and personal interior design. According to the founder Todd Selby, the website was started in order to learn more about the person from their possessions and to explore the way personal space reflects personality. By turning apartments into the set of a photo shoot and with the growing popularity of the website, Selby has turned the home into art. The subtle hints and design tips embedded in each photograph has turned The Selby into the DIY interior design bible. The diversity of the spaces shown encourages design ideas that could help any reader turn an uncomfortably small kitchen into a functional cooking space. As important as putting the right clothes on ones back this site proves that clever design transforms any living environment.

Taking a slightly more overt approach to constructive design tips, Apartment Therapy is said to be ‘saving the world one room at a time’ by providing a forum to explore ideas and create a more beautiful, organised and healthy home. With posts that celebrate clean lines of Scandinavian design and 100 different ways to use fairy lights, Apartment Therapy encourages innovative options for creating the perfect home. The website also profiles the most unique and accessible resource tools such as Lonny Mag. This title is revolutionising the humble magazine, recently relaunching itself as an online publication complete with turning pages and working links. Their mission is simple ‘to reopen the doors of design by embracing an online platform and providing inspiration and access to products and resources to readers.’

Whilst this is the motto for Lonny Mag, it can extend to include The Selby, Apartment Therapy and online forums like them that seek to celebrate creativity that transforms our homes into livable design.

Written for I.D. - The International Design Magazine