Sustaining San Francisco

homelessNEST: Final Presentation

2009-05-18T06:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from our final presentation. We ended up making a lean-to type urban tent for the homeless. The design is intended to give the homeless a sense of dignity and place. It provides a level of privacy and shelter to those who live on the streets of San Francisco. The tent is also collapsible and has a strap to carry it on your back.

-Brent, Jerry, & Sibil

Paragraph edit...a little late

2009-05-12T02:24:00.000-07:00

Not everyone is aware of the alarming global situation our world is facing because they are not directly affected in their everyday lives. Many lifestyles we take for granted cause great damage to our planet. Consumer markets are starting to become aware of the environmental implications of their purchasing decisions, but it is up to designers to see the potential they possess to stop this environmental destruction. As designers we must investigate the life cycle of a product, because the impact of mass production to our earth is enormous. But sustainability is not just a design or a product, it is a way of life and, in the end, it is everyone’s responsibility to educate each other about our planet. Education and encouragement are the keys, getting involved is the spirit. In order to save our planet and have a healthy environment for our next generation, we need to change our attitude and take action. It is our responsibility to act since we have forced the environmental issues that surround us. Sustainability is a global effort in changing our lifestyle and thinking, and we have a long way to go. It’s easy to get desensitized to the plethora of facts and numbers, but big change starts small, and global change starts in your community, right here, right now.

-Brent

PARAGRAPH!

2009-05-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

I hope no one minds, but I took everyone's paragraph, took out repetitive stuff, and this is what we're left with. Does anyone want to try to help put them together/edit what I’ve done? If you want to add or take out feel free!

-Sarah

" Not everyone is aware of the alarming global situation our world is facing, because it does not affect them directly in their everyday lives. Some lifestyles we may take for granted damages our earth a lot. Consumer markets are starting to become aware of the environmental implications of their purchasing decisions, designers , must wake up and see the potential they posses to stop the environmental decay that we are witnessing. The life cycle of a product is much shorter than a building, so the impact of mass production to our earth is enormous. Sustainability is not a design or a product. It is a way of life and everyone’s responsibility to educate each other about our planet. Education and encouragement are the keys, getting involved is the spirit. In order to save our planet and have a healthy environment for our next generation, we need to change our attitude and take action now; this is our responsibility since we have forced the environmental issues that surround us. Sustainability is a global effort, a change in our lifestyle and thinking, and we have a long way to go. It’s easy to get desensitized to the plethora of facts and numbers, but big change starts small, and global change starts in your community, right here, right now.”

Statement

2009-05-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

Sustainability is not a design or a product. It is a way of life and everyone’s responsibility to educate each other about our planet. In order to save our planet and have a healthy environment for our next generation, we need to change our attitude and show the action now.

Terry

Sustainability paragraph description

2009-05-08T01:11:00.000-07:00

Not all people are aware of the alarming global situation our world is facing. Knowing isn't just enough; we need to collectively act as a worldwide community to sustain this one place we're living in for the future generations to grow and know that we are not giving them a dying gray blob to live in. Sustainability is about having a world where the present and future generations can live happily.

Dorothy

Statement

2009-05-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

Sustainability is not a word, but a action. It is a lifestyle full of responsibility.Education is the key, getting involved is the spirit. Don't look at your pocket- just do it for you, for children and for the earth.

-Queena

huh.

2009-05-04T16:27:00.001-07:00

Well. Awesome statements friends . . . however, we need sort of a game plan as to how we're going to combine them and put them together to make a class statement. Maybe we could do it in the same vein as having a single sentence from everyone that succinctly describes how they feel and sort of combine everyone's individual statement? I don't really know . . . but that's just my suggestion.

-Sarah

Statement

2009-05-04T10:55:00.001-07:00

Sustainability is a choice people still have; while consumer markets are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental implications of their purchasing decisions, designers have to realize the potential they posses to stop the environmental decay that we are witnessing

Pedro

Sustainability is not only a word.......

2009-05-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

As I remember, green design became a trend in the last15 years. People talk about sustinability in every design field, such as industry design, architectural deisn.....etc. Taking this class gave me another chance to think deeply by changing a roll from an engineer to a designer. The life cycle of a product is much shorter than a building, so the impact of mass production to our earth is enormous. Some people care about this issue. They believe if we don't decrease impact to enviroment, it would become a serious disaster in no longer future. however, most of people don't care about it. they think the issue is too far from them. I hope one day we become designers and then we use our knowledge to help people and save the earth.

Stanley

Encouragement

2009-05-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

In my point of view, encouragement is a good way to increase people’s interests at sustaining this world. In my researches, many people said that they are too lazy to go green. Many well design green products didn’t increase people’s interests to do sustainable thing so people won’t buy them. How to rise up people’s interests is a point that every industrial designer need to think about it.

Raymond

My understanding of Sustainability

2009-05-04T02:28:00.000-07:00

What is the most important thing about sustainability? It could be responsbility, encouragement or awareness.... For me, I believe that human behavior or the way of living is the key to understand sustainability.

I've been thinking the way I'm living from they way I cook, they way I throw my trash to the way I use utilitysince I start taking special topics class. Some lifestyle we take for granted may actually damage our earth a lot. We can never imagine that the apples we buy today might harm our communites because the apple is not seasonal food in may. Also, you've no idea how much waste you make by tossing coffee papercups.

It's all about how people live on our earth. Sustainability needs everyone to aware and to act. That's why in our dairy project we try to change consumer's behavior to buy milk. If the way of buying milk only limit on using our own reusable bottle to get the milk, how can we make any more packaging waste?

~Siqi

Statement for sustainable

2009-05-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

If people should face sustainable tissue with positive attitude, our generation will get a great reward in the future.

Yiqing Zhu

My statement of this class

2009-05-03T19:27:00.001-07:00

This class made me realize that global warming is a very big crisis that we as a world are all facing together. A lot of people do not realize how important it is, because it does not affect them directly. But they should think about their children or their grandchildren, and think what they would have to go through if we do not find a way to fix the problem. The class really made me open my eyes to what has to be done to save our environment. Of course, fixing global warming is not done that easily- many steps have to be taken, but even the smallest contribution from each person can help, such as turning off lights and applications when they are not in use, carpooling or biking to work instead of driving, recycling, etc. This is a responsibility we all have as humans, since we are the ones that are killing the planet with our pollution. I think education is the best way to create awareness. Schools should encourage a sustainable lifestyle more. As of now, there are a lot of people who are trying to fix the problem, but not enough. We would need everyone to take action in order to reduce global warming.

Jerry

Class Statement

2009-05-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Here's my shot at a class statement for the exhibition. Let me know what you think, or if there's something I'm really missing. I figured I'd keep it around 4 sentences otherwise it's too much text and people will be less likely to stop to read it.

"The actual meaning of sustainability gets lost in today’s green-washing jargon. People might think it’s in driving a hybrid car, or reusing a grocery bag, or as simple as taking a shorter shower. They’re both right and wrong. Sustainability is a global effort, a change in our lifestyle and thinking, and we have a long way to go. It’s easy to get desensitized to the plethora of facts and numbers, but big change starts small, and global change starts in your community. "

- Victor

2009-05-03T18:13:00.000-07:00

Video in progress of the IPhone Application...

Light pollution Landscapes

2009-05-03T12:16:00.001-07:00

Light pollution can be beautiful. Here are some pictures I took last night on the beach, I hope you like them. Pedro Cerisola

Visa Mastercard Commercial

2009-05-01T20:55:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Here's a commercial made for Visa Mastercard. Its about a kid trying to make his dad more eco-friendly. I thought its a nice way of informing people to be more environmentally conscious by starting small and ends with a significant effect.

Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkYdM-EM47k

Dorothy

Trash Receptacle

2009-05-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Here is a trash receptacle made by BMW Group Designworks USA. Found this in the back issues of ID magazine December 2006.

http://www.ecopod.org/

Dorothy

Children's books

2009-04-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

Since I'm making a children's book about light pollution, I have been looking at a lot of children's books. There are many centered on "global warming" and "recycling". Here are some photos of titles that I thought were interesting.

Sarah

Invisible People

2009-04-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone

The following link mostly has to do with our group project on homelessness, but it is a really interesting look into their lives ...

http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/

--Sibil

Renewable Energy Map

2009-04-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

https://www.nrdc.org/energy/renewables/default.asp

Renewable Energy Map. Also NRDC is a good site to check out anyway.

Sarah

2009-04-23T10:04:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

Based on what we discussed in class, what I hear from you guys, and my own person troubles with the current blog system we have, I have a proposal for guys:

I feel the lack of posting is contributed to the following:

- Topics being flooded away
- Hard to keep up on feedback because topics are flooded away
- Login and password kicking you out of your gmail
- Login and password somewhat long and hard to remember
- Hard to look up past posts and information
- etc...

I have created a forum us to use if you would like to try it out. It's late in the semester but better late than never. It can serve as a model for future classes. The benefits are as follows:

- You create your own user name and password and profile. You can update your profile info, link you personal websites / info
- Newest posts update to top, shows who's the latest poster
- Old posts are easy to find and when someone posts, it goes to the top
- For teachers: shows how many posts a specific user has posted to grade class participation
- Other benefit.

So make a login and try to post. Repost your projects and leave feedback for others. If we can get at least one good conversation on a project then it'll have outdone blog already.

http://sustainablesf.forumotion.com

- Victor
IDS

EARTH DAY is tomorrow

2009-04-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

Sources of places you can volunteer not just tomorrow, but anytime!

ALEMANY FARM an organic farm growing food & helping low-income kids in South SF
http://www.alemanyfarm.org/

CITY SLICKER FARMS in Oakland, CA
http://www.cityslickerfarms.org/volunteer.htm

SAVE THE BAY
http://www.savesfbay.org

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
http://eastbay.volunteerhub.com/Events/Browse.aspx

PRESIDIO PLANT NURSERY
http://www.parksconservancy.org

PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT
http://projecthomelessconnect.com

SF CONNECT
http://www.sfconnect.net

-Sarah

2009-04-19T23:39:00.000-07:00

Queena and Ella, I found this bottle water business that is similar to your project.

I hope u can get some ideas from.

http://www.tapdny.com/manifesto/

Raymon

Automatic can and pet bottle disposal unit

2009-04-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
The first picture below is showing a "small booth" for recycling electronics in a parking center. I think many people had seen this kind of recycling system.

However, the interesting thing is that my friend told me in Korea they have "machines" similar with this one. It is called automatic can and pet bottle disposal unit. It could count weight, size and material to sort objects. Also, people can get money from it.

Here is a link to their website.
http://www.top-ranker.com/index.html

when you click the link, it will jump out a video window. the video could explain this function well. Because it's a Korean website so you may not understand.

-Queena

National Geographic magazine

2009-04-18T19:44:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

National Geographic magazine has a special collector's issue about energy and the environment. If you want to check it out you can find it at Borders.

Dorothy

Pictures

2009-04-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Here's some interesting pictures I found from a graphics design magazine.

Siqi here's the picture of the dairy section that I was talking about yesterday.

Dorothy

(Concept sketches)"Nest" a sustainable shelter for homeless. Part-2

2009-04-18T00:33:00.000-07:00

These are the 6 sketches that have been narrowed down and picked from our 30 sketches this week. We picked the features of portability, inflation, durability, and comfort, and tried to combine those features into the sketches. And here we go.

Jerry

(Concept sketches)"Nest" a sustainable shelter for homeless.

2009-04-18T00:02:00.000-07:00

Our idea around these sketches was to create a "shelter" for homeless. Though the concept is shelter, we didn't limit ourself of only designing a shelter like design. Contrarily, any idea was acceptable at this stage. And then the next week, which is today, the concept will be narrowing down to certain features, shapes, etc. so, take a look of our initial sketches and try to give us some feedback if you want.

Jerry

WHOLE PROJECT FROM KATY LIAO

2009-04-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, here is an updated version of my project summary for WHOLE. It is an eco-friendly clothing brand that strives to change consumption patterns and consumer mindsets by reexamining the whole life cycle story of a piece of clothing. And, also rethinking the disposability of clothing versus the reusability of clothing.

2009-04-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hi
Here's an updated of the project. I have design magazine ad and wash bag for the jean which acts as a shopping bag too.

mooko- sustainable dairy farming and packaging

2009-04-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

This project seeks to educate the public about sustainable farming by introducing an organic dairy line Mooko under Berkeley Farms.

Many consumers have equated organic with healthy, and the strong demand for organic products indicates consumers' suspicion of conventional manufacturing process. To further increase consumer confidence, it is vital to convey that sustainable farming goes beyond individual health and benefits the greater good.

The project offers print materials and packaging design that will communicate to consumers the benefits of sustainable farming not only to their own health but animals and land as well.

Shihwen Wang + Siqi Liu

Coral Yang's Design Solution for Hotel Industry

2009-04-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
Here is the current summary, graphic and photography style of my project. My project is about introducing sustainable practices in hotel industry to guests. Let customers bring home sustainability practices, modeled on their hotel experience, providing them with sample products and information about sustainable practices in the hotel they stay.

Evelyn Liu's Levi's Eco Jean

2009-04-17T11:16:00.001-07:00

Hi Everybody here is the summary for the Levi's eco jean. I am proposing a campaign for Levi's where Levi's work to take responsibility for their jean though its entire life cycle. Evey pair of jean comes with lifetime warranty.

Weilin Chang's current effort for sustainable Folgers Coffee

2009-04-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

Hi:
One of my deliverables is reusable coffee cans. I would like use the chance to educate customers that the more sustainable coffee they drink, the more birds they can save. Here is my explanation of the cans:
The coffee can is transparent with a brown label on it. When it is full of coffee beans, which are also brown, users can see nothing but a “help” on the label.
On the label there is a engraved hollow of a bird. When the coffee beans are gradually consumed, the interior color of label shows so that a silhouette of bird appears.
The bird silhouette can be replaced by rain forest trees and other animals. At the end the can will be three-dimensional.

Weilin Chang's sustainable Folgers Coffee

2009-04-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

Hi:
Here is my updated sustainable Folgers coffee summary. Thank you.

A design campaign for composting from Denise Ho

2009-04-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Here's an updated visual brand for my campaign to promote composting in local communities. It's about learning to make composting a healthy and habitual part of our life with prodigious impacts from creating small beautiful gardens to reducing our waste in large appalling land fills.

HQ Percussion 2-Sided Ecopad

2009-04-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Here's an interesting product I saw on the Guitar Center website. I'm a bit of a drumming enthusiast, so here it is:

HQ Percussion 2-Sided Ecopad

Practice your drum chops on a pad composed of recycled materials.
With rubber made from recycled tires and a base made from residual wood waste materials, the 12" 2-sided EcoPad provides two great-feeling practice surfaces without killing more trees. One side delivers a standard rebound, and the reverse side is firmer for building endurance. It has a large playing surface that fits inside a standard snare basket.

Dorothy

Great site to find new materials

2009-04-16T19:58:00.000-07:00

Materia

buttons for SIQI

2009-04-12T15:42:00.000-07:00

Dairy IDS+GD group, Here is the image of the buttons on the water vending machine. I hope this helps!

-susanK

California's 3-Year Drought Prompts Rain Harvesting Industry To Grow

2009-04-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

Dorothy:

If you haven't seen this already, check out the Rainwater HOG, designed by Sally Dominguez. Also, I stumbled upon this link earlier today... Great article about the current water crisis facing The Bay Area.

-susanK

IDS Group: Water

2009-04-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

We are Dorothy, Izumi, and Terry from the ID class, and our topic is about water. We created the company Flow to come up with products that helps raise awareness and reuses water. Our products include rainwater collection, reusing greywater (which is basically used water from laundry, faucets, showers), and water conservation. Feel free to read through our presentation board pictures and feedback and comments are very much welcome. Thanks!

images for milk group

2009-04-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

Shihwen and Siqi: Here are the images that I snapped with my camera phone. Your Dairy seems interesting... If you are still exploring the vending machine concept (?) make sure you check out the water dispensers. Be in touch if you would like more feedback.

-susanK

do you see what I see?

2009-04-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Sarah, (IDS) after meeting with you on Monday, I realized you may be interested in watching the film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. A beautiful (true) story about Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffered a stroke, which left him with a condition called locked-in syndrome. His only way of communicating is by blinking his eyes. The film is slow, but beautiful. The book is even better. There is a thread / connection to your do you see what I see idea.

Enjoy.

-susanK

Sustainable milk packaging project

2009-04-07T22:37:00.000-07:00

I'm here to tell more about our idea.

In presentation board 2, we shows where are we now. We've done a lot of researches so far which include organic and earth, organic and health, plastic waste, sustainable materials and some competitor's products.

In presentation board 3, we proposed 3 different possible solutions in the future. The first one is new material which means a packaging with a new sustainable material. The second one is multifuntion which shows the after life of our packaging like people using packaging to grow their plant. The last one is about the new behavior. This is a systematic change. We were thinking changing the way that how do customers buy milk.

~Siqi

for your collection

2009-04-07T19:14:00.001-07:00

Nathan Shedroff has just written what is likely to become the sustainability manual for designers. Design Is The Problem is a thorough and informative survey of just about every aspect of sustainable design. It covers important frameworks, schools of thought and specific tools. It’s interspersed with good examples and case studies that reveal the complexity of the issue and that force the reader to engage with the topic rather than assume simple answers, which of course don’t exist. Design Is The Problem does not go into significant depth on each topic but it will give you a place to start on pretty much anything related to sustainability. Definitely an important book to have in your library.

Design is the Problem explains:

How sustainability isn't as difficult to understand and address as many would have you think
Several of the leading frameworks and perspectives on sustainability
How to insert sustainability into the development process that you're already using
The many, practical strategies that make the products, services, and events you design and develop more sustainable—right now

Enjoy(!)

-susanK

Food Group

2009-04-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

Here's a project proposal boards for group: Victor, Pedro, and Paul. We're doing a web application that allows the user to easily access databases of local seasonal food available and to help them find farmers markets that sell them.

Light pollution

2009-04-06T13:23:00.001-07:00

Ah ha! Finally got it in a visible format . . . anyway my project is on light pollution in San Francisco.

Sarah

Composting: renewing and fostering a healthy ecology

2009-04-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Denise Ho. Another MFA Graphic Design student currently attending AAU. My chosen project for GR.699 Sustainable Design focuses on composting. For so long we've taken from the Earth and have neglected to give back organic waste that helps to build vitality for fertile soil and a healthy ecology.

I would like to develop a socially edifying and friendly campaign for communities that are not yet composting. The aim is to encourage people who are unsure of how to approach the process or have doubts and fears toward the controlled process of decomposition. With a little change of perspective and attitude, composting will be as habitually easy as recycling.

Stop Recycling. Start Repairing.

2009-04-05T21:33:00.000-07:00

I came across Platform 21's Repair Manifesto the other day; it should provide some interesting dialogue for all of you. I'm curious to hear your reactions...

-susanK

--------------------

1. Make your products live longer.
Repairing means taking the opportunity to give your product a second life. Don't ditch it, stitch it! Don't end it mend it! Repairing is not anti-consumption. It is anti-needlessly throwing things awa.

2. Things should be designed so that they can be repaired.
Product Designers: Make your products repairable. Share clear, understandable information about DIY repairs.
Consumers: Buy things that you know can be repaired, or else find out why they don't exist. Be critical and inquisitive.

3. Repair is not replacement.
Replacement is throwing away the broken bit. This is not the kind of repair we are talking about.

4. What doesn't kill it makes it stronger.
Every time we repair something, we add to its potential, its history, its soul and its inherent beauty.

5. Repairing is a creative challenge.
Making repairs is good for the imagination. Using new techniques, tools and materials ushers in possibility rather than dead ends.

6. Repair survives fashion.
Repair is not about styling or trends. There are no due-dates for repairable items.

7. To repair is to discover.
As you fix objects, you'll learn amazing things about how they actually work. Or don't work.

8. Repair -even in good times.
If you think this manifesto has to do with the recession, forget it. This isn't about money, it's about a mentality.

9. Repaired things are unique.
Even fakes become originals when you repair them.

10. Repairing is about independence.
Don't be a slave to technology -be it's master. If it's broken, fix it and make it better. And if you're a master, empower others.

11. You can repair anything, even a plastic bag.
But we'd recommend getting a bag that will last longer, and then repairing it if necessary.

Social Sustainability

2009-04-03T01:32:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

This is Brent, Sibil, and Jerry's project. It's about social sustainability, which talks about homeless people in San Francisco. How many homeless people in SF? How much money goverment spends on homeless per year? What problems do homeless people have and

what are being effected by homeless people? Those are things we're investigating now.

Please take a look of our presentation boards and feel free to give us feed backs. Thanks.

Jerry

2009-04-02T23:20:00.000-07:00

Hi all

I am Raymond from IDS. This is my group's project.

According to our researches, we will foucus on the terrain and tourism of SF.

Steep streets make San Francisco unique and beautiful, But steep streets can also be a huge problem of our lovely enviroment.

Welcome to share your opinions and comments with us. <(_ _)>

A project on San Francisco Sustainability Plan for Tourists

2009-04-02T23:15:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is Queena and Ella's research about sustainable project for san francisco tap water. We are glad to recieve some suggestion or comment from you guys.

Thank you

Queena and Ella

IDS food people, check this out!

2009-04-02T21:07:00.000-07:00

Victor, Pedro and Paul... check it out. Perhaps something to learn from or spring from. --> beeline

-susanK

Dawn Danby at AAU

2009-04-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

D A W N D A N B Y explores the intersection of design, sustainability and business. Which is a fancy way of saying that she wants the things we make to benefit both people and the world.

An industrial designer by training, she's a boundary-spanner and synthesist who has acted as a cross-disciplinary designer, strategist, art director, project manager, producer and artist. Join the IDS Department in welcoming her to AAU. She will be speaking at the warehouse on Thursday, April 9th (!)

-susanK

sustainable milk packaging project

2009-04-02T00:15:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

My name is Shihwen Wang, a MFA graphic design student. I'll be working together with my industrial design partner, Siqi Liu, in this sustainable milk packaging project.

To eliminate waste in packaging, we propose to design reusable bottles and a vending machine. We envision that after people consume milk, they will clean the bottles and bring back to stores for refill/ next purchase.

By doing this project, we also hope to educate the public about sustainable dairy farming because it goes beyond individual health and and benefits the greater good.

We would love to hear what you think about this, and any comment or suggestion is appreciated!

Shihwen

wshihwen@gmail.com

When a man and a woman can share the same piece of clothing, isn't that sustainable?

2009-04-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

In a world of new ideas and a refreshed sense of global awareness, we need to come up with innovative ways of being sustainable. When a man and a woman can share the same piece of clothing, isn't that sustainable? Well it generates less consumerism and it expands the product's life cycle. The whole point of sustainability is to be able to reuse, to create less waste, not harm the environment in the process and deplete thoughtless consumption.

Our Group members consists of 6 students from the MFA of Fashion in AAU; Johnathan, Louie, Tessa, Vicky, Sydney and Nimontra. Our concept is unisex clothing based in some sort of a post apocalyptic era, not the cliche oxygen masks and body suits but more of a military undergarment style clothing. It embodies the word nomadic, functional, futuristic, androgynous and protection.

We are also trying to be more environmental friendly by using low impact materials, a lot of organics, employing local artisans for weaving, knitting, Eco-friendly dying and manipulation and recycling every opportunity we get from reusing scraps to reclaiming discarded clothing.

Here are some development pictures that may give you an idea of our direction:

Please feel welcome to share your comments and opinions with us.
Thank you.

2009-03-31T23:05:00.000-07:00

We are Nimble 78, a collaboration of five designers with the philosophy that great fashion compromises neither artistry nor the environment.

Guided by this philosophy and the belief that art can be adaptable and sustainable—Nimble—and that our fashion client deserves top of the line—Platinum (atomic #78)—service, we work to design and promote fashion forward clothing that expresses the hard work and attention to detail that goes into timeless garments whose appeal and function will serve the client and their prosperity much like great architecture.

The designers for Nimble 78 believe that we all are accountable to the world for what we design and create. We also identify with designing clothing that is beautiful, versatile, and investment-worthy.

Inspired by the temperate, yet varying, microclimates in the San Francisco Bay Area, Nimble 78 has designed no seasonal-specific clothing. Our designs are conscious of the San Franciscan’s constant need to take off or put on a layer throughout any given day of the year.

Also just as the city of San Francisco inspires its residents and tourists with the harmony of nature and industry, Nimble 78 hopes to enchant our clients with well-coordinated lines and spaces as well as harmonious and organic silhouettes and laser-cutting, eco-friendly printing and dyes and appliqués for details.

Finally, because we feel that true environmental sustainability requires a community of individuals and organizations working together to the same end, we built a relationship with ISDA and Co in San Francisco, an amazing company with its own sustainability story (www.isda-and-co.com/Aboutus.asp). ISDA and Co has donated about 160 yards of wool, silk, and cotton to our project, nearly every inch of which will be used in our first collection.

San Francisco Homeless

2009-03-31T18:29:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting map we found on the locations of the homeless. It is interactive, so click to find out more...

SF Homeless Map

-Brent

got milk?

2009-03-31T15:01:00.000-07:00

Matt Boyko, who was a visiting critic in our IDS class on Friday sent over this great image and information. He asked me to share it with all of you, but especially the GD + ID team who is exploring dairy. Greenbottle, designed by Martin Myerscough, is a biodegradable milk carton concept that features a unique two-part system to aid recycling and reduce landfill waste. The bottle is composed of a cardboard outer shell molded from pulped, recycled cardboard, lined with an inner sleeve of biodegradable corn starch plastic. Once the bottle is empty, the cardboard outer shell can be split open, removed and recycle or composted. The inner sleeve will decompose in a landfill within six weeks!

There's all sorts of great information out on Greenbottle's website. Be sure to check it out.

-susanK

check it out!

2009-03-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

Design Ignites Change is talked about out on Fast Company!

-susanK

GreenRx: Design solution for safe medicine disposal (Annemarie Henning)

2009-03-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

Hi there. I'm Annemarie Henning, a student in the Graphic Design MFA program. My project for the GR.699 Sustainability class is called GreenRx, a consumer-focused safe medicine disposal program. GreenRx will provide consumers with safe disposal options (rather than flushing down the toilet or tossing in the trash) that will reduce the harmful effects on our environment. Research shows that pills in our waterways results in aggressive lobsters, male fish becoming female, etc.

Industrial design students: I believe there is an opportunity for partnership here. If interested, please let me know.

Thanks for reviewing.

Annemarie Henning_amhenning@gmail.com_415.412.9758

Scrub Dresses?!

2009-03-28T23:01:00.001-07:00

Hello, All!

My name is Tramaine Tillman and I am a Fashion Design major. My group (fellow members are: Kumiko, Priscilla, Nui - Textiles major, Emily, and Ashley) and I have decided to build a clothing line based upon the usage of hospital scrubs. At the start of this project, we knew we wanted to build a company based upon using an upcyclable material that will never run out and is currently being wasted. As a result, we decided to pursue hospital scrubs because while they are traditionally only used for hospital needs (or as lounge wear by the owners since they're so darn comfy), by developing the right process(es), they can be transformed into absolutely elegant garments that no one would ever know came from scrubs! Ultimately, we have created a line-up of 10 dresses primarily using scrubs; 6-8 of which will be developed in 3D format by the end of the semester. We have made a tremendous amount of progress over the past 9 weeks, but at the same time, we have only just begun. All in all, we are very excited about this wonderful niche we've discovered and can hardly wait to see the outcome. I've posted a few pictures of some of the preliminary drapes we did so you can get an idea of the transformation the scrubs are undergoing.

Thanks for taking the time to learn about our project. If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to post your remarks. The proposals presented, thus far, are SO interesting and innovative. It's a pleasure to be a part of such a diverse group of talented individuals!

Best,
Tramaine

Solar Bottle

2009-03-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

Hi all, and nice to meet you :)

My name is Izumi Kawahara. I am a student in the Industrial Design MFA program in AAU.

Thank you for sharing the info.

I found cool product "Solar Bottle" which was in prize winner collections of INDEX AWARD 2006.

Container to sterilize water in sunlight in developing country. The surface area can be wide, the whole be transparent, and time be shortened more than the bucket by 75% with an argent reflection panel.

Quenna and Ella, I wanted tell you about this product yesterday :)

Izumi

Sustainable Practices in Hotel Industry // Using Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants as a role model

2009-03-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

My name is Coral Yang. I am a current student in the Graphic Design MFA program in Academy of Art University. The project for GR 699 Graphic Design & Sustainability is about introducing the sustainable practices in hotel industry and uses the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants as a role model as the first step. And then let customers bring home sustainability practices, modeled on their hotel experience, providing them with sample products and interactive messages while they are staying in Kimpton hotels.

Any comments and suggestions will be great.
Thanks

Coral
cyang1984@gmail.com

REVISION : Rethinking San Francisco's brownfields

2009-03-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

Hi All-

My name is Elizabeth Vereker, above you will find a brief summary of my project titled REVISION. This project will focus on the development and planning of San Francisco's brown fields, focusing on the Mission Rock neighborhood. Please review the summary and provide any thoughts or questions to vereker@gmail.com

Thank you.

Toilet Paper // How our most intimate relationship with paper causes destruction to forests

2009-03-27T02:08:00.001-07:00

Toilet paper -- probably not something we think much about in terms of how it may relate to sustainability but we use it every time we visit the bathroom -- the consumer tissue products we demand: Kleenex, Puffs, Charmin, Scott, Bounty, etc. and the "3-ply quilted super ultra soft and strong" comes at a price.

Perhaps it's time to shift our values -- do we really need to wipe our nose and bottoms with forests? And is it necessary to use toxic chlorine to make tissues white? It's what we are used to, and what is readily available, but honestly, our butts don't care.

_my goal

To promote the use of agricultural by-products in paper production specifically sugarcane. Other crops includes hemp, kenaf, banana trees, wheat, corn...which all yield high levels of fiber that can be harvested into reusable paper materials, products or building supplies. In the U.S. on average, about 250 million tons of agricultural waste is burned each year. What if all that natural material got a second chance before getting burned? a second harvest...

_more info

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/science/earth/26charmin.html
http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/gtissue.asp
http://www.sustainable-future.org/futurefibers/index.html

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment or make any suggestions.

Jenny

GR.699 // Graphic Design & Sustainability

Folger's Sustainability Project

2009-03-27T01:01:00.000-07:00

Hi all:

My name is Weilin Chang. I am a student in the Graphic Design. My topic for GR 699 Sustainability class is Folgers' sustainability project. The goal of this project is to change Folgers to be a sustainable coffee brand, to promote their new environmental mission to the customers, and to educate customers the concept and importance of sustainable coffee. Any comments is welcome. Thank you.

Weilinchng@yahoo.com

Weilin

WHOLE: Disposability of Fashion v.s. Reusability of Fashion

2009-03-26T22:42:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

My name is Katy Liao and I am also a MFA student in the GR699 Graphic Design and Sustainability class at the Academy of Art University working with Design Ignites Change.

My project for this semester proposes to create a fictitious fashion brand that challenges customers to wear and mend the clothing for as long as they can.

Please let me know what you think. Thanks.

Katy

contact info: katyliao@gmail.com

PG&E PEHV Power Program

2009-03-26T21:50:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Brennan McGuigan and I am a student in the Graphic Design MFA program that is a part of the Design Ignites Change project. My current project for the GR.699 Sustainability class is about promoting PEHV or Plug-In Electric Hybrids through the usage of PG&E's already existing electrical infrastructure.

I would love to hear what everyone thinks about this and I have included links to higher resolution PDF's for the images above if you would like to download them.

PG&E PEHV Power Program (page 1)

PG&E PEHV Power Program (page2)

B.McGuigan

brennan.mcguigan@gmail.com

Be Waste Wise!

2009-03-26T03:39:00.000-07:00

Last week, I went to the farmer's market at Ferry Building. I saw trash cans with a sign saying,"90% of the market waste in your hand can be composted. Compost it here!". It shows people how to sort their waste and trash. And also, there is a woman hired beside helping and teaching people how to do it right.

Paul

the "closed loop" experiment

2009-03-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

*Check out Georgia Tech's ID student Krystal Persaud's blog, in which she describes the daily observations brought on by her attempt to go an entire school term without removing any garbage from her apartment. The earlier posts are mostly just photos of trash piling up in various corners, but as the rhythm gets established, things get more interesting. Nothing focuses attention on consumption like being forced to live with the consequences of your purchases -- a requirement most of us have the luxury of ignoring. Worth watching.* as seen on Core77.com

-susanK

interesting bits

2009-03-25T17:17:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyone is jumping on the bandwagon these days, but this one throws me for a loop! Rumor has it, Ikea will be releasing an eco-friendly car. I find it hard to believe.

Good magazine recently posted a great chart in their transparency section. Transparency: How Much Water Do You Use? gives some great examples of how much water is used in our daily routine. I can't vouch for it's accuracy, but is sure is beautiful. It would be fun for all of us to try to calculate our footprint...

-susanK

what happened to our layout?!

2009-03-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking maybe we should go back to black on white? It takes less energy to produce a screen with black and white writing than it does the other way. Anyway.

The March issues of Metropolis has some great Design for Social Impact.

Also IDEO has a work books they designed regarding the same subject matter:

Design For Social Impact : Work Book
(http://www.ideo.com/images/uploads/work/case-studies/pdfs/IDEO_RF_Workbook.pdf)

Design For Social Impact: How to Guide
(http://www.ideo.com/images/uploads/work/case-studies/pdfs/IDEO_RF_Guide.pdf)

Good Stuff! Check it out!

Sarah

water bottle bag souvenir

2009-03-23T18:37:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Here's a picture of a souvenir carry bag for water bottles. My aunt's brother-in-law went to South America and it was given to the tourists for the whole trip. The bag is knitted by the locals and carrying straps are added.

Dorothy

CCA Student Displays

2009-03-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

This is an interesting picture I took when i went to CCA a few weeks ago and forgot to post it. Its a long line of trash which starts from the entrance then all the way along the hallway.

Dorothy

Discovery Channel: Global Warming

2009-03-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Watched a documentary yesterday by chance on the Discovery Channel about Global Warming and its effects. It's an interesting documentary. Here's the link so you can check out:

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/globalwarming/globalwarming.html

Dorothy

Switch off for Earth Hour - Please Spread the Word!

2009-03-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

A friend of mine forwarded me this email:

It's as simple as the flick of a switch. The lights will go out for one hour on March 28 at 8:30 pm local time - wherever you live on planet earth. It's called Earth Hour - and it's our best bet at stopping climate change. Sign up at http://www.earthhour.org/ and spread our message of hope and action to your friends, workmates, loved ones and even those you've never talked with. Feast your eyes on the official video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CRs-7lRlPo.

Environmental action isn't always as hard as chasing after dynamite fishermen or guarding our forests against illegal loggers. Sometimes it's as simple as the flick of a switch.

See your world in a whole new light. Switch off from 8:30 to 9:30 pm on Saturday night, 28 March 2009 and spread the word. Log on to wwf.org.ph or call 840-2134 / 812-5974 to find out how else you can make a difference.

As One,

GoryoTeam Earth Hour Email: mailto:gyan@wwf.org.%20ph

Multiply: greggyan.multiply. com

Dorothy

interesting video links

2009-03-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already seen this video segment, it's worth a view. It's an inside look at how the designers at IDEO take something old and familiar, like the shopping cart, and completely redesign it in just five days. Great insight into their brainstorming and conceptualization process.

part one
part two
part three

-susanK

QR CODE

2009-03-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I post　"QR code" spoken by yesterday's class.

A "QR code" is a matrix code　or two-dimensional bar code in 1994.
The "QR" is derived from "Quick Response", as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.
"QR codes" are common in Japan, where they are currently the most popular type of two dimensional codes. Moreover, most current Japanese mobile phones can read this code with their camera.

Here is QR CODE website. This website tells very clear information.

Have a great spring break :)

Izumi

Emily Pilloton lectures on March 24th

2009-03-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

Emily Pilloton, founder of Project H Design, will be speaking at AAU on Tuesday, March 24th at 5PM. Project H Design is a design initiative that promotes humanity, habitats, health and happiness. Emily will be speaking about some of their latest projects in Uganda, India and South Africa. Please join us in welcoming Emily to AAU(!)

-susanK

A Field trip on California Academy of Sciences

2009-03-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, we had a visit to California Academy of Sciences. There are so many interesting things that attractive to me. Actually it makes me broaden my eyesight.

I notice that the picture on the wall. The title is A CLIMATE FOR LIFE-MEETING GLOBAL CHALLENGE. This is one of the pictures in this topic. Human seems to be trivial in nature. The exhibition shows the relationship between human and nature and suggests some ways to risk to human survive, environment, and biological diversity on the edge of extinction.

The words: Climate is an angry beast and we are poking at it with sticks. It describes the changeable and freakish climate and human destroy the ecological balance. In the exhibition, it shows principle of carbon and CO2, nature energy, and the elimination of resources.

One more interesting thing is that the UNDERWATER DIVERSITY. The fish specimens look very delicate. The academy scientist collected for the research dives. It shows another wonderful world under the water.

Yiqing

Things about Academy of Sciences

2009-03-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

1. 3 dollars discount for alternative transition

I think it a great encouragement for people to use public transportation which is good for sustaining San Francisco.

2. Insects collection game

I like that there are some interactive games for children to learn different kinds of insects in California.

3. Promotion for the tap water

There is a poster on the wall beside the drinking fountain which says,” Bottled Water vs. Tap Water! Plastic bottled water is tested less often and subject to weaker safety standards than tap water….” It makes a good point for people not to buy bottled water because Americans have one of the safest public water supplies in the world. The poster also mentions that San Francisco’s high quality tap water comes from the Sierra Nevada.

And also I like the planetarium. The planetarium here is the coolest one I have even seen. What I admire most is the technology of projector. It really makes a realistic experience.

Paul

2009-03-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

There is an institute called Institute Without Boundaries that I came across in undergrad that I recently re-looked at. Their objective and mission speaks to me in terms of architecture but I think it applies to any of our projects.

"Our inaugural project, Massive Change, explored and sparked a discourse on the future of global design. Our second project, World House, confronts the evolution of shelter for coming generations incorporating principles of sustainabillity, accessibility, technological responsiveness and ecological balance."

In my project(s) I'm always trying to find that balance between sustainability, accessibility, while being technologically responsive and ecologically balanced. They work to fight against the urban sprawl, which many view to be ecologically and socially irresponsible.

http://www.institutewithoutboundaries.com/

This applies to my project on food because part of the urban sprawl is about building these walmarts and bed bath and beyonds with useless facades on buildings that create what feels like a "township" in these huge plazas. Through external decoration they assume to build community when in fact the very thing these architectural facades hide does not benefit the community at all in terms of providing jobs to local farmers and craftsmen.

And for anyone looking for a short but powerful read, read The Eyes of the Skin by Juhani Pallasmaa. It's a 80 page thesis basically that a lot of architects used as a topic of their lectures. It coins a term "ocularcentrism" which discusses human nature and social pruning to make us so focused on our sense of sight that we forget how powerful and important our other senses can be to create memory and impact in our lives.

- Victor

Three things about the Academy of Sciences.

2009-03-13T05:27:00.000-07:00

1. Recycle Bins of the Academy of Sciences

These beautiful recycles bins are everywhere in the academy of sciences museum. The reason I like these recycle bins is that each of these recycle bins has short but powerful description for each category. In the academy of sciences they have landfill recycle bin and the short description is “Styrofoam. Plastic Bags”. In my point of view, this description would remind people that Styrofoam and plastic bags will go land fill in the end of their life cycle and less using.

2. Helix Wind Turbine

Alternative energy is a major issue now in America. I think this Helix Wind Turbine is an excellent solution. It works with low wind speed because of its organic shape and it can be install on the roof of any building.

3. From CO2 to Cement

I don’t know about CO2 problem from cement until I saw this project in the Academy of sciences. Cement is the 4^th largest source of carbon dioxide emission in US. The cement company creates one ton of cement and also creates one ton of CO2. Now several companies came up different solutions for this big problem but this project in the academy science might be the best one. In the traditional way, people use limestone and clay to make cement and “CO2”. The company, California-based Calera, kind of reverses the traditional cement making process. This company makes cement from CO2 without carbon dioxide emission.

Raymond

3 things about CAS

2009-03-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

3.The building:
I have to say the building itself is the thing that I liked the most of California Academy of Sciences. The exhibitions are great, each one occupies a very particular place within the building, and I believe it is how the exhibitions are integrated into the building what makes the tour a unified experience. The entire building was designed to allow as much natural light as possible, I saw the building from the outside one night, and that is way I wanted to go in the first place. When I entered the building it made sense to have such an open structure, in that way the outdoors are part of the experience as well and it makes the experience of exploring nature not as something external to our outside environment.
I particularly liked the Roof, the way sun windows allow visitors to look down into what hides under the dome, although It would’ve been better if it was possible for visitors to walk on it. Some of the eco-friendly functions about the rooftop are very surprising too; like the fact that it absorbs about 98% of the storm water that hits it, and also this helps keeping the building cooler than a standard roof, helping to cut back on cooling costs. Also the selection of plants that were chosen to provide habitat for birds bees and butterflies, that wont need watering because they grow naturally in the northern California climate. In addition to all this the roof is just beautiful to look at. I read that the architectural concept for the museum was to lift up a piece of the park and slide a building underneath.

2.The rain forest
At first it was for me a very weird experience, to be inside the museum where everything seems to be so carefully designed and at the same time be surrounded by birds and butterflies that flit through the trees. But this makes the exhibition more approachable and easier to understand. People can explore the different levels of the rainforest walking up from the ground level. Afterwards you take the elevator down to see the life underneath the Rainforest Rivers.

1.The small Things
All the small details like the sleek recycling bins for “trash” or the recycling bin marked for map re-use and other information on how people can do things differently, explaining the affecting factors and what can be done to alleviate them, including planting trees and how to fight global warming. Global warming is explained in a simple way on walls and panels throughout the exhibit, it highlights the extent of the problem and how much we stand to lose. These things not only give more credibility to the institution, but also they make a very important point that contrasts with the amazing infrastructure of the building. No matter how small the actions within our reach can seem, they are important anyway. The diffusion of all this information connects people with the ecosystems closer to them and their daily life.

Pedro

Reading List

2009-03-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

I found this really great list of books on the Biomimicry Institute's website -

http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/resources/

- breaking the books down into relevant sections of biology, design, chemistry, engineering, etc. Interesting website to checkout also with case studies, etc.

--Sibil

Natural World - A Farm for the Future

2009-03-12T01:19:00.000-07:00

Interesting video exploring ways of farming without using fossil fuel. I think it might be worth a watch for those of you working in the food category.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4152340418943461860

--Sibil

Reading Academy of Science

2009-03-12T00:15:00.000-07:00

I.Building Green
One of the amzing thing about the Academy of Science is the building itself. It's done by including all the sustainable thoughts. It set an example for eco-sensitive building project. From the building construction material to the energy and water saving system impressed me a lot. I feel like the building is a huge educational green book for people to read.

II.Interior
When I went to the rest area, I noticed that their trash bin is a thoughtful design. It has three catogories which is recycle, compost and landfill. The point is that not like other trash bin, it has its own attractive design that invite people to fulfill their action. A good design will encourage or lead people do more than what it trying to ask people to do.

III. Insightful Collage
I was into this I HAD NO IDEA collage a lot. It use artist way telling people that what they do for granted everyday is a big waste. The right coner of the collage showes that 100 pair of disposable chopsticks are used and thrown away every year. It ask people to bring their own chopsticks from now on. This remind me the new promotion of those green coffee cup in Starbucks coffee. They encourage consumer to buy their reusable cup and get 10 cents off for each refill later. That's a good way to advocate sustainable movement.

-Siqi

geeez

2009-03-11T22:55:00.000-07:00

I swear it takes me like 15 minutes to log in because I cannot for the life of me remember the login name or password. I suck. Anyway. Just wanted to let everyone know that the latest issue of I.D. International Magazine is a sustainable issue! It's entitled "inspired by nature design that works with the earth" I bought a copy and I'll bring to share with the class, but I thought I'd post anyway if you guys wanted to pick up a copy.

Sarah

Green Roof on Bus Shelters

2009-03-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

"The Academy has found an inventive way to bring science to life all over the city, and encourage visitors to use public transportation when coming out to experience the museum," said Mayor Newsom. "You’ll see a rainforest in the Marina, deep space in the Mission and a coral reef right here at Civic Center."

http://www.sfgov.org/site/mayor_index.asp?id=87841
http://cleanerairforcities.blogspot.com/2008/09/green-roof-on-bus-shelters.html

-Paul

San Francisco’s Eco-Evolution

2009-03-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

A good article to share form sfgov...
http://www.sfgov.org/site/mayor_index.asp?id=78092

San Francisco is green, clean, and organic—the architecture is high-tech and eco-friendly, and the food is excruciatingly fresh and local. Is this the world’s first true 21st-century city?

-Paul

3 interesting things of academy of

2009-03-11T00:58:00.000-07:00

1. Optibike.

I'm interested with gas emission of transportation. I found the optibike that hybrid bicycle, between scooter and bicycle in the academy of science museum. If this bike use only battery, it can go 20mph speed. But if we try step up of the pedal, this bike can go 46mph. Also this bike can go over 103miles in 4 hours. But cost was 0.15 dollar. Only the problem is battery exhaust fast. In my opinion, this is real hybrid vehicle.So, I start to think about this bike and SF hills. If when the bicycle go up, we can use electric motor, and we can recharge the battery when the bicycle go down. This kind of hybrid system is brilliant.

2.Map re use

when i get entrance, I saw the box for map re use. It was impressed to me. cause, when I visited other museum, or exhibition, I always take map or paper informations. And it become trash. So, this is good examples of sustainability.

3. Food emission facts

As we know, most of food such as cow or fish are imported from other country or food industrial farm. Any way, usually we eat the food not from this area. Most of food from far and far from here. Food emission facts remind me ancient people. Ancient people only can eat the food from their home land. It was healthier and sustainable.

-Jungho

Interesting Things @ the Academy of Sciences

2009-03-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

So a bunch of ppl have already posted what they found interesting at the Academy of Sciences ...

1. Queena actually mentioned one of the things I was looking at which was the materials used to build the Academy. Most of it was reclaimed materials or materials manufactured within a certain mileage of the building site, reducing long distance transportation. It even uses reclaimed greywater to flush its toilets.

2. The other thing I found interesting was reading some of the information in the Climate Change in California section. Throughout the earth's history there have been 5 mass extinctions and we are now living through the sixth.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081020171454.htm

3. I loved the penguins!

--Sibil

movie anyone?

2009-03-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

Hey!

Manufactured Landscapes is playing this Sunday and Monday at the Red Vic Movie House. I'm planning on going... anyone interested?

Here's the synopsis...

This mesmerizing documentary focuses on the work of renowned artist Edward Burtynsky, internationally acclaimed for his large-scale photographs of nature transformed by industry, or “manufactured landscapes.” Burtynsky creates stunningly beautiful art from civilization’s materials and debris. Director Jennifer Baichwal follows Burtynsky to China, as he captures the effects of the country’s massive industrial revolution. We see a factory that makes 20 million clothes irons a year, a dam which razed 13 cities to the ground and displaced more than a million people, factory floors over a kilometer long, and the breathtaking scale of Shanghai’s urban renewal. With stunningly beautiful sequences, the film raises all kinds of questions about ethics and aesthetics of modern human “progress” without trying to easily answer them, thus leaving us free to meditate on the human endeavor and its impact on the planet.

-susanK

VIDEO: Portable Renewable Energy

2009-03-10T22:08:00.000-07:00

This is a video about the 2008 GREEN GADGETS design. They use wind or solar or other new energy to design creative products.
http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/03/13/video-portable-renewable-energy/

-siqi

3 things?

2009-03-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

Well, there is a discrepancy about whether or not we're suppose to post 3 things we liked about the academy of sciences. But I'm going to try to reduce redundancy, since I pretty much agree with everyone else, the aquarium is awesome and so on. So here's my list of 3 things I DIDN'T like about the Academy of Sciences

1. Size
It has a vast variety of fish, and different animal habitats, but it was a lot smaller than I expected. Which is fine, but why are we going to waste that large class cube on food? I don't know, I felt like space could have been utilized and designed in a better way.

2. Rooftop
It was nice that we got to see the rooftop, but you are restricted to a small square. I'll never know what's going on on the other side! I know that they probably limit it to that square so that it's easier to monitor, but you know there are different ecosystems existing in the different parts.

3. Planetarium
Don't get me wrong, I love love love planetariums, however, I wish the video we were shown was something less . . . general. I feel like there should be 1 or 2 more options of what you can see at the planetarium. What we saw was really general and it didn't present new information really. I can see that being interesting for younger children, but we're a bit past that.

I liked the academy of sciences very much, and I'll probably go back next week. But I'd try listing 3 things I didn't like.

Sarah

sustainable sushi!

2009-03-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

This came out a while ago, but I thought it was useful, and it is local in a way. There are so many sushi restaurants here! This is a guide that was put together to help prevent overfishing. The pocket sushi guide lets you know which fish are local and sutainable.

http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=29774

You can even download it to your phone and be even greener.

Sarah

Metabolic Media

2009-03-10T14:51:00.000-07:00

The Metabolic Media designed by Loop.Ph. Woven and modular architectural structure used as a lightweight solution for growing food plants in small spaces without soil

http://pleasesirblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/green-textiles.html

Pedro

2009-03-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

This is Why You're Fat...
A site devoted to photos of the most deliciously disgusting food...where dreams become heart attacks

http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

Pedro