Reform 08 - Futureproofing Design Practice
November 4th, 2008
The one-day Reform 2008 Conference on November 4th is to be run as part of Design Week Ireland. The conference offers designers and those working in the design realm the opportunity to explore new concepts while learning how to implement sustainability principles into their daily practice.
Topics covered at Reform 08 include Cradle to Cradle thinking for designers and business, Sustainable Product Design Innovation, and Sustainable Development for the Cork Docklands. Lectures are to be delivered by a variety of experts and will be followed by workshops that demonstrate pragmatic tools and skills related to the topics. Reform 08 will feature the following speakers:
PROF. DR. MICHAEL BRAUNGART - author of Cradle-to-Cradle
Professor Braungart has developed tools to design eco-effective products and business systems and has worked with a number of organizations and companies in a range of industries.
Brian O'Brien - Partner in Solearth.
He is a passionate advocate of Ecological Design and intelligent architecture. Brian is originally from Co Cork and studied in DIT Dublin and Berkeley California.
Tim Allan - Life Cycle Research
Tim Allan is head of Locus Research, a company that creates insight through a unique research driven approach to product development. The Locus process is holistic and incorporates technical, consumer, economic and environmental factors to deliver an integrated solution.
Video conferencing will allow parallel sessions to be held in both IT Carlow and at the Cork IT. The Carlow venue will focus on Sustainable Product Design, Innovation and Product Service Systems while the focus will be on Sustainable Architecture/Interior Architecture and the Sustainable Development of the Cork Docklands at the Cork venue.
It is intended that the mix of design disciplines will facilitate cross disciplinary collaboration and give designers and business people the opportunity to look at how sustainability thinking can be a core part of their practice.
For more information on Design Week Ireland and Reform 08 visit: http://designweekcork.com/talks-lectures and http://www.idi-design.ie/calendar/reform08.htm or email reform@designweekcork.com
Cradle to Cradle Workshop - Michael Braungart
September 3rd, 2008
Internationally renowned environmental advocate Michael Braungart was in New Zealand for the Better by Design CEO Summit which was held in Auckland in September. An additional workshop was organised subsequent to this as a follow on to the Life Cycle Thinking series; providing an opportunity to hear Michael's presentation on his Cradle to Cradle concept firsthand and offering another perspective on the design of products in our ever changing consumer society.
Braungart and colleague William McDonough co-wrote the book Cradle to Cradle which discusses the design of products and services from inception right through to the reappropriation of the materials for other use. This recurring sequence of service provision is defined in two ways, as a biological nutrient cycle and a technical nutrient cycle. Components and materials that are designed to break down form part of the bio-nutrient cycle, nourishing and adding to the system as they are disposed of; while technical nutrients are component parts and materials that are remanufactured and incorporated into a different series of products and services to maximise and enhance their existence.
Braungart's focus on the toxic nature of many designs provided food for thought for the design audience, particularly his comment stating that "a design that is less bad is still bad", especially when regarding the interaction of children with the objects we design. His hardline approach to 'yes or no' decisions when choosing which materials and production methods to use challenged the way we think about manufacturing of multiple component parts in New Zealand.
For further information on the Cradle to Cradle approach and Michael's personal site and vision visit: www.braungart.com, or www.nutec.de for information on the fair that he and his team are currently organising.
Life Cycle Thinking Workshop Series
June 3rd, July 12th, August 7th, 2008
The Life Cycle Thinking Workshop Series was successfully concluded in early August. The 3 workshops covered Life Cycle Thinking, Life Cycle Management, and Life Cycle Tools & Approaches.
The format for each day included expert speakers from within the industry and research bodies. The group workshops created a practical environment to put the tools and ideas into practice without the need for software applications.
Life Cycle Thinking - A Design Mindset
This workshop introduced the key principles behind Life Cycle Thinking at a conceptual level. It discussed changing from an objective oriented design model to a system oriented design approach that incorporates the product life cycle.
Life Cycle Management - From Product to Company
Life Cycle Management is defined as the managerial practices and organisational arrangements that apply life cycle thinking. This workshop introduced how to apply life cycle thinking to the development and management of products and services.
Life Cycle Tools & Approaches - Implementing Change
This extended the thinking in the previous sessions with an interactive tools and methods focused workshop. The session reiterated and expanded on the first two workshops, addressing the issues and impediments to implementing change within your business and for your clients.
For those who missed out this time, the programme is being developed forward for a future series in 2009 so stay tuned...