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UPDATE, AUGUST 2006
This year, the Aspen Design Summit launched a new concept within the
vaunted history of the Aspen Design Conference and among design conferences.
It has been transformed into a workshop setting in which designers work
with NGOs, political figures and social entrepreneurs to address global
problems with achievable solutions.
In the weeks since the Aspen Design Summit 2006 concluded, the Summit
has begun to prove itself as an incubator and a catalyst for understanding
and using design as a tool for innovative leadership, fostering new strategic
partnerships and initiating direct action and positive change across society.
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ASPEN ACTION
As planned, the workshops in Aspen have resulted in a
number of specific actionable initiatives that have been defined as Aspen
Actions. These actions may have found their own action teams from among
Summit attendees or subsequently; some will require AIGA to play a role
in facilitating follow-up.
YouOrleans
YouOrleans is an initiative of DesignMatters at Art Center College of
Design. It involves an effort to personalize the Katrina experience so
that there can be stronger empathy with the human consequences of the
disaster.
Nik Hafermaas, department chair of the graphic
design department at Art Center, has launched a studio class dealing with
the look and feel of the YouOrleans identity, as well as with ideas and
strategies for its implementation and communication.
Paul Hauge, graphics instructor at Art Center,
will mentor a group of five senior graphic design students selected for
the YouOrleans branding project.
A trip has been planned to New Orleans in late August when the Art Center
YouOrleans team will unite and join forces with the Katrina Furniture
Project, an initiative being developed by Sergio Palleroni to outfit new
small businesses with furniture and cabinetry designed from the usable
wood and remaining debris from Hurricane Katrina. This furniture will
preserve a piece of history and culture and represent New Orleans’
undaunted spirit to rebuild. This furniture construction will be made
possible by the New Orleans residents, who will be taught the proper design
and craftsmanship skills through community workshops. These workshops
will create new, and much needed, opportunities for New Orleans residents.
Once the new businesses have been furnished and opened, Katrina Furniture
Project products will then be sold to the public.
New Orleans installation for the Venice
Biennale
David Gibson and members of his firm, Two
Twelve Associates, led by Brian Sisco, are
working with Sergio Palleroni on a multi-page
storybook presentation of the New Orleans disaster relief exhibition for
the Venice Biennale when it opens in September 2006.
The story will include the historically-significant residential architectural
styles in New Orleans; the devastating effect of Hurricane Katrina; the
waste stream that was created; facts about the waste created from construction,
renovation and demolition; and the idea behind the Katrina Furniture Project.
The book will also document the design process by featuring three designs
by New Orleans residents from their original sketch through final product
photography.
A short-run printing of the book is being contributed by ColbyCo Printing.
Mohawk Paper Mill has provided recycled paper produced with wind power
for this edition.
Photo Lady Project
The social entrepreneurship studio’s Photo Lady project is beginning
field tests with Debbie Taylor, co-country
director for International Development Enterprises (IDE) in Myanmar. The
goal is to empower 1,000 impoverished women as “photo ladies,”
by developing a role for them in documenting the cultural experience of
villages, selling their photographs, and, in the process, increasing the
number of women and families with access to technology and education.
Debbie arrived in Myanmar in late July with cameras, film, cash and photo
album samples. She will conduct three types of tests:
- One-on-one home visits where she will demonstrate the function, value and excitement of photography
- The Avon party concept: a home party for 10-15 women and families where she will take pictures and demonstrate how to collect and preserve memories
- IDE product demonstrations
Debbie will conduct tests—both with and without IDE product demonstrations—to
see if the picture concept can stand alone as an economic model supported
through micro credit.
With positive feedback the team, Willoughby Design Group, should be ready
for phase two this fall. Meanwhile, Ann Willoughby
is developing a proposal to present to companies for funding to launch
the concept and will visit Myanmar this fall.
DesignLunchbox
This initiative to connect teachers with design thinking and design activities
has been embraced by the AIGA K-12 design education task force of designers
around the country. Aspen Action Studio leaders Mark
Randall and Emma Presler will work
with education partners to lead this initiative to add design to the current
pedagogical toolkit. While activities and resources developed through
DesignLunchbox will be shared through the AIGA website, partners are also
excited to explore the possibilities to develop youth design studio experiences
that can be offered to educators and youth on a community level.
Next steps include working with Elliot Washor,
cofounder and codirector, Big Picture Company, and featured presenter
for Education Innovation at the Aspen Design Summit, to connect AIGA chapters
with Big Picture Company schools. In addition, design educators and advisors
who are currently working with AIGA through a partnership with Target
are interested in becoming involved with this initiative.
Aspen Action website
AIGA is currently in the process of building an Aspen Action website,
scheduled to launch later this fall. This will house resources and updates
for each of the "Big Ideas," as well as enable and inform Aspen
Design Summit participants and others who are interested in becoming more
involved with a particular Summit project. The site will also act as the
hub for colleges and universities participating in the Aspen Challenge.
Other initiatives
We will be reporting on other action initiatives that emerged from the
Summit as we hear about progress. These include the Big Fat F, IDEator/Instigator,
the treadle electric pump and Hunt’s Point, South Bronx. We know
there is action on a number of them and will keep you up to date as progress
is reported to us or as we need your help in moving them along.
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ASPEN CHALLENGE
The Aspen Challenge is the Summit's initiative to challenge post-secondary
design programs to take on a single issue of social consequence in their
coursework, collaborating with those participating in the Aspen Design
Summit. This year’s Aspen Challenge is an invitation to colleges
and universities to address an issue-oriented challenge during the academic
year and then to share this work through installations and demonstrations
at the Aspen Design Summit 2007. This year’s inaugural Aspen Challenge
reflects a synthesis of several of the “big idea” presentations
as well as the interest expressed by many Summit participants to serve
as ambassadors between the Aspen Design Summit experience and colleges
and universities in their communities.
2007 Aspen Challenge: Creating Leaders/Creative
Leaders
AIGA challenges colleges and universities to foster a new era of creative
community leaders and educators through partnerships with grassroots organizations.
Successful projects will demonstrate the effective use of design tools
and resources to develop mutually beneficial partnerships and shared learning
experiences that result in direct action and positive change. Projects
that document strategies through which community-based partners have been
engaged in the design process, resulting in a democratic use of design
as a tool and force for good, will be given special consideration. Aspen
Challenge projects must be initiated during the 2006–2007 academic
year. All project submissions will be reviewed for possible installation
and presentation at the Aspen Design Summit 2007, June 3–6.
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NEXT STEPS
The 2006 Aspen Design Summit website is currently being updated in August
to include:
- Descriptions and presentations from each of the Summit studio teams
- Aspen Action Studio “Big Idea” presentations
- Podcasts
- Aspen Action updates
http://www.aspendesignsummit.org
Over the course of the year, we’ll send you regular updates about
Aspen Action initiatives, including regional workshops and presentations
and other projects that are currently in early stages of development.
Please keep forwarding your questions, comments and suggestions to us
as Aspen Action initiatives progress and as we plan the Aspen Design Summit,
June 3–6, 2007.
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Aspen Design Summit
June 3–6,
2007
aspendesignsummit.aiga.org
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