Welcome!

Welcome to the official blog for RISD's advanced studio, Design for Social Entrepreneurship, Fall 2008. This course aims to cultivate social entrepreneurial designers by investigating the power of products, systems and services to create positive social and environmental change both internationally and domestically.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

9/25/08 Homework A: Systems Mapping


Due Thursday October 2.

The UN Millennium Goals all pertain to a different area of focus, yet, they are indubitably interconnected. To address one problem, one must consider all. Because of this, it is important that we understand the system in which these are in and how they all affect each other. 

The difference between a designer and a design entrepreneur is having the ability to look between the cracks and uncover overlooked problems. It is the aim of this brainstorm to dig into these cracks and discover your design opportunity. 

As a group, and based off of our brainstorm in class, diagram how the different systems of the UN MDGs relate to one another and different scales of issues, from political structure to baby bottles, in one large visually represented poster that will be used as a centerfold for the book.

9/25/08 Homework B: Story Boards- A day in the Life

Due Tuesday Sept 30

Depict a day in the life of an individual living in a particular region.

Type of people: rural poor farmer, a little girl, a little boy, a town's political figure, a pregnant mother, an HIV+ market vendor, a rural doctor, a rural teacher. (You will choose one of these in class.)

Location: Your story board will be using the same region you did your research on for the UN MDGs.

Do your best to convey what this person's day looks like from the time they wake up to the time they go to sleep in 1 spread of legal size paper (i.e. two facing pages totalling 17" x 14"). . Post your spread to your blog.

Your story board can be drawn or collaged- then scanned in, photoshopped, done in illustrator, or a combination there of. Have fun! 

Claudia Ford on the History of Development

Claudia Ford, Director of RISD's International Affairs, speaks to RISD's Design for Social Entrepreneurship class to share her knowledge on the history of development and some of the criticisms of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Below is her slideshow and stay tuned for the live video series!

Claudia Ford Presentation
View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: ford claudia)

Thank you Claudia for sharing your wealth of knowledge, experience, and grace with our class! 


Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Homework A: International Precedents

Due Thursday: September 25.

There are numerous organizations, products and services that are currently attempting to address the MDGs either directly or indirectly. It is important to be aware of existing precedents to build upon other’s experiences as to improve and not duplicate  what has already been done. We will look at several of these precedents as they  relate to the MDGs and consider what works and what doesn’t work with their  project or particular approach. 

Thanks to our friend Emily Pilloton at Project H, as well as Design for the Other 90%, we have an easy way of searching through the various products for Humanitarian Design. Below are just some examples of products out there, but be sure to check out all the products as listed on Project H and Cooper Hewitt's Design for the Other 90% exhibits. Stay tuned as the class will get to hear from Emily herself, along with Timothy Prestero of Design that Matters on October 9th, with a chance for students to discuss their own project ideas. 

Deliverable: Choose one of the products from the list below or another product you would like to investigate and create an 8.5" x 14" page layout depicting the product while considering the following questions: 

What problem statement does the product address?
Is the product affordable?
Is it culturally appropriate?
Does it use locally available materials and resources? 
Is it donated or bought?
If it is currently in the field, what type of impact is it having?
What are some of the criticisms of the product? (if none are published, think of some on your own)
Is this product subsidized by selling to a developed market at higher cost?
How does the product address the UN Millennium Development Goal(s)?
How does the product empower its user(s)?
Does the product fit into a larger systemized implementation strategy?

Come into class on Thursday prepared to present your research. 

KickStart
Hippo Water Roller
PlayPumps
DtM Infant Incubator
Kinkajou Microfilm Projector
OLPC
Life Straw
Freeplay Energy- wind up energy for access (choose one of the products listed)
Project-Impact-Hearing Aids
VisionSpring- eyewear business in a bag

Homework B: Brainstorm Sketches

Inspired from your research of an existing precedent, quickly sketch out about 10 product or service ideas that come to mind. These can be ways to improve the product, a variation, or a new product all together. 

Scan them in and post your sketches to your blog and come into class prepared to share your ideas. 

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Day 2: Pyramids and Countries

Today in class we discussed the concept, "Bottom of the Pyramid," which refers to the 4 billion people in the world living off of $2/day or less, typically in developing countries. However, the pyramid concepts actually implies a hierarchy, which is a mentality we want to avoid. Another pyramid is Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. In this class we will be looking at products and or services that address the bottom of this pyramid, to move people up the latter to self-actualization. This is not to imply however, that this should lead to how people in the US and "developed" countries lead their lives with their rate of consumption, as I discuss here


Least Developed Countries (LDCs) were chosen from around the globe for students to research. Stay tuned to read their findings on their blogs. 



Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Homework Assignment A: Inspiration and Information

This week's homework assignment is meant to give us a greater understanding of what some people and organizations are currently doing today to address global concerns throughout the globe, and to give us greater understanding of the context of these situations. As well as inspire us to see some of the progressive thinkers of our day. 

The speakers we will watch vary from native peoples, social entrepreneurs, politicians, comedians, and beyond, all finding a way to use their skills for the greater good. Additionally, the approaches to development vary from speaker to speaker from government aid, to investing in education, to products to increase income and etc. Let us think about different forms of partnership, empowerment, and mutually beneficial investments. 

As you watch consider these questions: 
What global concern does the person discuss?
What is the main thesis and other important points and facts of their talk?
What country or region are they talking about?
What is the context?
Are there any specific numbers or statistics they discuss to convey their argument?
How does this person's talk or work relate to a UN MDG?
What type of emotion does the talk convey?

Develop one page 8 1/2" x 14" visually representing the talk and information discussed-as well as the emotional landscape. And be prepared to present your page and your thoughts on Tuesday. 

If there is a different speaker not listed here that you would like to research and present on, please contact me. Feel free to browse other TED talk and PopTech! speakers and explore as there are so many amazing ones to watch!

The suggested speakers below are more or less related to the following themes:  

Poverty:
Andrew Mwenda- Rethinking African Aid
Iqbal Quadir- How Cell-Phones are going to End Poverty. 

Education: 
Sugata MitraCan kids teach themselves?

Gender Equality: 
Eve Ensler- Finding happiness in body and soul

Child Mortality: 
Amy Smith- The Number one Cause of Infant Death

Maternal Health: 
UNICEF- Child and Maternal Mortality

HIV/AIDS + Diseases: 
Emily Oster-  The Economics of AIDS in Africa
Zinny- Fighting HIV/AIDS in South Africa 
Bill Clinton- Clinton Global Initiative- Building Healthcare

Environmental Sustainability: 
The Story of Stuff- Annie Leonard
Al Gore- Averting Climate Crisis

Global Partnership: 
Patrick Awuah- training new leaders
Ray Avery- a social entrepreneur

Homework Assignment B: Compare and Contrast



Find two other astounding TED or PopTech! videos to watch that address an international concern. Compare the two, and how they relate and how the approaches to addressing the concern differ. Write about two paragraphs. To make the blog look more interesting, find an image or take a screenshot of the talk to add to your blog.

Come into class prepared to discuss your findings. 

Assignment C: Brainstorming and Blue Sky Ideation

Right after or while you watch your Talks, sketch out some blue sky ideas for products/services that relate to what the talk is about. This is your opportunity to be as out there as you want to be. Do about 10, or however many you want, scan them, and post them on your blog. (try to photoshop them a little bit first to adjust the levels so the drawing can be more clear and well presented.)

Bring in your sketches to share with the class and discuss. 

Have fun!

Assignment D: DeSE logo

In Illustrator, develop two new logo ideas to bring in next week and discuss. You can work individually or as a team. Consider some of the themes we discussed in class.

Below are some sketches from our first logo brainstorm we did in class.


Some things we liked and disliked: 
Like: simplicity, a unique form with the letter DeSE on the side, something that captures the emotion but doesn't have to be too literal. 

Dislike: Although we like the pyramid (and upside-down one too) idea it's hard to make a triangle look good. 

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Day 2: Layout Parameter

Choosing a page layout for format consistency so we can put our research together for a collective book!

And the winner is: 
Page Size: 8.5" x 14"
Font: Arial
Margin: .5"

Day 2: DeSE Logo Brainstorm




Monday, September 15, 2008

UNMDG Research Questions

To view this week's research questions for homework, please click here.

All research from each goal must be visually represented using the format discussed in class, in a visually enticing way. Each student is responsible for researching the current situations in their chosen country in the context of each UN Millennium Development Goal. You will come into class on Thursday, Sept 18, with 9 printed pages, the first one being an overview of your chosen country including a map.

For links to factual information, please take a look at: WHO, World Bank, sourceOECD, CIA world Factbook, the Brown Library. You may use these as well as other sights on the internet. Please sight all your sources on a separate page for reference.

The material from this assignment will contribute to our class book, so please ensure there is visual clarity, as well as an enticing graphic style throughout your 9 pages of research. Please look below for information design inspiration.

Please post all pages of your research on your blog including an additional page siting your sources.

For information design inspiration please check out:

Edward Tufte books, Hans Rosling's TED talk, ManyEyes- IBM project, the Understanding book
and Read Write Web

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Day 1: Things we Love and Hate about the Creative Process





Click to enlarge images.

Day 1- Conceptualizing Sustainability





Day 1: Homework

This weekend's homework is as follows:

1. Create your first blog entry describing why you signed up for the DeSE Studio, or if you did not originally sign up for it, but are deciding to stay, discuss why you have chosen to stay. In both cases, also discuss what you hope to get out of the class.

2. Take a look at some of the blogs and organizations on the DeSE sight, as well as the del.icio.us articles on the bottom. When you come across something of particular interest, create a blog article about it discussing what the subject matter is and what you find interesting about it.

3. As the first step to our final projects, each student is to become involved in a local organization here in Providence, and either observe what the organization does, or find a way to be helpful to the people in the group. This is an opportunity to put yourself in a new situation, and it will not always be completely comfortable. Consider these organizations as potential clients.

This assignment is meant as an opportunity to get outside of the RISD bubble and engaged in the community around us. Step outside of our comfort zones- this is what it means to be a designer. In the words of Peter Hawking, "Be present, be useful, spend time."

For a list of organizations looking for RISD partnerships, please click here.

For a list of all Rhode Island non-profits, please click here.

Please contact 3-5 organizations and be persistent. A lot of nonprofits are understaffed and may not have the resources to respond quickly. So try to make things easier on them by reaching out. Each student is expected to partner with an organization for a few hours each week. If the opportunity conflicts with studio time, we can work around the schedule, but please contact the professor directly.

Peter Hawking, from the Office of Public Engagement, has also offered to take students with him on his project to work with HIV+ individuals, to use the arts as a form of healing. They will meet 12-3 every Thursday starting at the end of September to end of October. If you are interested in this opportunity, please let me know.


For further questions, or to discuss what type of opportunity is right for you, please contact me at: sami.nerenberg (at) gmail.com

Day 1: In Class Assignments

The afternoon assignments consisted of several tech savvy maneuvers to get ready for the rest of the semester. They included:

Sign up for a gmail account if you do not already have one.

Create a blog using your gmail account information as your login. -each students' blog is going to be used as the central hub of their documentation of their research and design projects, as well as a marketing exercise to get people interested in their thoughts and ideas.

Access google analytics. Find the tracking code, and add a gadget on your blog to add the encoded html. -google analytics is a tracking tool to see how many people visit one's sight, what do they look at, and for how long. It's a great way to experiment and see what works and what doesn't to grab people's attention in the world wide web.

Download del.icio.us bookmarking tools. -del.icio.us is a great online tool to track and organize one's research. With all the research students will be doing this semester, it is important to not only be able to sort through the information quickly, but also be able to share our research with others.

And all students are to take the survey!

Day 1: DeSE Group


Introducing... the participants of RISD's Design for Social Entrepreneurship Studio! Each student pictured above is representing their initials with their hands, and with the help of a few other hands, so we can start learning names and avoid using paper to write on. Too bad we didn't know sign language, but this certainly got the job done too. We're off to a great start with the studio! Stay tuned for updates on our activities, and all assignments will be posted here as well so every one can follow along.

Survey Monkey

Linked here is a brief survey to gauge participants interests and understanding of studio topic. There are no right or wrong answers. Click Here to take survey.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Syllabus Now Available!

The semester is approaching soon! Next Tuesday, RISD ID Juniors and Seniors are encouraged to stop by the ID building to meet with professors to find out more about all the studios. For those of you who are not able to make it, click HERE to view the Design for Social Entrepreneurship course syllabus. And please feel free to contact me for further questions: sami.nerenberg (at) gmail.com