Design 21: Social Design Network

In today's fast paced world of information overload, have we lost the ability to truly devote ourselves to the ultimate mastery of a single art? Read Article »

Photo by: Carlos Bohorquez Nassar

“We envision a select group of 60 designers, change leaders, NGOs, foundations and experts coming together to engage actively in opportunities to demonstrate design thinking in crafting solutions for large social problems, as well as to use existing networks and programs to accelerate change.”

The impressive list of attendees of the Aspen Design Summit next week will be collaborating to come up with design solutions and create concrete two-year implementation plans for 5-6 new projects. The themes include poverty, health care and education and collaborating organizations include UNICEF, the Mayo Clinic, and the Center for Disease Control. The Summit will include considerable dialogue and discussion of role of the design industry in leading social change initiatives.

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Learn about the value of pro-bono design and easy ways to get involved in a project.

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Shades of Unity

I’ve visited 17 countries in my 25 years on earth and every place has given me something unique that I will carry throughout my life. Sometimes its a lesson I’ve learned, sometimes a question I’m determined to answer, sometimes its a connection with someone that leads to a deeper understanding of the human condition, or sometimes its simply an appreciation of beauty. Some places are similar, but every from place emerges something different.

When I envision cultural diversity in the world, I don't think of a perfect spectrum of different entities, but rather a mix and mash of cultural influences blending together in places and starkly contrasting in others. These relationships are not always easily understood up close, but if you step back and see the whole, each element is closely connected and has its place in creating unity.

This symbol represents these sometimes erratic and sometimes similar shades of culture through the variety of changing and blending colors. The circular shape alludes to the world and the unity of humanity.

Used as a logo, this could be incredibly flexible. The logo could be used with or without typography in a variety of ways. The color palette could be shifted for different purposes and could be animated as the colors slowly transform to represent the transitive and fluid nature of culture.