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Design Futurist recently launched a new website. This blog is now hosted at www.designfuturist.com/news. We hope you’ll find the new layout more comprehensive, up-to-date, and easy to navigate. We welcome your feedback and look forward making a difference with you!

NATALIA

American Leadership and the Need for Conservation

It is evident that the Obama administration has taken comprehensive measures to mitigate the damage of the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. On May 12th it released this statement: “The President has been clear from the beginning: his Administration will not rest until the leak is contained and cleaned up and we will aggressively pursue full compensation for damages from BP and other responsible parties.” It is also worth noting that President Obama and several members of Congress withdrew their support for increased offshore drilling in the United States after the oil spill. Their actions were prudent, responsible and commendable.

That said, I believe we are experiencing a crisis of leadership. The United States influences how the rest of the world lives. The nation has a responsibility that comes with its privilege. Unfortunately, national leaders have failed to push for the dramatic change required to protect people, our economy and environment. We need to address the over-consumption of oil and oil byproducts (e.g. plastics) in America.

Whether we shift to a domestic supply of oil or continue to drill overseas, Americans have to face the hard reality that most of our lifestyles are unsustainable. We must begin to conserve and treat our resources as the limited and valuable inheritance they are.

Many officials have discussed the need for innovations such as smart grids, nuclear energy and improved photovoltaic panels. However, few have pressed for the clear and urgent need for conservation. Consuming less is not a popular topic among business or government leaders though it is a necessary one.

Innovation is very important but alone will not solve our problems. Creativity and inventiveness will offer us new and improved options for the future but today we must act with resolve and as stewards of a natural wealth by consuming and wasting less.

I hope more of America’s national leaders will take a stance for what is good for the people of the United States and the world by teaching conservation and shifting to a more sustainable lifestyle. We have done it before. In fact, after the oil crisis of the 1970′s, America curbed its use of oil for more than 20 years. Oil prices dropped as demand decreased.

In light of the recent environmental tragedy, it is time to pick a side of the fence and hold ground. Either we begin to conserve and design innovative sustainable practices or we continue with the same and label our destructive habits with green euphemisms. I trust that we Americans and our leaders will choose what is good over what is easy. NATALIA

To read more about current legislation to protect the Gulf visit click here.

Photo credit: www.cbsnews.com

Dangerous Chemicals In Your Clothing

Did you know that the products you wear contain dangerous chemicals that have a proven harmful effect on your health? Not only do we have to give careful consideration to the food we put in our bodies, we must consider the clothing and shoes we wear. Worst of all, children are the most vulnerable to the negative effects of chemicals that are added to otherwise perfectly safe materials. Two-year-old children are being exposed to dangerous levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in domestic products such as rubber clogs and sun creams, according to an EU investigation being studied by the government. So what can you do? Until these chemicals are banned, it is important to choose products certified organic.

Hormone disrupting chemicals used in household products

• Phthalates are used in the manufacture of rubber clogs, rubber boots, soap packaging, products made from PVC, bath mats and soft toys. They are also found in food products as a result of environmental pollution, according to the Danish study.

• Oestrogen-like substances, including chemicals known as parabens, occur in cosmetics, sun creams and moisturising lotions.

• Pesticides, such as DDT, dioxins and PCBs, are also known hormone-disruptors.

If you would like to lean about what the European Union is doing to regulate the this problem, please click here.

The Sustainable Fashion Workshop: NY

Want to learn about sustainable fashion from an expert? Interested in green fashion and textiles?  Want to learn new skills for your career in design? Join the fashion revolution and attend an exclusive workshop on Sustainable Fashion and Textiles in New York City. Award-winning fashion designer and founder of Design Futurist, Natalia Allen will explain the basics of green fashion. She will discuss the important facts about sustainable fashion and textiles to help you make informed decisions as a consumer and discover new insights for your career.

Sustainable fashion is not just a trend it’s a social movement. More and more consumers see the importance of choosing organic and fair trade clothing. But so far there is a lot of confusion around what sustainable fashion really is. So many companies say that their products are green. But how can you tell?

During the workshop, Natalia will bust myths about sustainable fashion and textiles and provide you with resources to learn more.

The Sustainable Fashion Workshop was designed to share valuable information with anyone who loves fashion and wants to become more competitive in their field. Networking is encouraged so don’t forget to bring your business cards. To register, please click here.

Photo featured above:

Harveys creative design weaves recycled seat belts of different shades into a boxy, perfectly sized handbag that’s sure to inspire conversation and perhaps conservation. The inner lining is made of hemp and printed (eco-friendly ink, of course) with  “recycle” symbols incorporating seat belts instead of arrows.

How Can We Do Good

INDEX: is the world’s INDEX: to Design to Improve Life. From Denmark, by the world, for the world.

Kigge Hvid, CEO INDEX: recalls, “The change came about because upon establishing INDEX: we traveled, talked and listened – to designers, media people, CEOs, heads of design and innovation, to academics and to artists – all over the world.”

“During these initial conversations, we strived to understand what a world event for design should focus on and offer if it should be of relevance to our interlocutors.”

During those talks, Kigge says, everyone – no matter where or how distinctive their settings – pointed to the human potential of design and to the value of design perception, not only in traditional products but also in the design of services, process and systems.

Recently, I had a chat with INDEX: about my work, fashion, and the future of sustainability.

For the complete interview visit: http://tiny.cc/5SAC9



Sustainable Innovation and Jobs

Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down to lunch with Reshma Saujani, the Congressional Democratic Candidate for the 14th District in New York City (eg. Murray Hill, East Village, Queens). Reshma is a community activist, a Yale University legal scholar, and an attorney in New York City. She is also the daughter of political refugees whose story embodies the promise of life in America.

Reshma’s top priority in Congress will be to rebalance New York City’s economy as an innovation capital and diversified hub of next generation industries that create thousands of new jobs for its communities, and sets New York on a course of sustainable economic growth.

I am a fan of  Reshma and agree with her goals. I’ve joined her and the public in thinking out new ways to spur innovation and sustainable economic development in New York City.

For one, it is important that we support the creation of companies that use technology to create tangible products, which can be in themselves, solutions to our economic and environmental challenges. For the entire article visit: http://tiny.cc/gb9zC

NATALIA

Revolutionaries are T-shaped and Rare

“Revolutionaries who have driven most recent innovation and who will drive nearly all of it in the future are T-shaped. That is, they have their specialties—areas of deep expertise—but on top of that they boast a solid breadth, an umbrella if you will, of wide-ranging knowledge and interests. It is the ability to work in an interdisciplinary fashion and to see how different ideas, sectors, people, and markets connect,” says Donofrio.

I recently read Innovation that Matters, by Nicholas M. Donofrio. It articulates the characteristics of many innovators and describes them as rare individuals. More interestingly, it argues for a new era of invention, one that thinks not about quantity but about problem solving. Donorfrio, an IBM veteran acknowledges the advancements made in computing but points out the need to examine the world and see what is missing, instead of simply assuming the answer is more of the same.

Today innovation normally centers around more power he says, more storage or more speed, whether it is necessary or not. He argues that better education is the solution to creating more revolutionaries. I agree but do not believe the solution is as simple as good education. Depth and breath can be learned but creativity and good will are not simply products of the mind. NATALIA

For the full article visit: http://tiny.cc/OH8UY

Parsons launches Transdisciplinary Design program

A graduate of Parsons, I was surprised to learn about the latest upgrade. Parsons has launched a trans-disciplinary MFA design program which will focus on Design Thinking as a means to problem solving and redesigning the world. This will be offered as an alternative to a more traditional design curriculum which tends to be organized by industry category (e.g. fashion, graphic or interior design).

I am a fan of silo-busting. In fact, it is what I do best. In addition to honing my craft, I look for the connections between changes in technology and its effect on fashion design. I study cultural shifts in food and imagine how to solve sustainability problems with textiles.

Experts are important, but I believe we are in a world dominated by specialists that often miss the big picture. They diagnose symptoms instead of root causes. Designers that see beyond industry sectors to understand how everything works together are rare and valuable. If we learn nothing else from nature, we should know that all things are connected and learning about our interconnectedness is a wise task. NATALIA

For the full story visit: http://tiny.cc/YrGb8

Van Jones rejoins Center for American Progress to lead Green Opportunity Initiative

I am a fan of the work of Van Jones, and was glad to hear he will continue to help build a more just, prosperous and green economy here in the US. The official Public Announcement below:

Today the Center for American Progress announced that Van Jones is rejoining the center as a Senior Fellow and leader of the Green Opportunity Initiative, a new CAP project.

“We are thrilled that Van Jones is joining us to spearhead a ‘green opportunity’ agenda to develop the policies and strategies that will ensure the clean-energy future brings not just climate stability and energy security, but also broadly shared economic prosperity,” said Kate Gordon, Vice President for Energy Policy at CAP.

In this role, he will work in close coordination with CAP’s existing Energy Opportunity team to develop a clearly articulated agenda for expanding investment, innovation, and opportunity through clean energy and environmental restoration⎯especially for low-income and minority communities. Van will guide CAP in its efforts to advocate for rebuilding the American economy and creating millions of jobs through new investments in clean-energy technologies.

For the full story visit  -  http://ping.fm/3lu1m

Transformative Design

Sustainability is an enabler of innovation and should be at the core of the design of products and services and the development of new business models – World Economic Forum, Sustainable Consumption http://ping.fm/RZlJH

Make it Great

Back in the states from Davos and with this thought: “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You could be that great generation.” Nelson Mandela

Davos 2010: Bill Gates

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos – Today, a Meet the Leader session with Young Global Leaders and Bill Gates. “Young people that are very well educated have the potential to change our world,” Gates shared. The meeting was followed by several design sessions and a South African cultural soiree. NATALIA

Davos 2010: The Sustainability of a Community

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos – Today, morning television interviews at the HUB Pavillion. Then a discussion on leadership with business titans Bill George, Howard Cox, David Rubenstein and Young Global Leaders. The brainstorm was followed by my presentation on Sustainable Design at the Hotel Victoria. NATALIA http://tiny.cc/8GwgU

Davos 2010: Design for Change

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos -  Today, Paola Antonelli, Kigge Mai Hvid, John Maeda, Chris Luebkeman, Alice, Rawthorn, Jens Martin Skibsted, moderator Tim Brown and I, were Discussion leaders at the Design for Change plenary held inside the Congress Center to answer: What can we learn from the design community about the principles of design thinking to help develop solutions to today’s complex problems? http://tiny.cc/qnhH2

Davos 2010: Kick Off

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos - Meet the Leader session with Bill Clinton, Forum founder Professor Schwab and fellow Young Global Leaders; followed by the Opening Address with French President Sarkozy. NATALIA http://ping.fm/LcMYL

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting: Davos

Preparing for my trip to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, tomorrow. A meeting of world leaders and diverse industry leaders, Davos 2010 is a trip to a global power center, charged with improving the state of the world. Participation in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is by invitation only and strictly limited to the criteria and quota of each stakeholder group. http://ping.fm/x5Uty

A special thank you to Protect the Force for choosing to sponsor Design Futurist. Protect The Force is a strategic consulting firm specializing in providing leading manufacturers with relationship management & access, product development, acquisition & contracting expertise, and sales & marketing support geared towards successfully selling to the U.S. Federal Government.

Schmatta: Rags to Riches

In 1985, only 50% of the US apparel market was imported. By 2009, 95% of clothing in America was imported.

The Garment Center is the heart and soul of Midtown Manhattan and the backbone of the fashion industry. It was the gateway for many immigrants to the American Dream. Now, it’s in danger of disappearing. This HBO feature documentary explores the rise and fall of New York’s fabled schmatta (rag) trade as a microcosm for the economic shocks that have changed our lives. http://tiny.cc/MMJVw

State of the World: Transforming Cultures from Consumerism to Sustainability

Today, I will participate in, Transforming Cultures from Consumerism to Sustainability: State of the World 2010 Symposium.

Like a tsunami, consumerism has engulfed human cultures and Earth’s ecosystems. Left unaddressed, we risk global disaster. But if we channel this wave, intentionally transforming our cultures to center on sustainability, we will not only prevent catastrophe, but may usher in an era of sustainability—one that allows all people to thrive while protecting, even restoring, Earth.

In State of the World 2010, sixty renowned researchers and practitioners describe how we can harness the world’s leading institutions—education, the media, business, governments, traditions, and social movements—to reorient cultures toward sustainability.

http://ping.fm/CRkM1

Fashion and Capitol Hill

Heading back to Capitol Hill to discuss the future of the American fashion industry. Organized by Christine Brooks-Cropper, founder of the Fashion Chamber of Commerce, industry leaders will work with Congress to build support for the once robust clothing and textile industry.

The Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce [GWFCC] is a 501(c)(6) trade association that serves the greater Washington metropolitan area. Its purpose is to promote the business interests of those in the Fashion/Style Industry in addition to promoting Washington as a Global Fashion Capital. The GWFCC is the sole voice of fashion business in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. http://tiny.cc/zrRIo

Green Herald: A Meeting of New Champions

Interview with Green Herald magazine during the Annual Meeting of New Champions in Dalian, China.

Green Herald Magazine is based on China Entrepreneur Club. It is a bimonthly business magazine, pursuing, predicting and leading an age of Green innovation. The magazine is involved in a great action – to promote future-oriented new business.

http://ping.fm/H4Xso