Excerpt from "Design for the Real World."

A tithe was something one paid: the peasant would set aside 10 per cent of his crop for the poor, the rich man would give up 10 per cent of his income at the end of the year to feed those in need. Being designers, we don’t have to pay money in the form of a tithe. Being designers, we can pay by giving 10 percent of our crop of ideas and talents to the 75 percent of mankind in need.

-Papanek, Victor (p.57)

"The Power of Unreasonable People" by John Elkington and Pamela Hartigan

Social and environmental entrepreneurs are often seen to be unreasonable in the world. The focus of conventional business world is all about profits. However, the power of unreasonable people is truly inspiring. The power of these people is illustrated through examples of the three models: Leveraged Nonprofit Venture, Hybrid Nonprofit Ventures, and Social Business Ventures. All of the ventures bring social transformation by focusing on unprivileged groups. In one of the examples, I thought the Christopher Columbus’s La Fageda case was very intriguing. Columbus, who was a psychiatrist, had a desire to work with the mentally ill. He saw a need in caring for the mentally ill patients in a better way- to have them feel a sense of purpose in the world. His immediate solution was to provide the ill people with real jobs in a real company, which led him to establish a successful dairy farm, La Fageda. La Fageda is a thriving business that is fully staffed with mentally ill people. The mentally ill are no longer viewed as “patients,” which is a disempowering term; they earn their living by contributing to one of their country’s leading dairy companies and are proud of the fact. (48) There are myriad of social and environmental needs that leaves are much to be desired. Social models that succeed will certainly have a strong impact on the society. It will increase prosperity, end poverty, improve the quality of life, and promote the healthy and longevity of the world population at an unprecedented rate. (54)

Sketch Models

Brainstorm

Concept Sketches

Team Ergonomics

Areas of Social Need

Three areas of social need that I am interested in...

1. Homeless community.
In urban cities, people are alive there. Some people seem busy going to meetings, people sitting at a coffee shop, leisurely reading books, talking, waiting, shopping, just living their lives. However, I always spot homeless people, or addictives among the crowd. Often I see them reaching their hand out for help, for some money, or some food. In addition to that, I see them neglecting themselves from the crowd and hiding in shadows. In narrow streets, I notice them collecting cans, rummaging through dumpsters, or putting drug into their body. What is it that these people could not be accepted by society? What were their daily lives like? I volunteered serving food at homeless shelter once. I had preconceptions and some fear towards them at first, however as I engaged in conversations with them, it was intriguing to hear their life stories. How they became homeless, stories about their families, their previous jobs, or unfortunate happenings in their lives. I am interested in how I can utilize my skills to help the homeless community not just serving them food or providing place to sleep overnight. Perhaps, providing a service that can allow homeless to engage in activities, education, find their hope and bring happiness in their lives.

http://www.providencerescuemission.org/

2. Refugees.
I once watched documentary on North Koreans, on how escape their country to live better lives. I am not sure what is happening in U.S, but I am interested in finding out and learning more about refugees in U.S. I believe they need social services and care in adjusting to the new environment and culture.

3. Art Education for children or people with disability.
http://www.vsartsri.org/

Design Exercise