Our Latest...

February 7th, 2012:
New Life for a 100-Year-Old Flour Mill

The following post is part of the course work for “Live Exchange” the foundational course on communication for The MBA Design Strategy Program at California College of the Arts. The rest of the posts are presented here. By: JM Hutch The Hayden Flour Mill currently stands derelict and deserted like a sentinel at the century-old [...]

Read On »

January 9th, 2012:
Picasso Got It Right: Sustainable Production and Profitable Consumption

Business exposure is a misnomer in art school, and that’s a shame. Without entirely compromising the integrity of the artistic process, I think there are opportunities for visual artists to maximize profits and reach a new audience of collectors. The process of creating editions is one approach towards sustainable production and profitable consumption.

Read On »

January 6th, 2012:
The Crossroads of Sustainability, Business and Design is Change

As “change makers,” we encounter resistance to change on a regular basis, both internally and externally. Change is nothing new, but what is new is a growing understanding around why we resist it and what we can do to begin to soften that resistance.

Read On »

January 5th, 2012:
Climate Change? There’s a Game For That

Do you believe games can help save the world? Use these effective gaming mechanics from Climate Reality Project and PSFK as inspiration to help your product or service – and the environment – win.

Read On »

January 4th, 2012:
Business Predators & Prey 

Design strategy and Innovation are preparing businesses for survival. Many aspects contribute to a business succeeding. I believe these include intuition, speed, and agility.

Read On »

January 3rd, 2012:
Communicating Effectively to Bridge the Great Divide

Throughout history there has been a great philosophical and fundamental divide in humanity. This divide affects our ability to communicate and find common ground with others of the opposite outlook

Read On »

January 2nd, 2012:
The Unsustainability of Neverending Workplace Marathons

Too many hot new companies depend on employees to live for the ever-approaching IPO despite crazy working conditions. How can these companies survive and become sustainable? Core to the answer is the need to carefully craft a company culture.

Read On »

December 30th, 2011:
How Better Design Can Heal the Fishing Industry

Fishing practices that once sought to maximize the size of the catch, as efficiently as possible through the use of GPS and tracking devices, have led to a dire situation: severely depleted fish populations. The focus must now turn from the quantity of the catch to the quality of the catch.

Read On »

December 29th, 2011:
Happiness is Serious Business

In a world where every day conversations revolve around economic crises, political conflicts and natural disasters, it is no wonder that there is a new found interest in the subject of happiness. As all subjects related to sustainability become increasingly popular, I reflect on the sustainability of the human race and the important role that happiness plays in it.

Read On »

December 28th, 2011:
What’s Next After the Electric Car?

Now that we are at the dawn of the electric car era is it too early to wonder what’s next in automobile technology? This article explores what I believe to likely be the next technology to continue the push of zero emissions vehicles.

Read On »

December 27th, 2011:
The Leftovers of Fast Fashion

The following post is part of the course work for “Live Exchange” the foundational course on communication for The MBA Design Strategy Program at California College of the Arts. The rest of the posts are presented here. By Brandy Davis-Balsamo Wandering through a used clothing store, Jane pushes her way into a rack so tight [...]

Read On »

December 26th, 2011:
Building Optimism: American Manufacturing Remerges in a New Form

Can the local manufacturing movement maintain momentum? How is the current economy shaping the next generation of workers and entrepreneurs? The evidence may be more hopeful than you think.

Read On »

December 26th, 2011:
Is Guilt a Sustainable Way to Pry Open Pockets?

The following post is part of the course work for “Live Exchange” the foundational course on communication for The MBA Design Strategy Program at California College of the Arts. The rest of the posts are presented here. By Sarah Anne White Why we should run screaming in the other direction from “Gala” or “Gift” Economics How many [...]

Read On »

December 25th, 2011:
Green Packaging: A Revolutionary Way to Sell, or Just Another Fad?

The following post is part of the course work for “Live Exchange” the foundational course on communication for The MBA Design Strategy Program at California College of the Arts. The rest of the posts are presented here. By Rahim Bhimani We have all become accustomed to the over used word “green”: green products, green cars, [...]

Read On »

December 25th, 2011:
Inbox Overload and Sustainable Collaboration

Examining the changing role of corporate email use and making a case for the Social Enterprise.

Read On »

December 23rd, 2011:
How One Company Makes No-Brand Sexy to Consumers

Innovative companies, such as Apple, make their brand sexy by creating genius products that attract cult-like consumers. If this is the western approach to innovation, how does the Japanese approach it differently? Specifically, how does MUJI (www.muji.us) make No-brand sexy to consumers?

Read On »

December 22nd, 2011:
Look to College Campuses for Schooling on Nationwide Smart Grid

A nationwide smart grid is in the works but starting to stall out, making the goal of improved energy allocation across the U.S. seem unattainable. But with the emergence of “microgrids” on college campuses, what can we learn about building a nationwide system from institutions of higher learning?

Read On »

December 20th, 2011:
Social Ventures Create Utopian Future

Social ventures are constantly discovering ways to solve pressing social issues. The biggest underlying obstacle is capital to increase the reach across the world. By implementing a small twist in the way we approach non-profit business models, we can focus the efforts of social entrepreneurs into a force for solving global problems on a global scale.

Read On »

December 19th, 2011:
Use Paper, Save the Planet

The following post is part of the course work for “Live Exchange” the foundational course on communication for The MBA Design Strategy Program at California College of the Arts. The rest of the posts are presented here. By Ryan Wilday As an industrial designer, and design strategist, I am a prolific user of paper. Whether [...]

Read On »

December 19th, 2011:
Western Lessons from an Indian Lunchbox Company

Over time, business scenarios change due to socio-economic developments, market competitions, modern technological advances, etc. Modern business schools study, debate and establish the rules to adapt to such changes to become successful. This article is about an organization, Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Supplier’s Association, not in contact with any business schools and its studies, yet has excelled in its business and instead has taught some techniques to the business world itself. This article says a brief history , why the requirement of lunch box service and what are the highlights which we can learn from this organization.

Read On »

December 17th, 2011:
Indian Women Find Self-Reliance Through Embroidery Businesses

In a store in my hometown of Ahmedabad, India, I was immediately charmed by the colorful display of intricate handcrafted embroidery on pillow covers, decorative wall-hangings and silk kurtas. The needlework was simple, yet elegant, distinctive – and yes, expensive. At first I hesitated over whether to spend so much on an embroidered piece I really liked. Then I read the price tag a bit more carefully and noticed that 65 percent of the proceeds went directly to the artisans, and the store itself was affiliated with SEWA, the Self-Employed Women’s Association.

Read On »

December 15th, 2011:
In the Bright Green Future, 
I will not forget you.  

The following post is part of the course work for “Live Exchange” the foundational course on communication for The MBA Design Strategy Program at California College of the Arts. The rest of the posts are presented here. By Amanda Fetterly So fragile this petal the earth, as fragile as love.  – Mira The other night [...]

Read On »

December 14th, 2011:
Social Media’s Impact on Brand Value

Traditionally, companies pushed their brand message on the public with little to no feedback loop. Today, the rise of social media has given consumers more of a voice, empowering them to help shape a company’s brand and influence the buying patterns of others.

Read On »

December 14th, 2011:
Making Social Spaces More Social at Public Works

The following post is part of the course work for “Live Exchange” the foundational course on communication for The MBA Design Strategy Program at California College of the Arts. The rest of the posts are presented here. By Bryan Malong Salon (suh-LAHN), noun. According to Wikipedia, the salon is “a gathering of people under the [...]

Read On »

December 13th, 2011:
Nature + Humans = A Tormented Love Affair

The following post is part of the course work for “Live Exchange” the foundational course on communication for The MBA Design Strategy Program at California College of the Arts. The rest of the posts are presented here. By: Sarah Nuernberger “The Cartesian dichotomy or paradigm has reinforced other ancient western cultural expressions of nature domination [...]

Read On »

December 13th, 2011:
Becoming Human Again: Life Without Your Mobile Phone

Is there is any way to prevent our society from becoming so dependent on digital communication that we forget how to connect as human beings?

Read On »

December 13th, 2011:
Making Constraints Accomodate You: A Quilting Lesson

Constraints may appear to hinder growth, but a group of quilters from Gee’s Bend, Alabama prove that they truly are the engine of innovation.

Read On »

December 13th, 2011:
iEmployee: Motivate Employees and Avoid a Robot Uprising

Break traditional concepts of “human capital” and achieve business success via employee motivation. And how not to motivate employees based on surprising psychological findings.

Read On »

December 13th, 2011:
Team Building Lessons from Rock Music

Thinking about the links between music and innovation. Can we use this information to change how business teams work? The power of music in business is an untapped market. Musical training could potentially create more collaborative and creative teams.

Read On »

December 13th, 2011:
The Power of a Population

As we seek to discover new methods of generating and harnessing energy, there is one source that is worth discussing: the human body.

Read On »