Sustaina-bling

Here are some better shots of the graduated trash bin, part of a ploy to get consumers to waste less or at least be more conscious of how much goes to waste. It puts your waste on display. POWER=WASTE. This is a luxury item, a big piece of glass. It takes a lot of money to show you care. It's expensive. It's bling. But it promotes sustainability. It's sustaina-bling.

Conspicuous Conservation: The Rise of the Sustainable Class

This Friday, December 7, 2007, I am presenting my master's thesis entitled Conspicuous Conservation: The Rise of the Sustainable Class to the industrial design department at Pratt. It's been three long semesters on this puppy. I'll soon have a link to a pdf of the document for any one who wants extra punishment over the holiday break. So keep an eye out for that one. In the meantime, here's the blurb I send out when someone asks what this thing is about:

This thesis explores how product design is used as a currency for demonstrating social power (conspicuous consumption). It looks at ways of reducing the amount of waste created as a consequence of this phenomenon; and it looks at rising environmental consciousness in consumer trends. It proposes "transparency" of the entire production chain as a model for sustainable design and manufacturing. It further proposes that transparent sustainability will become a new form of social ostentation that helps drive the sustainability movement (conspicuous conservation).

So there it is in a nut shell. My products are done. I cannot show the product that deals most directly with the transparency mentioned above yet because it may go into production soon-- very exciting-- and so there's proprietary information and logos and stuff and I could get into trouble.... But the second product is below. The graduated trash bin draws attention to waste, showing off the sustainable awareness of the user. And being glass, it forces more careful behavior regarding what we "throw" away. You don't want to break this thing. It's really expensive. I'll need to reshoot I think; the sandblasted graphics aren't popping yet. It's a prototype....

Another toy recall from China

via Molly M. Thank you Molly for this information. By spreading the word you shield us from cannibalistic pedophiles who pray on our nation's playgrounds.

Is this universal design?

I scratch my head....

And now a word from our sponsor

At Lexington Gardens in Newtown Connecticut, we have the clear decor philosophy you seek for your home improvement purchases. So come on down and...

A very industrious tree

"Pure Essentials" is classic greenwashing

The ingredients and text on the label is identical to original Tide, Downy, etc. products. Shame shame. Go and read it for yourself. Don't let them get away with this!