Design Thinking

Tim Brown is a British-born designer who is now CEO of the design group called Ideo, based in Silicon Valley California. He has a fascinating article, in the June Harvard Business Review, urging organisations to embrace what he calls Design Thinking.

Useful links:
www.ideo.com
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/357
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_thinking

Skoll World Forum

(via BBC) Every year the Said Business School at Oxford University hosts the Skoll Forum for Social Entrepreneurs, a wonderful meeting place of famous and not so famous practitioners and beneficiaries. It happens in Oxford, England, because this ancient university is where the Foundation’s founder Jeff Skoll established a department that actually teaches social entrepreneurship to business school students. He made a fortune out of in at the founding of the Internet Auction site eBay. Now he is trying to encourage more social entrepreneurship, and to get more innovation out of it. The Skoll Forum is an exhilarating place, noisy with ideas.

Useful links:
www.skollworldforum.com
www.skollfoundation.org
www.sbs.ox.ac.uk
www.ashoka.org
www.camfed.org
www.mobileactive.org
www.gatesfoundation.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Skoll

Amanda Ripley

Amanda Ripley's book, The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes — and Why explains how the brain works in disasters — and how we can learn to do better.

Useful link:
www.amandaripley.com

A must-read.

Spencer Tunick

Spencer Tunick is an American photographer. He is best known for his installations that feature large numbers of nude people posed in artistic formations. His installations are often situated in urban locations throughout the world.

Recently more than 1,000 people took part in a Spencer Tunick installation, which took place at Blarney Castle in Cork in southern Ireland. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7460005.stm

Useful link:
www.spencertunick.com

It must be an extraordinary experience.

New Graphic Designs From China

3030: New Graphic Design in China, edited by Hong Kong designer Javin Mo, is an interesting work (theoretical + experimental) that brings together the work of 30 designers from mainland China + their viewpoints.

Useful links:
www.3030press.com
www.milkxhake.org

Fancy Colored Diamonds Education

I found the website www.fancydiamonds.net on fancy colored diamonds educational and informative. A must-visit.

Bottlemania

Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It by Elizabeth Royte is an informative book on an entire industry. A must-read.

I think the answer lies in marketing. Though environmentally destructive, old habits die hard.

The House of Viktor & Rolf

A new exhibition showcasing the work of Dutch fashion designers Viktor & Rolf opens on 18 June till 21 September 2008 @ the Barbican Art Gallery. A must-visit.

Useful links:
www.viktor-rolf.com
www.barbican.org.uk

New Yorker Interview

Ken Auletta's interview with Eric Schmidt, the chairman and C.E.O. of Google, in San Francisco on June 11, 2008 @ http://www.newyorker.com/online/video/2008/06/16/080616_auletta/ was educational and insightful.

Green Market Geography

I found the paper written by Matthew Kahn + Ryan Vaughn on Green Market Geography (pdf) very interesting. What's amazing to me is that most people I know who are aware of green economics do not make sound changes at home. Why? I still don't know.

Useful link:
www.zimancenter.com

A Roman Glass

A glass d20 from Roman times was sold by Christies in 2003. What's intriguing is the unique markings on it, and the experts haven't established the game for which these dice were used.

Useful link:
www.christies.com

Green Beads As Amulets.....For Luck

I found the study by researchers at the National Academy of Sciences on lucky beads worn by early agriculturalists @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7457755.stm intriguing.

Useful link:
www.pnas.org

We propose that the green colour mimics the green of young leaf blades, which signify germination and embody the wish for successful crops and for success in fertility.
- PNAS

How true!

The Chinese Affluent + Brand Preference

According to surveys conducted by MasterCard Worldwide, the affluent mainland Chinese consumers preferred jewelry brands were (1) Chow Tai Fook (2) Cartier (3) Chow Sang Sang + Hong Kong remained the most preferred shopping location.

Useful links:
www.chowtaifook.com
www.cartier.com
www.chowsangsang.com
www.mastercard.com

I think disposable income, product knowledge, education, and travel may have helped the affluent mainland Chinese to understand the difference between quality and brand.

India's Next Wave

William Nobrega has an interesting overview on India's media and entertainment, private education, infrastructure, renewable energy companies and the rapidly growing middle class @ http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jun2008/gb20080612_463518.htm?chan=search

Useful link:
www.conradgroupinc.com

Innovative solutions = Increased demand = Growth

Art + Design Scenes

The definitive, easy-to-use guide to the art and design scenes in Tokyo (Tokyo Art Beat) + New York (NY Art Beat). A must-visit.

Useful links:
www.tokyoartbeat.com
www.nyartbeat.com

Random Thoughts

Real leaders touch people. They get in their skin, filling their hearts with inspiration, courage, and hope. In the future, the best leaders will combine touch with the ability to quickly sort, assess, and seize the power of all the ideas the Internet brings and the voices it unleashes. And that will change business for everyone.

- Jack + Suzy Welch
www.welchway.com

Pocket Movies

Pocket movies are interesting (intimate/engaging) because mobile phones can go anywhere, the images snatched from real life are rough and ready. They tell a unique story. The results are startling. So what revolution is the mobile phone going to bring? Stylistic innovation! I think it's an interesting tool that allows you to show people what you've got. I believe Paris has played it's role in this new revolutionary style. Other cities are catching up.

Useful links:
www.festivalpocketfilms.fr
www.pocketfilms.jp
www.pocketpicks.co.uk
www.sundance.org

Ballet Précieux

Van Cleef & Arpels's 'Ballet Précieux', a line based on the George Balanchine-choreographed ballet Jewels, a unique collection centered on four central themes: the ballet, emerald, ruby and diamond are so beautiful, they literally capture the dancers' soul. The idea of movement being translated into piece of jewelry appeals to everyone. I think it's fascinating.

Useful links:
www.vancleef-arpels.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8yH4xgWJ8k

Who Owns Antiquity?

Who Owns Antiquity?: Museums and the Battle over Our Ancient Heritage by James Cuno is an interesting book on cultural property matters, a topic of great importance to archaeologists, collectors, dealers, and museum curators. A must-read.

Heard On The Street

If I only knew the winning probabilities of the horses, I wouldn't need to know winners; I'd be making a fortune anyway.