This article was published 10 yearsThroughout September, London’s Somerset House played host to 37 countries all responding to the theme of Utopia by Design. Contributions varied wildly from the conceptual (Albania’s Bliss – “a concentric arrangement of stainless steel columns and benches designed to encourage self-reflection and solidarity”) to the…
Tag: design for good
Confessions of a Design Geek
Philippe Hohlfeld’s floating farms fill empty shipping containers
This article was published 10 years Due to an imbalance between imports and exports, every year 26.1 million shipping container loads travel from China, but only 12.9m loads travel back to China – meaning that half of the containers going back to Asia are empty, a fact that designer Innovation Design Engineering…
Confessions of a Design Geek
interview :: jollie socks
This article was published 10 years This article was published 10 years
Confessions of a Design Geek
Olivia Hildebrand makes bus travel easier for blind people
This article was published 10 yearsAlmost two million people in the UK, and one in five people over the age of 75, are living with significant sight loss – more have low or partial sight. Often unable to drive, many of these people are utterly reliant on public transport. A…
a day in the life
Maya Alvarado creates a new shelving system for local charity shop
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark’s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado teams up with Benchmark’s cabinetmaker Max to fit the Red Cross fix, they bring pre-fabricated parts on site and prepare the new storage system ready for use… 09:00: It is Saturday morning, having collected the materials and tools…
a day in the life
Maya Alvarado prototypes new paddles
This article was published 10 years 06:00: I wake up in Hungerford, and begin my day by researching existing paddles. Today I will prepare some different versions for Heidi to test out at the next canoe training session. I get ready and leave for work. 07:30: When I arrive at…
a day in the life
Maya Alvarado runs fixing workshop for Two Saints
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark’s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado tests out a new handle for Sean Sutcliffe’s portable samples case, collects scrap material and charity shop finds, and leads the second workshop for local homeless charity Two Saints. 06:00: I wake up in Hungerford and get…
a day in the life
Maya Alvarado prepares for Red Cross charity shop fix
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark’s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado, learns about ordering materials in the workshop, prepares wood in the mill and makes the final Red Cross charity shop fix… 06:00: I wake up in Hungerford and get ready for work. 07:00: I start the day…
a day in the life
Fixperts Resident makes remote fixes through social media
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark’s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado transforms nutcrackers into bleach bottle openers, finalises two pairs of adapted nail clippers for limited hand dexterity, and makes a plastic art tray test for a young woman with autism… 05:55: I wake up and get ready for…
a day in the life
Maya Alvarado learns about the risky, the worthwhile and the possible
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark’s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado visits the Dingley centre to meet an occupational therapist to get feedback on some of her ideas, and makes Heidi a playing cards tray… 07:00: I wake up in Hungerford and gather my camera, measuring equipment and sketchbook. 07:30:…
a day in the life
Maya Alvarado has a day of testing with Fix Partners
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark’s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado builds an art tray prototype for Fix Partner Philly’s wheelchair, visits new week-old twins, and delivers a resonance board to the Dingley Centre… 06:20: I wake up and get ready for work. I have some Swedish ‘quilted…
a day in the life
Fixperts resident helps the homeless make things with Benchmark offcuts
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark’s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado gathers oak offcuts, packs up tools and materials and leads a making workshop for residents at local housing charity Two Saints’ hostel… 06:20: I wake up and ensure that my camera batteries are charged, as today my…
a day in the life
Benchmarks’ resident Fixpert Maya Alvarado designs ‘wearable toothbrushes’
This article was published 10 years This week, British Furniture Manufacturer Benchmark’s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado delivers the second sofa fix to The Dingley Centre, puts up a new coat hook for their staff and designs some alternative toothbrushes… 06:20: I wake up in Hungerford and get my things ready for…
a day in the life
Team Benchmark go on a canoeing day trip with Heidi and her family
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark’s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado heads out with Kevin, Mike, Colin and Danny from the Benchmark team on a canoe day with Heidi and her family… 05:30: It’s Saturday. I wake up very early at my parents’ house in North London to…
a day in the life
Maya Alvarado adapts a sofa to make it safer for children with special needs
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark’s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado visits The Dingley Early Years Centre, finds some seats to fix and starts the refurbishment of a small sofa… 06:20: I wake up and get ready for work. Today I’m looking forward to visiting the Dingley Centre,…
Confessions of a Design Geek
Aalto University wins award for new cotton recycling technique
This article was published 10 years Researchers from the School of Arts, Design and Architecture and the School of Chemical Technology at Helsinki’s Aalto University have won the top H&M Global Change Award for a recycling technique that converts waste-cotton into new textiles. The conversion of the existing ‘Ioncell-F process’…
Confessions of a Design Geek
interview :: simon kinneir
This article was published 10 years This is the latest in a series of interviews with designers identified by the Design Council as Ones to Watch. Simon Kinneir’s Leaven collection of kitchen products has been designed with subtle tweaks from their ordinary counterparts to give extra sensory feedback beyond a reliance on…
a day in the life
Maya Alvarado meets a new Fix Partner and prototypes paddles
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark‘s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado visits Fix Partner Anne at the Red Cross Charity Shop, seeks out potential fixes and makes paddle prototypes for canoe trip with Heidi… 07:30: I wake up and get ready to go and meet my new Fix…
a day in the life
Maya Alvarado visits libraries, garages and carehomes in search of new Fix Partners
This article was published 10 years This week, Benchmark‘s resident Fixpert, Maya Alvarado goes on a search for new Fix Partners. She visits local clubs and businesses in Hungerford, finds out about an excellent use of a Tuk Tuk and considers the best material for a dog friendly boat plank……