Comments on: DESIGN FOR THE OTHER 90% EXHIBITION http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:06:50 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Philiphttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/comment-page-1/#comment-47296 Philip Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:04:45 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/#comment-47296 rek,No, $1,300 isn't necessarily better than $100 for the cost of a personal computer. Your reasoning fails by not accounting for the scalability of budgetary resources between the first and third worlds. For huge numbers of people, $100 is not more attainable than $1,000. Your estimation of these costs is a first world social construction.As far as the ground roller is concerned, I don't think it appeared in any of the Cooper Hewitt's literature as a _new_ design. Nor can I imagine that anyone in attendance at the exhibition was credulous enough to read it that way. Designers often consult _exemplars_ of design solutions that have come before them. This is a part of the critical enterprise of all types of design. Inhabitat is a design community. Not the mall. If what you want is an endless parade of novelty without any critical oversight of it's content, you'll probably be more comfortable at the latter. rek,

No, $1,300 isn’t necessarily better than $100 for the cost of a personal computer. Your reasoning fails by not accounting for the scalability of budgetary resources between the first and third worlds. For huge numbers of people, $100 is not more attainable than $1,000. Your estimation of these costs is a first world social construction.

As far as the ground roller is concerned, I don’t think it appeared in any of the Cooper Hewitt’s literature as a _new_ design. Nor can I imagine that anyone in attendance at the exhibition was credulous enough to read it that way. Designers often consult _exemplars_ of design solutions that have come before them. This is a part of the critical enterprise of all types of design. Inhabitat is a design community. Not the mall. If what you want is an endless parade of novelty without any critical oversight of it’s content, you’ll probably be more comfortable at the latter.

]]> By: rekhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/comment-page-1/#comment-47262 rek Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:53:22 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/#comment-47262 The water-filled ground roller isn't new, my father's had one since the early 80s (if not earlier). It's just a drum on its side with an A-frame handle attached to the 'axle' for pulling behind a lawn tractor.$100 for a laptop may mean they'll have to save up for quite some time, but it's still better than $1300 isn't it? The water-filled ground roller isn’t new, my father’s had one since the early 80s (if not earlier). It’s just a drum on its side with an A-frame handle attached to the ‘axle’ for pulling behind a lawn tractor.

$100 for a laptop may mean they’ll have to save up for quite some time, but it’s still better than $1300 isn’t it?

]]> By: Aryehhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/comment-page-1/#comment-47145 Aryeh Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:18:06 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/#comment-47145 I'm not sure why I see so much negativity in regards to this posting. The democratization of good, environmentally efficient design is perhaps the greatest challenge facing the global community. Personally, I am involved in labor issues and the promotion of a higher wage for workers in developing nations. That said, promoting wages is a distinct and separate issue. Understandably, it is impossible to afford a $100 computer on a $8 a day salary, still that does not make the idea of cheap technology a bad one.The dearth of any type of organized thinking on this issue is such that any move in the right direction should be applauded, not critiqued to such a high degree. We're moving in the right direction -- today's $100 computer may be a $20 computer within the decade. I’m not sure why I see so much negativity in regards to this posting. The democratization of good, environmentally efficient design is perhaps the greatest challenge facing the global community. Personally, I am involved in labor issues and the promotion of a higher wage for workers in developing nations. That said, promoting wages is a distinct and separate issue. Understandably, it is impossible to afford a $100 computer on a $8 a day salary, still that does not make the idea of cheap technology a bad one.

The dearth of any type of organized thinking on this issue is such that any move in the right direction should be applauded, not critiqued to such a high degree. We’re moving in the right direction — today’s $100 computer may be a $20 computer within the decade.

]]> By: RAUL GARZAhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/comment-page-1/#comment-47122 RAUL GARZA Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:10:07 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/#comment-47122 GOOD IDEA, THINK TO HELP THE OTHER 90% OF THIS WORLD WITH DESING AND CHEAP ITEMS IS A GREAT CHALLENGE, BUT IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH, IDEAS + DESING = GOOD PRODUCT, BUT TRERE IS SOMETHING MISING. JOBS AND SALARIES. THAT WILL BE THE TURNING POINT TO CHANGE CHARITY INTO OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO LEARN, BUT CERTENLY YOU ARE IN THE CORRECT TRACK, GOOD JOB AND SUCCESS. GOOD IDEA, THINK TO HELP THE OTHER 90% OF THIS WORLD WITH DESING AND CHEAP ITEMS IS A GREAT CHALLENGE, BUT IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH, IDEAS + DESING = GOOD PRODUCT, BUT TRERE IS SOMETHING MISING. JOBS AND SALARIES. THAT WILL BE THE TURNING POINT TO CHANGE CHARITY INTO OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO LEARN, BUT CERTENLY YOU ARE IN THE CORRECT TRACK, GOOD JOB AND SUCCESS.

]]> By: Cat Lainehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/comment-page-1/#comment-47101 Cat Laine Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:53:45 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/#comment-47101 If you won't be able to make it to NYC to see the exhibit by September, I posted photos I took last week at the Cooper-Hewitt on AIDG's flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidg/sets/72157600320663480/ If you won’t be able to make it to NYC to see the exhibit by September, I posted photos I took last week at the Cooper-Hewitt on AIDG’s flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidg/sets/72157600320663480/

]]> By: Chagri Lamahttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/comment-page-1/#comment-47093 Chagri Lama Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:14:46 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/design-for-the-90-exhibition/#comment-47093 Ok, here we go! Design that is geared to last and last. It is also design that benefits a huge number of people. solutions to what bothers or hurts many people, in the millions. It is also design that mostly costs nearly zilch! That means that people who NEED the solutions, can acquire it.Compare for example the $100 computer per child to the average actual income of the vast majority of the poorer countries, and you find that only a tiny smattering will even earn that in a month! Meaning, that they will HAVE to rely on charity to acquire such a computer! Now put yourself in the same place: You are now dependent on charity and gifts year after year. What does that do to your self-esteem?Anyway, I love this post! Thank you!Chagri Lama (Yes, Social Justice is a big item in my life.) Ok, here we go! Design that is geared to last and last. It is also design that benefits a huge number of people. solutions to what bothers or hurts many people, in the millions. It is also design that mostly costs nearly zilch! That means that people who NEED the solutions, can acquire it.

Compare for example the $100 computer per child to the average actual income of the vast majority of the poorer countries, and you find that only a tiny smattering will even earn that in a month! Meaning, that they will HAVE to rely on charity to acquire such a computer! Now put yourself in the same place: You are now dependent on charity and gifts year after year. What does that do to your self-esteem?

Anyway, I love this post! Thank you!

Chagri Lama
(Yes, Social Justice is a big item in my life.)

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