I was invited by Liam Young to talk to his students at the Architectural Association, London, for their studio: “End of the World and other Bedtime Stories”.  Here’s a little insight into the studio’s focus for that term:

“Our projects may be militant solutions or last gasp redemptions; a call to arms or a head in the sand; swan songs, manifestos or glorious celebrations in the shadow of an imminent end. We will be both visionaries and reporters, part documentary and part science fiction, we will critically engage with the conditions of today through speculation about the coming of tomorrow. Standing at the brink we will contemplate an end that is laden with fears and inconsistencies yet at the same time proves to be ripe with unknown escapes and wondrous possibilities.”

I presented ideas around critical design and the various methods and positions that the students might adopt, with specific reference to the Ark.Inc work. I also sat through the student presentations, and the discussions continued at the pub. Overall a fun afternoon, thanks Liam, for the invite!

I’ve just return from the Lift 09 conference in Geneva, the tag line for this years conference was “where did the future go”.  There where many great talks, too many to mention but a lot of which you can see here: http://www.nouvo.ch/liftvideo

Lift is know for being generally ‘web centric’ but the one talk that really got me, perhaps because it was kind of off topic or perhaps because it is just an amazing tale beautifully told. Was Sarah Marquis talk, about giving up the comforts of a technologically rich western lifestyle and walking for 18 months through the Australian outback.

I’ve embed the video below, it starts in French but once she speaks it is then translated into English.
I can’t recommend watching it highly enough, enjoy.

I’ve just finished listening to a really interesting C-Realm podcast, in it, the host KMO, talks with Thomas Homer-Dixon, author of The Upside of Down.

Thomas Homer-Dixon discuses the potential, connectedness, and resilience of adaptive systems like ecosystems and economies, and ask the question of whether restoring the growth trajectory of the global economy a viable means of securing long term prosperity? 

What I found of particular interest was use of theory and research in to the cycles of growth and collapse in complex forest ecosystems as a means of  understanding the possable dangers inherent in our current economic module.

If you haven’t heard the C-Realm podcasts before I highly recommend taking a look though the archive of shows. Click here for link to the show where you can also find subscription info.

Or you can listen to the show here on the above player.

Postcards from my pre Christmas travels around Spain and Portugal are on Flickr

My work from Ark.Inc formed part of the Design and Elastic Mind exhibition curated by Paula Antonelli at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Exciting!

Also, here’s a review, and another one.

Welcome to the new web 2.0 style redesign. This is my first post. May there be many more.
p.s. there may still be bugs and broken links here and there.. if you find one please let me know. muchas gracias.