One of the often overlooked problems with our dwindling oil future is plastic. As we continue to burn oil in our engines we are using a valuable resource that could be used for durable plastic goods. When the oil runs out, or becomes extremely rare and expensive, how will we manufacture plastics? We rely heavily on plastics for all our products; electronics, transportation, medical technologies, construction, and housing. There are few things today that do not rely on plastics and polymers.
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Finally an excuse to rant about an environmental issue. Blog Action Day has asked that bloggers around the world call attention to the global issue that affects everyone, the environment. Here’s the details:

Publish a post on their blog which relates to an issue of their own choice pertaining to the environment.

For example: A blog about money might write about how to save around the home by using environmentally friendly ideas. Similarly a blog about politics might examine what weight environmental policy holds in the political arena.

So here’s my take on what designers everywhere can do to help. Continue Reading »

There’s great design, and there’s good design.

Carver Engineering has developed technology for vehicles that will enable 100mpg with 100+mph, and a +350mile range…Sounds fantastic! Continue Reading »

I first ran across the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project while browsing Gizmodo one day. My first thought was why would children in developing countries that don’t have access to schools, textbooks, or teachers need laptops? Continue Reading »

Guess what folks the future is here and now. Not because someone has created a great new product, but because the future is being forced upon us at an alarming rate. We as designers have a monumental task laid before us. It is up to all of us to set the pace to innovate and radically change the world around us. Continue Reading »

The big push lately has been on reducing your carbon footprint, or being environmentally conscious. Hollywood superstars are zipping around in Toyota Prius, and former Vice Presidents are making movies about how the sky is falling. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for low impact living, heck I’m an Eagle Scout with years of experience backpacking and leaving no trace of my passing through the woods. But here’s where I think the reality deviates from the fantasy of Earth friendly. Consumerism, waste, and excess. Continue Reading »