A Better World by Design Conference

Core 77: Reflections from A Better World by Design Conference
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The grassroots student effort that founded and continues to run this conference is incredibly inspiring, and everyone was looking forward to attending the Better World by Design Conference again next fall, with the hope of engaging in critical discussions that will challenge and advance the field of design for the greater good.

Providence Journal: Uplifted by A Better World by Design
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They (the organizing students) created an opportunity for 17 designers to showcase their work, and 72 local panelists to share their ideas with an international community of 550 attendees. It would be difficult to overestimate the number of collaborative ventures that will ultimately result from these exchanges.

Dwell: How to Throw a Design Conference (Interview with Willem V.L. & Andrea J.)
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Brown and RISD have lots of things they do separately, but in terms of collaboration, this is probably the biggest event. Ten years ago, there is no way that we would have worked together. A Better World by Design is the start of a new era of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Core 77: Live 1 Hour Design Challenge at 'A Better World by Design'
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We took the Core77 1 Hour Design Challenge on the road to "A Better World by Design," last weekend, a 3 day student-run conference at Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University. Focusing on climate change, slum living, and over-dependence on fossil fuels, the underlying message of the conference was how individuals can (and have) effect change by empowering communities to collaborate and act now.

Providence Business News: Collaborative Design Can Engage, Encourage Change
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To designers today, the concept of becoming an integral partner in the business world is just another problem that the community must face. Sustainability, integrating deeper scientific approaches, gaining respect in the broader community, or integrating business thinking into their process – all of these issues are seen as equal. The design community also needs to understand that in order to move forward in any of these directions they need to be equipped and educated to collaborate beyond interactions between designers. (Such collaboration was a focus of Brown and RISD’s recent student-led A Better World by Design conference.)

@Issue Journal: Do Brown and RISD Reflect the Changing Focus of Design
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RISD/Brown's conference reflect a larger global trend, both on the academic level and in all design professions. Not too long ago the design discussion was all about branding, brand differentiation, using design to elevate a brand above the "noise" in the marketplace... These are still important considerations, but what is entering the dialog now is the role that design can, and must play in solving some of the world's most urgan problems. Design is not exempt from responsibility... It is reassuring that the next generation of designers is looking beyond design as an aesthetic discipline to seeing it as a vehicle for social change.

HOT Studio: If you want to get it done, do it now
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I came away feeling that those students were mentoring me rather than the other way around. I am inspired by their ability to “Be the change.” The bar has been raised; we need to lead by example and find a way to help others in need—one person CAN really make a difference in this world. I highly recommend this conference to anyone who needs a “shot in the arm” to identify their passion, get motivated, and use that passion to contribute in creating positive change in this inter-connected world.

Twitter: Conference tag #bxd09
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