Design for the Disadvantaged Launch Event

D4D Launch Event @ the Factory - August 15, 2009

Location:
D4D Launch Event @ the Factory

Guest:
AutoDesk, Microsoft, frog design, and more...

August 15, 2009 2pm-5pm

Design for the Disadvantaged (D4D) Launch Event

August 15th, 2pm-5pm

frog design is an official sponsor of D4D, and is proud to invite you to a great event that will launch a truly great project to help those most in need by taking the collective knowledge and skills of designers and thought leaders. Even if you have a passing interest in design, D4D is a way for you to engage the community around you and create change immediately. If this sounds like something for you, please read on...

The objective of Design for the Disadvantage (D4D) is to seek out creative and driven designers who want to be part of the change; designers who want to get socially involved and take action. To do this, we will be executing various design projects that will benefit not only the disadvantaged, but also the environment, businesses, manufacturers and society at large.

As our globally connected society becomes increasingly modernized, there remains a wide diversity of social issues that require our attention and action. Designers have always aspired to act as a catalyst for change, inspiring and serving the society they live in. The efforts and passion for transcendence have often enabled designers to be the drivers behind technology advance and influence the way we perceive and inhabit the world that surrounds us. However, the design profession has much more to offer our society than just basic aesthetics, functions and usability. Design can solve problems creatively and effectively, raise social awareness, improve the quality of life, and promote social interaction.

Globally, the design community has largely ignored the disadvantaged population across all industries. This phenomenon is even more pronounced in China. The disadvantaged populations in China have suffered urbanization, gentrification, forced migration, poverty, lack of education, and environmental pollution. Most of the rural populations have never been afforded the opportunity to a basic education that could significantly improve their life. Even in the cities, a vast majority of workers are limited to poorly designed or broken tools and live in temporary spaces that are unsafe and unsanitary.

These societal problems are no longer sustainable and cannot be ignored as these issues have an impact on us all. While we cannot solve all problems through design, we can make a difference by raising awareness and use our resources to make a difference in the lives of the disadvantaged.  Every year, we find great examples of groups solving the aforementioned problems. Change has always been a group effort and we want to be apart of this change.

We cordially invite you to the Design for the Disadvantaged (D4D) launch event on Aug 15, 2009 @ the Factory*. During the event, we will be presenting the D4D organization, founding members and our process for helping disadvantaged groups in China through design. Below please find the event details:

Guest Speakers:

D4D core members: Stephen Protz, Jutta Friedrichs, Richard Choi, Chloe Ng, Brandon Edwards, Richard Brubaker, Jianming Dong, Melora Zaner-Godsey, Marcella Rader, Stephany Xu, Douglas Wang

Agenda:

• Introduction of D4D, Our Mission and Strategy
• Introduction of Upcoming D4D Workshops
• Panel Discussion
• Volunteer Sign Up

Please RSVP to design@d4d-china.org

Contact Person: Tiger Lin @ 13816293908

*The Factory 意工场 (沙泾路29号4号楼, Sha Jing Lu 29#, http://www.factoryshanghai.com)

为弱势群体设计启动仪式

8月15日，下午2：00——5：00

青蛙设计作为为弱势群体设计（D4D）的官方赞助商，诚邀您参加这一用设计师和有想法的领导人的知识和灵感帮助那些真正有需要的人的项目的启动仪式。只要你对设计有兴趣，D4D就是一个让你融入你所在社区并立即创造改变的契机。如果你对此有兴趣，请继续阅读……

D4D的目标在于寻找有创意、受鼓舞、愿意成为改变的一部分的设计师，寻找愿意参与社会并有所行动的设计师。我们会举办不同设计项目，不仅有助于弱势群体，同时也有助于环境、商业、制造业和整个社会。

随着社会的现代化和全球化进程，在不同国家和地区，多种多样的社会问题在不同程度上出现在人类生活中。设计师一直渴望成为寻求改变和灵感的催化剂并服务自己身处的社会。他们追求卓越的努力和激情是他们成为技术和人类生活方式背后的创新者。然而，设计这一专业能给我们的社会提供更多的东西，而不仅局限于美学，功能和可使用性。设计可以有效地并创造性地解决问题，提高社会认知度，改善生活质量并推动社会互动。

从全球范围来看，弱势群体在很大程度上被设计界所处的所有行业所忽略。这一现象在中国尤为严重。中国的弱势群体遭受着城市化、下层住宅高档化、被迫迁徙、贫穷、缺乏教育和各种不同程度的污染所带来问题。即使在城市中，还是有一大批人使用设计不佳甚至是损坏的工具工作，住在不安全也不卫生的临时居所中甚至露宿街头。大部分农村人口从没有接受基础教育以改善生活的机会。

这样的生活方式不再是可持续的。鉴于它对我们所有人都有影响，我们不能继续无视这样的生活方式。尽管我们不能通过纯粹的设计来解决所有的问题，但我们可以通过提高社会认知并尽我们所能使他们的生活有所改变。每一年，我们都能听到、看到解决上述问题的很好的案例。改变，常常是集体的共同努力。

我们诚挚地邀请你参与我们在2009年8月15日于the Factory举行的D4D启动仪式。我们将在那里就我们的整个组织和目的进行正式的宣讲。

演讲嘉宾：
D4D核心成员：Stephen Protz, Jutta Friedrichs, Richard Choi, Chloe Ng, ,Brandon Edwards, Richard Brubaker, Jianming Dong, Melora Zaner-Godsey, Marcella Rader, Stephany Xu, Douglas Wang

议程：

• D4D简介，使命和策略
• 即将进行的D4D工作坊简介
• 小组讨论
• 志愿者报名

敬请回复 design@d4d-china.org
联系人: Tiger Lin @ 13816293908

*The Factory 意工场 (沙泾路29号4号楼, Sha Jing Lu 29#, http://www.factoryshanghai.com)