Four Design Links: December 24, 2009
Tis the day before Christmas and the weather stinks. Why not stay inside and read Four Design Links?
1. ‘Selfish’ Giving: Does It Count If You Get In Return?
NPR has a thought-provoking piece that asks us to examine the ethics of why we give.
Is charity ever selfless, or do we always expect some kind of reward for our actions? And if we do expect a return on our investment, is it really charity?
2. Wind Turbine + LED’s = Christmas Star
Artist Michael Pendry and Siemens teamed up to create this Christmas installation outside the city of Munich. It contains 9,000 LED lights and, when illuminated, uses only as much energy as a hairdryer.
3. Pepsi to Skip Super Bowl Ads in Favor of $20M Social Media Campaign
For the first time in 23 years, Pepsi will not purchase advertising during the Super Bowl. Instead, it plans to fund $20 million dollars worth of community projects, submitted via social networks.
This is an interesting tactic, particularly in light of the above NPR story. $20 million dollars for community projects is a good thing, but the potential fallout worries me.
If Pepsi succeeds and everyone starts making large-scale compassionate buy-ins as advertising, does that drive everyone towards more “conspicuous compassion” (e.g. Livestrong bracelets, etc.). If Pepsi fails, will companies decide that giving isn’t worth the investment?
4. The Decade in Design
Good takes a look back at the top design stories of the last ten years. It’s worth a moment to reflect on. What has this decade been about? What have we made and what do people value?
| Tagged with: | Art, Charity, Christmas, Design Ethics, Ecology |
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