The pavilion at shanghai EXPO 2010 come in all shapes, sizes and materials. Representing the theme "Better city, Better life", each pavilion is an opportunity to showcase cutting-edge design and construction methods that reduce waste, lower carbon footprints, increase sustainability, promote recyling and leverage creativity in using green materials.
As the world becomes more populated, increasingly industries and smaller due to globalization, the exhibition world is making great strides in the development of environmentally-friendly standards. Since even before EXPO 2000 in Hannover, the eyes of the exhibition world have looked to each EXPO to lead the way in the advancement of green exhibition techniques.
In the presentation, Mr, Ben Einer, President of the EWI Worldwide International division, reviewed leading green trends in the worldwide exhibition business, provided a historical perspective of EXPO pavilions and how it has promoted the advancement of green design/build techniques, and tried to forecast how "Better city, Better life" will help drive the design industry in the post EXPO 2010 world.
There's finally a proactive product out there to help someone (like me) who doesn't have a "green thumb." The EasyBloom Plant Sensor uses the technology that recently discovered water on Mars ... but helps your garden via your computer. Sounds cool.
To get diagnostics and recommendations from EasyBloom, simply stick the prongs from the EasyBloom device into the ground or the soil of your plant overnight and then plug in the built-in USB, which will send the data online to EasyBloom. EasyBloom will tell you why your plants are not doing well and help your plants thrive with corrective actions. Sounds too easy. Thanks, TrendHunter- you spotted this one early!
At the 2008 Serious Play conference, designer Tim Brown talks about the powerful relationship between creative thinking and play -- with many examples you can try at home (and one that maybe you shouldn't).
I'm not so sure I'm ready to give up my old mix tapes from Junior High, but
Transparent House has found a classy way to turn 140 of them into a functional piece of art. Each lamp is hand-made and casts interesting, and reportedly "pretty" shadows.
If you're a technolgoy, media or music brand, this could be an eco-friendly, retro-style approach to setting a tone in your exhibit booth or at your event. Or perhaps you're looking for a weekend project and a place to store your old Culture Club and Poison tapes.
The world's first vertical eco farm will be in Las Vegas, a $200 million project expected to open in 2010.
According to TrendHunter, the developers expect it will serve as another tourist destination, and that it will grow enough crops to feed 72,000 people for a year. It will grow around 100 different kinds of crops including fruits and vegetables, with ideal growing conditions created in individual tower sectors.
“The World currently uses about 80% of the available farm land and 60% of the earth’s population lives near or in an urban environment so the logical choice for farming is to go up for land where the environment can be controlled and where distribution is local,” NextEnergy News explained.
“Las Vegas is seen as the perfect location for this project by Nevada State officials who would like to demonstrate their sustainability and environmental awareness instead of projecting an image of waste and excess.”
$200 million may sound like a lot, but the builders anticipate it will bring in just as much cash as a new casino at a projected annual revenue of $40 million and only $6 million in operating expenses.
The only thing better about seeing cool things happening in Detroit, is telling other people about cool things happening in Detroit!
This
innovative urban design article from the Free Press, best describes a new Detroit condo development project that upon city approval, will turn old, discarded shipping containers into homes-- large, loft-like $100,000+ homes with curb appeal. The project, designed by Detroit-based architect, Steven Flum, would stack empty containers four high, cut in windows and doors, install plumbing, stairways and heating, and add amenities such as balconies and landscaped patios.
For those of you who are skeptical or like me, lack the creative vision for such possibilities... below is a 4-story, 4,800 square foot structure completed in 2001 by different designers. Located in the heart of London's Docklands, it's the original "Container City" project. Check out their website for
more project samples.
Edward Gala, Vice President of corporate marketing at xerox, walked us through xerox's journey during the last session at EMS 2008. And how experiential marketing was a brand differentiator for them. On 1/7/08, xerox launched a new logo and a new look and feel - something fairly radical for the first time in 40 years. It was interesting to realize the new brand was helping launch the re-birth of the "new" xerox. And for any of us who have gone through this process, it is a real opportunity to look at all of our communication pieces under one umbrella to get the messaging and execution on target.
The YouTube clip shows Gabby, the daughter of one of Edward's colleagues, talking about the different products and demonstrating the strength of xerox's products vs. the competition. I love it. Gabby has a lot of presence and the videos are fantastic. To me, it shows the boldness xerox is willing to take and the strength of their products. It also shows the importance of social media to xerox (actually, using the right mix and the right messages) AND social responsibility - an integral part of their fabric. Clearly, to develop products like these, it has to be in their DNA - green is not a bandwagon concept for xerox.
An interesting look into the world of xerox...I wish Edward would have shared what didn't work for them. However, the really important part of Ed's message... the one of getting comfortable with risk taking and being strategic (so one can turn the ordinary into extraordinary) was very well received.