The speakers on day two of A Better World by Design did a much better job of galvanizing the audience with ideas and experiences. First up was Panthea Lee of Reboot [Ed. note: Check back this afternoon for an exclusive interview!]. Lee spoke about the need to redefine our understanding of disasters around the world, as well as how we respond to them.
Panthea Lee emphasized four points:
1. We create our own disasters - Countries where systems are already crippled by poor human governance are prone to disasters, with natural phenomena only acting as the tipping point.
2. Disaster response mechanisms don't address the root causes of tragedy - Response to disasters tends to be temporary fixes rather than solutions to system problems.
3. Disasters are lucid moments that lead to opportunity - As terrible as disasters are, they force us to see situations in the world more clearly and to leverage this knowledge for greater change.
4. Design is uniquely suited to addressing structural challenges that underlie disasters - Design should not be limited to building the hundredth disaster shelter, but rather should focus on the bigger picture.
Lee described a project in post-flood Pakistan where Reboot worked to distribute pre-loaded debit cards to displaced families. These Watan Cards not only allow families to access assets for the short-term, but become long-term solutions by giving families access to community banking systems. This is similar to the washing machine innovation in Elizabeth Johansen's presentation yesterday. Lee closed with the idea that "man-made disasters have man-made solutions."
John Bielenberg of Project M and COMMON described his experiences working with students to "think wrong" and to use unexpected innovations to transform communities. For instance, a student with a knack for baking pies started the Pie Lab in impoverished and segregated Alabama, creating a neutral haven for food lovers.
Bielenberg also talked about his work with COMMON, which is a collaborative brandname or a collection of various entrepreneurs under one "branded" roof. Projects included Common Cycles, with a shout-out to our friend Marty Odlin of Alabamboo and the Bamboo Bicycle Project.
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