Final Review

The De-SE final review is being held today in the Gallery of the ID Building from 10-5pm. The students will be presenting their semester long investigations and project proposals for EARTH University.

Happy Earth Day!

In celebration of Earth Day the De-SE students are making making seed bombs to distribute in neglected areas around Providence.

Instructions on how to make a Seed Bombs courtesy of TreeHugger.com
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/04/how-to-make-seed-bombs.php

Mid-Review 4/21

Today is the De-SE studio mid-review. We will meet in room 312/313 at 1pm for a discussion of the work produced this semester. The students will be presenting their material research, material samples and initial concepts for implementing these material processes as development projects for Costa Rica. Join us!

Here to Hear

The De-SE studio trip to Costa Rica exposed us to many different aspects of Costa Rica and the role that EARTH University plays in its development. While at EARTH the studio was able to present our material research and samples to EARTH's Director, Carlos Murillo Martinez, EARTH's Manager Diddier Moreira and to students of EARTH. All of these individuals provided the studio with valuable feedback and perspective into how the research and materials we are creating might be used by them or by the communities they work with.

The most valuable part of the trip however, did not come from our time presenting, but from our time observing and listening. The studio took trips to experience the dry forest, hear from the Park Rangers at Las Baulas National Park, meet with the Head of the La Playa Grande Community group, work along side the EARTH students on Environmental Projects around campus and see the rural poor in the communities outside of EARTH's campus and the issues that plague them.

These experiences are what will shape the trajectory of the students work throughout the semester as we look for opportunities to implement the use of agricultural bi-products as new material and products.

Students work with the Las Baulas National Park Ranger to collect discarded plastic and trash along the La Playa Grande coast.

In the outskirts of Liberia, squatters build homes out of scrap metal and materials. EARTH students work in these communities to create projects that promote social development.

De-SE along side the EARTH University students prepare the soil for planting in the community garden as part of EARTH's ongoing work in the squatter community.

RISD students at EARTH University.

RISD at EARTH

The De-SE students present their material research and processes to Carlos Murillo, Director of EARTH University for his feedback. He explained the goals of EARTH to: 1) Clean Energy
2) Clean Water, 3) Clean Country, 4) Information Technology and 5) Enterprise Innovation and how our work may find appropriate uses at the University and in the local community.

Material Abstraction_Process

The students are quickly developing processes for working with the materials ranging from fiber extraction to composites to using mycelium bind the materials together. All are leading to some interesting results. Next week we will be traveling to Costa Rica to visit EARTH University to learn more about its sustainable agriculture and rural entrepreneurship projects. While we are there we will also present our studio's work - the material processes, samples and concepts - to the students and faulty at EARTH University for feedback. We hope to lead a discussion on the potentials of working with these agricultural bi-products and how these materials could be implemented into projects for EARTH and its local community.

Design, meet Science.

On a visit to the RISD Nature Lab the studio took samples of the agricultural bi-products under the microscope. After a quick refresher on 10th grade biology, the studio examined the inherent structures and characteristics of the plants we are working with on a microscopic level. Though we have been working with the materials for a few weeks, making samples and testing their properties, once we got a closer look there were a few exciting surprises. The rice hull, the hard protecting covering of the grains of rice which look smooth to the naked eye, have a fine cross hatch pattern and texture. It also has a high content of silica that contributes to its shiny appearance. The sugar cane bagasse, a fiberous mulch left over after the sugar cane is crushed to extract the juice, under the microscope revealed that there is still plenty of sugar residue and looks as though it is crystalized. The sugar cane wastes, the tops of the sugar cane which are cut off from the stalk and discarded from production, when cut in section reveal its layered structure of an exterior epidermis, interior layer of fibers and a soft woody center of phellem. These discoveries are leading the studio in questioning how we are working with these materials and how much more there is still to learn.

Sugar Cane Waste_Section

Sugar Cane Bagasse

Rice Straw Hull

Process _ Material Samples

Visit to the Peabody Museum!

The De-SE studio traveled to the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology (PMAE) at Harvard University to understand the traditional uses of agricultural bi-products in the craft culture of Central and Latin America. We studied a collection of baskets, mats and artifacts made from similar natural materials and fibers to those we are working with in the studio such as banana leaves, straw, jute, and bark. The artifacts exhibited construction techniques of weaving, knotting, coiling, and bending which resulted in a high level of craft in these often utilitarian objects.

Material Abstraction

The last of the agricultural bi-products arrived at RISD this week!! Throughout the semester we will be working with sugar cane wastes, bagasse, rice straw and rice hull. The De-SE students are now working to develop panel samples by reconstituting and compositing these materials. Our hope is that through these samples we will discover processes and methods to transform these agricultural bi-products from “wastes” to “industrial materials”.

Revised Studio Schedule

As we discussed in class last week we will have a slight revision to the syllabus to accommodate the Senior Show on Thursday, March 10. See you in studio Tuesday morning.

Tuesday, March 8
AM: Meet in Studio, Material Transformation
PM: 3pm – 5pm : Visit the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

We will take the 1:30pm Commuter Rail to Boston leaving the Studio at 1:10pm to walk to the station together. You will need to pay cash ($7.75 for your ticket).
http://www.peabody.harvard.edu/

Thursday, March 10
AM: Systems Research Presentations
PM: Meet in Studio, Review Material Transformations

Systems Research: Due 03/08, Presentations 3/10

Each student will research and present a particular system of Costa Rica and compare it to the whole of Latin America. The goal of this research is to gain a better understanding of Costa Rica and the scale of issues from political structure to  cell phone access.  Each system will be studied independently but it is important that we understand how they all effect each other. 

You will present this information on 2) 11 x17 sheets of paper.  This material will be compiled into a booklet that will be shared amongst the studio.

Day 4: Introduction to EARTH University

Thanks to Charlie Cannon for a thoughtful presentation on the history of the RISD/EARTH relationship.  We are excited to be a part of an exciting and innovative effort and look forward to continuing this collaboration!

“EARTH University is an international institution created out of a deep conviction that the environmental and social challenges confronting the planet can be resolved through education that promotes science, technology and entrepreneurship while focusing on essential human values, leadership and a commitment to social and environmental service.”   

Learn more about EARTH University. 

Day 3: In-Class Sketch Exercise

Inspired by their research of an existing social entrepreneurial precedent, students were asked to quickly sketch a product or service idea that came to mind.  This could be a way to improve the product, a variation or a new product or service all together.  

TED Talk - Esther Duflo

Watch this TED Talk from Ester Duflo_ Social Experiments to Fight Poverty

Precedent Research Due 03/01

Day 1: Design vs. Design Thinking

It was great to meet all of you today. I appreciate your insightful comments and look forward to continuing our discussion regarding “design vs. design thinking” and how we can create and evaluate successful social ventures.  

Just a reminder, for Thursday we will be discussing the three readings on “Social Entrepreneurship” listed under links.  Please submit your responses to me via email or send me the link to your personal course blog.

Let me know if you have any problems achieving the technical requirements for the course. 

I am looking forward to an exciting semester!  

DESIGN FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP 2011 Course Syllabus

_Material Matters

RISD Industrial Design Advanced Studio: Course Syllabus

Instructor: Patricia Gruits, MARCH, Portable Light Project

Course Blog: www.de-se2011.blogspot.com

EARTH University Website: http://www.earth.ac.cr/index.php

Overview

This advanced studio investigates the power of products, systems and services to create positive social and environmental change.  This semester, as social entrepreneurial designers, students will have the opportunity to work with EARTH University in Costa Rica.  EARTH is at the forefront of identifying, testing and sharing techniques for sustainable agriculture in the tropics. Students enrolled in this course will investigate new uses for agricultural wastes and natural materials and develop in-depth proposals for the creation of new products that will benefit EARTH and its local and global communities.

The studio will be structured as a three-part exploration:

_Material Investigation

Students will explore the inherent qualities and properties of agricultural bi-products from the production of bananas, sugar cane and citrus for their transformation into an industrial material.

Students will be expected to investigate, iterate and document their research to compile as a studio wide material catalog.

_Prototype Development

Based on the material samples generated in the studio, students will develop full scale products, prototypes or systems that will not only “Up-cycle” these waste materials but feed into existing markets and larger project concepts.

_Speculative Implementation

Through precedent studies, workshops and visiting lectures, students will be exposed to the emerging field of social entrepreneurship and practice these skills by developing their own in-depth proposal for a social venture informed by the sustainable products and concepts developed in the studio.

Throughout the semester visiting speakers will conduct open lectures and discussions on relevant topics ranging from product design and ethnographic research, to fabrication and the development of business plans.  During the 2011 spring semester break this studio will travel to EARTH University in Costa Rica to observe, collaborate with and present project concepts to the EARTH Community.

Skill Development

This will be a fast paced studio where students will be expected to practice and build upon their skills in many areas of craft that are crucial to design practice: rapid sketching, modeling, concept development and prototyping.  However, it will also be an opportunity to develop research-oriented skills related to social entrepreneurship: collaboration with EARTH University leaders, conducting research on agricultural bi-products, local craft culture, and traditions, evaluating and comparing precedents, developing business plans and pitching ideas to EARTH, its students and the community.

Questions

Please feel free to contact me at: pgruits@risd.edu