Challis Hodge’s UXblog

For those of you who have known me for a while you’ve no doubt heard me on my soapbox lecturing about the distinction between art and design. Simply put, Design is a creative problem solving discipline whereby we solve problems for a particular group of people, more often than not,  in the interest of furthering a business interest.

Andy Rutledge has written a nice piece over on A List Apart titled On Creativity. He does a great job at teasing out some of the same issues as he challenges and defines creativity. Great piece of work Andy!

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Board of Trustees of announced today that John Maeda, Associate Director of Research at the MIT Media Lab, has accepted their offer to become the 16th president of RISD.

RISD Board Chair Merrill Sherman said, “We are delighted to name John Maeda as successor to Roger Mandle. RISD has a special obligation to play a leadership role in the world of art and design, nationally and internationally. Creativity and innovation are more important than ever. We believe John will be a bold, innovative and exciting president and will enhance RISD’s role in helping to shape and inform art and design in this century.”

The Board’s unanimous approval of Maeda is well placed. He’ll make a fine President.

Speaking of wonderful experiences, take a look at the most beautiful work presented on this Japanese web site.

There are some toys for sale on the site. I don’t read Japanese however I’m guessing the items labeled as craft (such as the ones above) are not for sale. Either way they’re too beautiful to be called crafts!

Sometimes an idea just feels right. Maybe I’ve spent too much time in airports!?

Imagine bringing your own shopping cart to the supermarket every time you needed groceries. According to Franco Vairani, driving your own car in the city is just as inconvenient, which is why he, along with MIT’s Smart Cities think tank, developed the Bit Car concept. Ideal for short distances, the compact two-seater features an outer shell that collapses like the legs of a baby carriage and enables the cars to fold into one another when parked. Stored in parking lots or other high-density spots, the vehicles would be available for borrowing, like airport luggage trolleys. Williams pointed out that the option would be especially attractive to drivers who are averse to public transportation. “People love their cars, but this way they can keep a private enclosure without having to own it,” he offered. “It’s proposing a radical new set of behaviors, but it could definitely work.”

Check out the winners and the all of the contenders.

The Talent Hunt
Desperate to innovate, companies are turning to design schools for nimble, creative thinkers

Designed in China
With more than 400 design programs in Chinese schools, Asian design education is undergoing its own revolution

Tip Sheet: How To Hire a D-School Grad
Headhunter RitaSue Siegel tells you what to ask — and what to listen for

When MBA Meets Designer
A GE manager learns to think creatively: INSEAD graduate Sameer Agrawal shares his story

Inside the Volcano
Carnegie Mellon graduate Maggie Breslin brings her innovative thinking to the Mayo Clinic

Designing to Help
Georgia Tech design grad Janna Kimel works as a design researcher at Intel

Joining J&J
Justine Dube Donnelly’s joint MBA/Master’s of Engineering Management prepared her for her role in strategic marketing at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals

about, with & for is a collaborative forum hosted by the Institute of Design to discuss emerging topics, methods and issues in design research. The core values of research and discovery methodologies have been embraced by leading companies wishing to increase brand legitimacy, capacity, and impact. What challenges are on the forefront for these leading institutions?

More than ever, companies look to designers to lead the way in strategy and innovation. about, with & for 2006 remains on the forefront of business by introducing and challenging topics such as simplicity in design, do-it-yourself research methodologies, design in education, social responsibility, design thinking in public policy, and structured decision making.

A platform that fosters cross pollination of new ideas and concepts of user-centered research methods, about, with & for is imperative when facing today’s demanding market challenges. This year’s conference will offer insight and meaning through lectures, roundtable discussions, workshops, and networking sessions.

Only a few seats left! Register hear.

Entertaible concept: combination of electronic gaming and traditional board games

The Entertaible concept is a tabletop gaming platform that marries traditional multi-player board and computer games in a uniquely simple and intuitive way. Entertaible comprises a 32-inch horizontal LCD, sophisticated touch screen-based multi-object position detection, and all supporting control electronics. It allows the players to engage in a new class of electronic games which combines the features of computer gaming, such as dynamic playing fields and gaming levels, with the social interaction and tangible playing pieces, such as pawns and dies, of traditional board games.

Initially targeting social gaming away from home in locations such as pubs, bars, hotels or restaurants, Entertaible has the potential to evolve into a gaming platform for the consumer market.