Each day we are all figuring things out....what I call 'Little c' Creativity. It's to do with cleverness, ingenuity, necessity is the mother-of-invention types of problem solving.
Sometimes we get the chance to do grander things: compose something original, contribute to a game-changing innovation, or stir others through our work. I call this 'Big-C' Creativity.
This week I had the chance to see an inspiring exhibit that is both--simple, elegant solutions to very big problems. If you find yourself near Portland, Oregon I encourage to visit the exhibit at Mercy Corps and prepare to be moved.
Happiness and Creative Health to all of you!
maggie
Design for the Other 90% I am a design junkie. Fashion, architecture, products....I appreciate good design. Who doesn't? Yet, "...of the world's total population of 6.5 billion, 5.8 billion, or 90%, have little or no access to most of the products and services most of us take for granted. In fact, nearly half do not have regular access to food, clean water or shelter."(Mercy Corps exhibit brochure)
The Design for the Other 90% exhibit features some of the innovations that are making a difference to the quality of life of poor and displaced people.
Women and girls spend nearly all their time transporting water where it is in short supply. Girls are not educated because they need to get water. A woman will spend hours lugging a 5-gallon jug of water to her home several kilometers away, multiple times a day.
The QDrum is a simple, durable solution to reduce the physical requirements for gathering water.
"At any given moment, about half of the world's poor are suffering from waterborne disease, of which over 6,000 - mainly children - die each day by consuming unsafe drinking water." (Lifestraw site)
(photo source: Lifestraw site)
Lifestraw provides an instant, 'point-of-use' filter.
These are only two of the innovations in the exhibit. I consider these designs--and their deployment--innovation at its very best.
Giving to Haiti Sometimes it's hard to know where to give money--who spends less on administration and gives more direct funds?
Later this year we are hosting a fund-raiser for an organization called the Carpe Diem Foundation. Working with these lovely people is a treat and one of them, a physician, is in Haiti now. She and her colleagues suggested these organizations as worthy of your contributions to help the Haitian people now: Medical Teams International Mercy Corps HaitiHospital.org
DWELL ON YOUR DREAMS
List of the Week: Nice Things to do for Someone Else It's Valentine's Day this weekend.
Whether you have a special sweetheart or many sweethearts in your life this is a perfect week to do something thoughtful for someone:
Print a photo of the two of you (or a special place or event that you shared). Send it in the mail with a little note about the significance of that memory.
Plan a Mystery Date--something you haven't done before
Bite your tongue when you feel the need to correct
Send a card to someone who won't be getting one this year
Bring red tulips to the office for everyone to enjoy
Connecting to Facebook
