A few weeks ago psfk.com held a little design challenge that read, “If you could design anything, what would it be and why? The prize was a couple of tickets to design2.0, the CORE77 event in Boston this past Wednesday Nov. 15. This is the proposal I sent.

If I could design anything, I would design a universal impact scanner. This device would scan for and measure the environmental impact of any product or material. So I would be able to simply point my impact scanner and it would automatically calculate all the variables involved and provide me with a read out that would inform me of a products complete environmental impact using a simple scale. One would be able to customize the settings of this device according to more specific personal considerations and interest such as; fair trade value, transportation method and distance, chemical composition, life cycle assessment, even a good corporate citizen measurement of the manufacturers and distributors involved. The reason for this design would be to trigger a domino effect for industries to move towards a transparent production model where users could make smart informed decisions about every product they purchase without much effort and become conscious participants in a movement towards sustainability.

It was good enough to win since it was well aligned with the events theme. So yesterday I flew out to Boston for the day to attend and was able to meet the four speakers. It was easy to take away something inspiring from each one of them.

John Maeda (MIT) who is well known for his analysis of simplicity and design went over his book and was totally entertaining; he could have a second career as a comic if he wanted to.

Jason Pearson leads Greenblue, one of the most prestigious and sophisticated green not for profit orgs. He was the most formal of the four and my impression of him was that of a pro-sustainability relentless machine.

Natalie Jeremijenko’s work is completely unique and totally relevant to “now” and her activist passion radiates omni directionally. Seriously, I strongly recomend that you hit the link on the left and find out howstuffismade.

Bill Cockaine is a totally awesome strategistarian� as GWB would say. He’s got to be one of the fastest talking and smartest people I’ve met in a while. It would be insane to have a few drinks and brainstorm with this guy.

As it turns out, Design 2.0 is less about form and function and more about meaningful simplicity, less about business and more about social responsibility, less about traditional design influence and more about contemporary relevance. Overall I had an awesome day trip, I met some really good people, was inspired and refreshed and even got to tell a few key people about sustainable day.

stiven