Tilt

This past month in July, we had a fantastic first go of Designers, Drinks and Social Change – aside from the technical difficulties. The conversation, was awesome and the external chat dialogue profound, so much in fact that we have decided to have this topic for a second session this coming week. August 19, 2010 marks the day where really discussions will happen at 12am GST / 7pm EST / 6pm CST / 4pm PST.  We are going to have another public broadcast on “Are designers becoming obsolete?”

Use this URL to join: http://www.tokbox.com/tiltstudioinc/ddsc/

If you have any thoughts, questions to ask the group or ideas on this topic, please feel free to send them ahead of time to E. Rachael Baird.

We hope in two months time we will have a recording device for this so it can be cataloged on our site.

Some of the highlights from the July conversation were:

History of speakers

Eric K: Always drawing as a kid, wanted to start doing something. Had a small hometown, only 1 formal area that he wanted to start a production job in painting, low-level production and started to get more into design. In 2000 started a company and been working as a designer. Not only just a designer, but a strategist for change.

Eric B: Started in college and found that design was a nice balance. New it was the one that was the right one for him. Went to grad school had trouble focusing. Very large thinking/design action between the two groups. Became a teacher and developed a non-profit called Re-Nourish to tend to his talents.

Bernard: Took the client out of the equation and just started to do what he thought was right.  Project M with John Bielenberg really helped to kick start his interests. Bernard is always the teacher, when it is for profit or non-profit. P Studio and Project H are other highlight projects.

Rachael: Grew up with designers/artists for parents and always knew it was what she was going to do. Worked for a few agencies, but felt most comfortable on her own as a leader so she started Tilt and has built in a social enterprise into the organization.

General dialogue snapshot (keep in mind that these are just my written notes, no judgment, please!)
Eric K: Whatever we are called a designer or a creative director it is about a mindset.

Eric B: Found a way to not be the typical designer and figured out a way to not be bored. Standard things or design that you have used as a graphic designer. Making the poster is not as exciting as creating change. Design has gotten effected.

Bernard: Market or the economy are still not at the point that we need. We need to perceive design differently. Things need to catch up better.
John M. talks about the world being on a tipping point. Dependence on oil and global warming, etc. are taking on the new life. Emerging concepts… politicians have drastically failed. Design is the answer. Design is going to change the world. It is going to innovate. How the hell do we do that.  Its going to come.

Eric B. Designing for corporations is inconsequential. Debilitating better quality of life. We do need to earn a living. Have functions, etc. Like Project M. More of a value thing. Absolutely.

Bernard: Bringing this back to design education it is a self-propagating and its shit.

Eric B: Divided right down the middle and there are so many different points of view. Two designers that develop students that won’t exist.

Eric K: Q: As a company, do you think that you can change the mindset of clients? Changing the face of the world. It is about the investment.

Always check our Eric’s Blog too at Re-Nourish.com