—Ogden Nash (1902-1971)

—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859)

Do Good Design: How Designers Can Change The World

by David B. Berman

AIGA Design Press / New Riders (Peachpit)

A little over four years ago I reviewed David B. Berman’s important new book here on this blog. I was delighted today to receive an updated/reprint version of this honest, hard-hitting, book—together with a lovely note from David (Duv to his friends), who I have known and exchanged ideas re: design ethics with for well over 20 years.

Do Good Design rails against the consumptive excesses of the so-called “developed world” and urges designers to help steer a better course for our planet—before it’s too late. Delivered with in-your-face directness, it presents a strong argument regarding the inherent power of design to shape our world and takes on greed, excess, and the scheming tendencies of advertising and “targeted” visual communications. Full of pithy quotations, well illustrated (with wide-ranging examples of manipulative media and manufactured needs) and impressively annotated and cross-referenced, David combines his keen observation skills with courage to question the status quo, expressing his marathon call for positive change with passionate zeal. In his words, “the future of civilization is our common design project.”

Thanks Duv—keep up the “good” work of shaping a more equitable and sustainable future!

More info at dogoodbook.com.

—William Gibson (novelist, noir prophet)

—A. A. Milne (1882-1956)

—Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)

London, UK

In 2010, Fletcher Studio was set up by Alan’s daughter, Raffaella Fletcher, to manage the archive of her famous father’s work. The archive is now online, and Raffaella has given me permission to post some samples of Alan’s work here… please note that everything shown here and on the website at alanfletcherarchive.com is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and treaties around the world.

View much more of Alan Fletcher’s beautiful graphic design work (and descriptions for the images shown above) here.

Thanks to Ronald Shakespear, a mutual friend from Argentina, for bringing the Alan Fletcher Archive to my attention.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

At a back-yard fireside picnic last week, Ev’s oldest daughter, Jennifer Kornelsen, Ph.D.*, a neurophysiologist and cutting-edge brain researcher, surprised us with a copy of the latest issue of the Journal of Pain that had just arrived by mail, featuring her study entitled ‘Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity Altered in Failed Back Surgery Syndrome’ based on research conducted between 2009 – 2011. Lo and behold, on the journal cover are images of Evelin’s brain (captured by Jen via MRI) representing “a normal, healthy person” in comparison with images of the brain of an individual suffering from chronic pain.

Of course we were pretty chuffed for Jen… (and also doubled over with laughter at the very idea that Ev’s brain could be considered “normal” in any sense of the word). (-:

*Jen worked at Canada’s National Research Council until last month, when the entire research department associated with Magnetic Resonance Technology at the Institute for Biodiagnostics in Winnipeg was shut down by Stephen Harper, Canada’s anti-science prime minister. Thankfully Jen and her considerable scientific contributions are appreciated by others — she has just chosen one of the four(!) positions that were offered her from institutions across the country.