Comments on: Rain, Feedback Loops, and Missed Opportunities

by: Princeton Design conference Joey Roth Industrial design UDesign

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:27:51 +0000

[…] When I think of design at Princeton I think cerebral architecture, but in two weeks they’re hosting a conference about making design accessible and useful. They invited me to speak about sustainable industrial design. I’m planning to talk about how design that anticipates patina is the most sustainable; something like my post about how New York City handles rainfall. It’s a start, but I think I can go deeper with the conference’s “design for non-specialists” theme. Any suggestions? […]

by: Bender

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:11:31 +0000

why did you put wheels on your boat?

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Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:00:51 +0000

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by: Christopher Garlington

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:53:32 +0000

I love your idea of the sidewalks that change with rain or the moss growing walls. We need design that is whimsical without being insipid.

I love rainy days, the change in the tone of the light, the sound, the pensiveness. You can hear everyone waiting for the sun to come back. Walking along a downtown Chicago sidewalk in the rain or just after a rainstorm is wonderful and it could only be improved by secret concrete designs.

Please try your best to sell that idea somewhere–theme parks would be the first to do it. Try Disney.

by: Pedro Teixeira

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:36:33 +0000

Great post, designers should really make an effort to apply materials that age well.

by: Sidenotes from April 2007 // NoahBrier.com

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:32:36 +0000

[…] Rain Storms in New York City Trigger Visible Feedback Loops […]

by: reid

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 04:29:48 +0000

Hey Joey, very well said! I completely agree, and love the idea about moss. Have you heard of ?

by: joey

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 01:17:20 +0000

Thank you both. Wynn. although I wasn’t talking about green design directly, you make a great connection between a product’s ability to age well and sustainability: products that people continue to love won’t get thrown out and replaced. Barbara, you can certainly quote me- I’m honored.

by: barbara

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:58:28 +0000

I agree with Wynn — great post! The line, “Rain is already a trigger in a system of mostly hidden feedback loops …” is also a simple, poetic and articulate description of a very complex concept — can I quote you?

by: Wynn

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:09:55 +0000

Joey, great post. I agree with your sentiments. Have you read the book Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough & Michael Braungart. I have some issues with what they say, but its going in the right direction. In addition Allan Chochinov’s “1000 Words: A Manifesto for Sustainability in Design” is a fantastic piece about the responsibilities that a designer should consider when executing the next super-cool gadget.
The society we live has become too disposable, push and urged on by corporations who want to move even consumer products to a ’service’ model so we constantly consume, dispose, consume, dispose. We have been conditioned to only think about the next , the new, the novel instead of looking at what we have, recycling and appreciating time.
Everyone should consider their actions when disposing, and multiply it by a thousand, a million because that is exactly what is happening every time you throw away one coke bottle. You think its just one. Think again. We are in this boat together and designers, the ones who may be in the best position to make a statement about this, should make use of their unique position within the product and technology food chain to bring not just awareness, but action.