Kieffer Design Group

MATERIALITY

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:55:00 GMT

M_A_T_E_R_I_A_L_I_T_Y_____ x 1
Each week we're going to start highlighting 10 new products that we've come across in our research.

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The Season of Design Competitions

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:03:00 GMT

It's that time of year when various design competitions come to a close and the winners announced.

Here's a few we like to take note of:

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Architecture for Humanity and the Abundance Project

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:58:00 GMT

Boise has a local Architecture for Humanity chapter and would love to get more people involved in the group. It is a fairly new group with a couple projects under its belt. If you've been by the Boise Bicycle Project, you would have seen a project that the AFH chapter and BBP teamed up on re-utilizing some of BBP's old bikes to create a new bike rack.

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The Inspiration of TED

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:53:00 GMT

If you haven't heard about TED, it's time to check it out! Every year, a group of some of the world's visionaries get together in Long Beach, California to present their latest ideas and inventions. The categories vary from design to science to music to business. All the presentations are then later streamed online at www.ted.com. No matter your interests, you're bound to find something inspiring and thought provoking. The conference began in 1984 and the website launched in 2007. Their mission?

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KDG's Earth Day Initiatives

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:48:00 GMT

We would like to promote green products and finishes!

Between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm on Earth Day, April 22nd, contact us to receive 50% off retail on select green products shown in our library. Green products must contain 30% or more recycled content or be a rapidly renewable material, contain no harmful additives, and be manufactured in the US. 100% of the proceeds will be divided between our favorite sustainable non-profit organizations, such as:

The Nature Conservancy
Idaho Conservation League
Wildlife Land Trust/Humane Society
1% for the Planet organization
The Calvert Foundation

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The Beauty of Age

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:39:00 GMT

So often nowadays buyers look for products that require zero maintenance and that will look the same as the first day it was purchased--no need for resealing, impervious to scratching or dimples, stain resistance, built in anti-microbial agents, the list goes on...

With this attitude we've allowed harsh chemical agents to be added to our everyday products, and perhaps, sacrificed the natural beauty of age. This is not to say we should disregard the concept of durability. Sustainability requires durability to prevent waste and continued extraction of raw resources. But we should reconsider those products that follow a natural aging process. Age and wear tell our stories and remind us of our history. And if you want them to look new again, oftentimes these products only require a little refinishing.

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Creative Inspiration

Wed, 26 May 2010 21:40:00 GMT

Experiencing writer’s block? Not sure what to paint? Bored?

Keri Smith has a series of books perfect for sparking your inner imagination and creativity. While some might argue these books are for kids, we would like to disagree. In How to be an Explorer of the World you will investigate the beauty around you that is often overlooked. The goal by the end is to have created a series of artwork that you could display in your own private art gallery—creating art from found objects on your route home, finding objects in nature that match the random paints chips you may have lying around, or documentation of patterns you find around you. In Guerilla Art Kit you will learn about temporary art—infusing artwork in public spaces (that disappear obviously—no vandalism charges desired!). Perhaps you’ll craft Keri’s seed bombs and throw them into the nearby landfill or educate others with sidewalk chalk on a busy sidewalk. It provides recipes for temporary mediums to relay the message on whatever you might be passionate about.

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National Reading Month

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:51:00 GMT

March is National Reading Month! So now that the weather cooled down again grab a book and cozy up inside. Here are a few suggested reads...

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Green Resources

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:36:00 GMT

The ASID sponsored webinar “Don’t Get Lost in a Sea of ‘Green’” brought up a lot of interesting challenges and issues to be faced while transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle. One challenge is the sheer amount of information available and how to determine what are false claims.

Luckily, here is a compilation of resources listed by the webinar to help you along the way:

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Achieving the Triple Bottom Line

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:44:00 GMT

Sustainable design goes beyond environmental issues. To reach true sustainability, the Triple Bottom Line needs to be taken into account which blends ecology, economy and social equity.

In the ASID webinar, “Don’t Get Lost in a Sea of ‘Green’”, Victoria Schomer discusses the impacts we may inflict with our everyday decisions. Unknowingly, you may be using a cosmetic line that breeds horses specifically for a hormone additive that never get to reach age one.

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