New appointment at SMARTlab | Creative Technology Innovation for Real Social Change

SMARTlab has now opened it's new main base at University College Dublin (UCD) and I'm loving our new mantra 'Creative Technology Innovation for Real Social Change'.

I'm soon to be appointed Communications Officer for SMARTlab on a p/t basis, just as soon as HR has completes the hiring process by the end of the month and am looking forward to working with the team again.

I'll also be working on the SMARTfashion team, to be led by Tara Mooney. Watch this space!

Applied Imagination: an MA in unlearning?

I just came across this new video and website for my old MA Design Studies course, now renamed 'MA Applied Imagination'. It brings back memories and I'm feeling quite nostalgic about it all.

The course was a life changing experience and gave me the confidence to work in creative fields outside of my own discipline. It focuses on sharing, exploring and applying new ideas or concepts with a 40 strong student team of other creative experts and external advisors, without being confined by gate keepers.

This is a process of unlearning and re-learning how things could be done differently. The crossover of skills is valuable and in any year could comprise design - fashion, web, interior, space, lighting, branding, graphics, multimedia, animators etc, as well as other disciplines such as dance, marketing, business development to name just a few.

The lovely Geoff Crook, Course Director, explains how this crossover breathes new life into interdisciplinary design and how better futures can be imagined and realised >>

Library of pubications to be made available, free!

I'm working on putting together a library of useful publications and workshops I have created over the years.

There's more to be uploaded but here are a few articles as a taster, including some trend articles on African fashion and culture, as well as a report on the importance of this, which I wrote in 2005. There are also some SMARTfashion reports and workshop handouts on wearable technology too.

More to come...

MINDtouch workshop at Digital Stages Festival

The MINDtouch garment is getting another airing at the Digital Stages Festival on 26.04.11, East London. To in the participatory performance art project using mobile video go to http://digitalstagesfestival.co.uk/programme/workshops/

Venue // G.34, Arts Building, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS

Price // Free entry, booking required

MOJISOLA & FAIR-TRADE PRODUCTS FOR 2008!

In partnership with indepenant designers and community groups across West, East and Southern Africa, Mojisola will be re-launching its own-label brand later this year.

The brand will supply a range of African luxury fashion/lifestyle products with a sustainable and Fair-Trade ethos.

FAIR TRADE PRODUCTION SERVICE

Also on offer will be a design and fair-trade production service to those who wish to produce their own-label products. Please contact us for further details...