April 2013

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 24 apr 2013

As internet and mobile technologies become an essential element of healthcare ecosystem its imperative to adopt best practices in user experience design. For this to be successful for both patients and providers, a collaborative approach between designers, developers, creative thinkers, users and providers is required. Patients should be involved as 'co-creators' in the early developmental stages of healthcare web design to utilize the full potential of 'open innovation'. Designers and clinicians should evolve a two way understanding and exchange process to enhance the final outcomes of the design. Experts say that to build sustainable healthcare design various stakeholders have to come together to build whole new models from ground up. Read on...

Healthcare IT News: At Healthcare Experience Design conference, designers rethink 'broken processes'
Author: Mike Miliard

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 22 apr 2013

To create sustainable entrepreneurial companies it is imperative that converged ecosystem is developed with companies, universities and venture funds as the main stakeholders. Similar effort is in progress in Chicago where a design firm is coming forward to provide an accelerator platform to fledgling medical device entrepreneurial firms, at the most critical stage of their development- 'proof-of-concept' stage. The firm is seeking support from main universities of the city to provide candidates that have developed concepts with potential for commercialization and also early stage start-ups that are part of the university incubators. It will provide mentorship, financial resources and other services to build the commercially viable user friendly products. Experts say that start-up projects go through 'valley of death' - the financing gap between research and commercialization and if they can recieve funding and other support services at this 'proof-of-concept' stage they have a better chance of survival. Read on...

Chicago Tribune: New accelerator focuses on medical device startups
Author: Wailin Wong

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 18 apr 2013

Over the years 'Garden Design' has evolved and according to an expert there are three things that have influenced its development most- ever changing architectural design, climate change and lifestyle changes. Garden designers have to consider various elements for designing gardens of the future. Over the last century the changes in gardening methods include- biodegradable materials for pots, electricity and biofuels for glasshouses, return to organic fertilizers, availability of more materials for construction, wider range of plant varieties due to advancement in breeding and selection methods, availability of better technologies in garden machinery and equipment and growing of food plants at home as a hobby. Low maintenance, need for neatness, disease free, easy to grow and simplicity would be important in gardens of the future. Read on...

Wales Online: Gardening past and present - How garden design has changed in the past 100 years
Author: Lorna Doran

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 18 apr 2013

What is 'Millennial Generation' and what are their sensibilities, habits and values? What are the things that appeal to them when it comes to searching for their living spaces and environment in big cities? They are the young 20 something, well educated and well travelled, seeking work-life balance, highly independent and environmentally conscious. They look for well designed urban housing and green environment with expanded sidewalks, cafe's and informal interactive spaces. They appreciate art and culture that is not confined within the bounds of museums and institutions. Understanding them and incorporating their aspirations in the planning and design of urban and suburban spaces would be important for better future of the cities. As the 'Millennials' start to earn and spend, their influence would increase. Read on...

The Globe and Mail: Why the cities of the future belong to the millennial generation
Author: Lisa Rochon

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 15 apr 2013

'Synthetic Biology' is the science of applying engineering principles to biological systems. The research in this area focuses on the design and construction of new biological parts and devices, or redesign of the existing ones. The possible applications include creation of organisms for cleaning biofuels, drug delivery and drug studies. Has the field reached the stage to mass produce biological components or a lot more research and experimentation is required? Read on...

Evolution News: Design by Any Other Name
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 14 apr 2013

'Office Design' is an important element of today's companies to provide an environment of creativity, productivity, focus and meaningful social interactions for their employees. The design can promote sense of belonging for employees and help create a company specific identity that indicates its brand and culture. Companies provide technology enabled flexibile workspaces and informal hangout zones to promote collaboration and togetherness for employees. It helps in attracting and retaining talent. Ergonomics plays an important role in office design and assists in building a comfortable environment to increase employee happiness. Read on...

The Economic Times: How design enhances work life within the offices of the future
Author: Shagufta Anurag

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 13 apr 2013

Zen principles of 'Shibumi' can provide designers a unique perspective while approaching their design projects. It encourages designers to achieve simplicity with extraordinary impact. The seven principles are- Koko (Austerity- include by necessity), Kanso (Simplicity- eliminate excessiveness), Shizen (Naturalness- incorporate nature), Yugen (Sublety- leave something to imagination), Fukinsei (Imperfection, Asymmetry- leave room for others to cocreate, open innovation), Datsuzoku (Break From Routine- creativity can emerge from broken pattern), Seijaku (Stillness, Tranquility- nothingness or meditation breaks). Read on...

Fast Company: 7 Design Principles, Inspired By Zen Wisdom
Author: Matthew E. May

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 13 apr 2013

'3D Technology' is transforming the way various industries like designing, manufacturing, entertainment, healthcare etc work. Its making the processes for designing and manufacturing products more versatile, less restrictive and less time consuming. Earlier stage has been the designing with 3D CAD and now with '3D Printing', prototyping and modeling has become efficient. The latest shift is towards the use of 3D printing in manufacturing and production. Workable products can be directly printed from a computer, thus reducing the chain of processes that are currently involved in manufacturing. This new method is termed as DDM (Direct Digital Manufacturing). Mass production would now evolve to 'Mass Customization'. With these technologies, the probability of a new phase of industrial revolution just got higher. Read on...

Design World: The Future of 3D Technology From This Day, Forward
Author: David Reis

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 11 apr 2013

Framework of successful methods and processes that the designers have used to find a solution in a particular system can also be used and replicated in other systems. It is important that the basic framework and concept is adapted to the new system and differences are properly incorporated. In the present example a design expert defines the design framework that he used to encourage responsible fish harvesting. The initial phase included understanding and exploring the system by finding out current issues and their remedies and also by using anthropology experts to observe the system. This lead to identification of 'transactions' between people as the important segment to consider and finally four mindset groups were obtained. The design principles were created considering these groups. After the initial prototyping a new idea emerged leading to a creation of a business accelerator with a group of entrepreneurs and existing fishing companies, each focused and targeting a specific issue or problem in the supply chain that was identified by research. At the execution phase, the critical challenge was 'people collaboration', bringing the conflicting views and interests on a same 'people platform'. This phase required convincing people not only to think about their narrow self interests but also about greater good for society as a whole. A little shift in thinking and behavior to converge individual interests with the interests of the society will go a long way in creating responsible businesses. Design principles can help achieve successful collaborations for common goods. Read on...

Core77: What the future of fish can teach us about designing systems, by Cheryl Dahle
Author: Cheryl Dahle

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 11 apr 2013

Design based methods and processes can be an important tool for better delivery of public services and improved strategic policy making. 'Design Thinking' is an integrated process of evolving better solutions by understanding and anticipating needs, involving users in the process, iterative testing with small scale and low cost prototypes to ascertain viability and finally providing solutions with reduced waste of resources. Incremental innovations are not enough and it is suggested that design thinking is essential to provide large scale personalized public services with affordabe cost. Read on...

the guardian: Design - much more than just an add-on for public services
Author: Bel Reed

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 08 apr 2013

Architects are again realizing the importance of wood in building structures due to steel's adverse effects on climate. Wood is a material that stores carbon throughout its life. But the challenge would be to make sure that the adoption of wood as a popular building material doesn't lead to deforestation and ecosystem degradation. Moreover fire resistance capabilities of such wooden buildings might be a cause of concern and proper measures have to be taken in this regard. Cost might be another hinderance in wood's widescale use as a building material. Read on...

Architect: Is Wood the New Steel?
Author: Blaine Brownell