3 Lessons In Relation to Joel Towers’ Admonition

Admonition: “Design and its waste products have to be accounted for. There is nowhere “else.” “Else” is a place that has people in it. We can no longer accept design that does not account for its work and its actions in the world.”

 

Lesson 1: A Bike With Buzz

The Solid bike is a titanium frame that connects to your phone by Bluetooth and uses vibrations in handlebars to give the rider turn-by-turn directions. For example, if you need to turn right, the right hand side will vibrate. This is so that the rider can put their phone away while riding, giving the riders full attention on the road. The Solid bike works in relation to Joel Tower’s idea that “We can no longer accept design that does not account for its work and its actions in the world.” This bike is accounting for the world and others in it since it allows the rider to focus on the road. This makes biking safer because there are no distractions coming from the phone that the rider is looking at.

 

Lesson 7: Waterproofing Manhattan

Before and after superstorm Sandy, waterproofing the coastlines of Manhattan needed to be done. The “Big U” was created to help protect the city against storm surges. On the Lower East Side where low cost housing is and many older people live, this is an area that gets hit hard by the storm and are the least able to evacuate in times like this. Waterproofing Manhattan works in relation to Joel Tower’s idea that “There is nowhere ‘else.’ ‘Else’ is a place that has people in it. We can no longer accept design that does not account for its work and its actions in the world.” Waterproofing is showing that we are no longer accepting design that does not account for the ‘else,’ in this case being those living in low cost housing and the elderly. This is a way to protect the city, help keep its residents safe, and even create new social infrastructure in the area.

 

Lesson 10: Flying Economy

Virgin Atlantic has redesigned the economy cabin service to make it a greener airline and less work for flight attendants. This reduced plane’s weight by 280 pounds and will therefore account for a savings of $15 million a year and 2,600-ton cut in carbon emissions. These changes work in relation to Joel Tower’s idea that “Design and its waste products have to be accounted for… We can no longer accept design that does not account for its work and its actions in the world.” Virgin Atlantic has accounted for its waste products and its effects in the world and environment by creating ways to reduce carbon emissions that their planes produce.