Design and Geographically Liberated Difference

The concept of geographically liberated difference has emerged from the overlap of cultural studies and economics as a critique of the effects of globalisation on cultures through the manufacturing and distribution of artefacts with unique differences across diverse territories. Although this concept is known in the domains of cultural studies and economics, very little has been written on its effect and understanding within design, especially industrial design. Industrial design has vast influence on the production and distribution of products across the globe from small scale to mass production of millions of units. The mechanisms by which design influences the evolution of cultures through the concept of geographically liberated difference are important for future development. Research by the authors indicates parallel streams of both digital and analogue methods supporting successful models of geographically liberated difference in design practice. Examples of these approaches are discussed to uncover the operable mechanisms and arguments concerning the future value and influence of this feature of globalisation

Achieving a designed customer experience across multiple delivery platforms: A telco perspective

'Customer experience' is a term that covers a wide range of activities that take place between suppliers and users of products and services. LaSalle and Britton define it as 'a holistic experience which involves a person - as opposed to a customer - as a whole at different levels and in every interaction between such person and a company' (2003). This research considers a key aspect of such an holistic experience: that which is embodied in the product or service under consideration. In the context of increasing mobile technology convergence, the paper considers new approaches that focus on developing the necessary underlying enablers and common interaction flows that are required to deliver a designed experience, taking into account the increasing number of mobile operating systems and service delivery platforms. Ultimately these models move towards allowing users to 'co-create their own unique experiences' (Pralahad and Ramswamy, 2004). The convergence between IT and telecommunications domains presents a unique challenge to product and service designers. Services are increasingly accessible via multiple delivery devices and delivery networks. This trend has been seen most recently in the advent of Internet based services being delivered via mobile phones where 'mobile service delivery and technologies have become the glue between previously secluded 'telecom' and "IT' domains' (Karrberg and Liebenau, 2006). At the same time network operators are trying to tighten their relationship with their customers by offering 'sticky' services aimed at raising the barriers to customer mobility. These two trends lead to a new design challenge: how to design a recognisably consistent and compelling product customer experience that applies over all delivery services, operating systems and networks. Solutions to this problem have to date been either technology led, focussing on integrated delivery platforms, or reliant on rule-based design. Crucial to this analysis is the 'role Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item

e-Artisans: Contemporary Design for the Global Market

The aim of GoGlobal Ghana was to consider whether the creative industries in a developing country could be nurtured through design collaboration and an e-commerce model to contribute significant economic growth through increasing the level of international trade. The project was initiated with three phases planned for execution: a creative studio with design students from the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London and the Kwame Nkruma University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, an e-commerce process for supply, distribution and marketing; and finally a “hub” location to facilitate project delivery and dissemination to other African regions

GoGlobal: How can contemporary design collaboration and e-commerce models grow the creative industries in developing countries?

Using previous case studies by the authors and a current live project, this paper considers whether the creative industries in a developing country (Ghana, Africa) can be nurtured through design collaboration and an e-commerce model to contribute significant economic growth through increasing international trade. The paper draws on practical experience of five annual projects, with a focus on GoGlobal Africa. Initiated in 2005, GoGlobal is a collaborative design research activity between the University of Technology Sydney, the Royal College of Art, the London School of Economics, RMIT Melbourne, and other partnering organisations. GoGlobal Africa was initiated in 2008 with 3 phases: creative studio with design students from the RCA UK and KNUST Ghana; an e-commerce process for supply, distribution and marketing; and a “hub” location to facilitate project delivery and dissemination. The context to GoGlobal is informed by the UNCTAD studies of global creative industries

A Stakeholder Map for Nutrition Policy and Programming in Northern Nigeria

This summary highlights key findings from stakeholder mapping carried out to increase understanding of nutrition context, policy and programming in northern Nigeria; map organisations, systems and practices for nutrition knowledge sharing; understand information needs, barriers and opportunities amongst audiences; and inform strategies for research vidence dissemination.DFI

Nutrition Commitment Audit for Nigeria

A Nutrition Commitment Audit (NCA) assesses national and state-level efforts and political will to reduce levels of undernutrition. A NCA facilitates the identification of areas where commitment and capacity to accelerate the reduction of undernutrition are strong or weak. In the longer run it can also be used as an advocacy tool for strengthening commitment and elevating nutrition in political agendas. This summary highlights key findings from an NCA designed and applied in Nigeria in 2012 in order to examine national and sub-national level factors influencing the country’s commitment to addressing undernutrition.DFI

Planning and Costing to Accelerate Actions for Scaling Up Nutrition

The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement was launched in 2010 to reinvigorate efforts to address undernutrition globally. It brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to strengthen political commitments and improve accountability by providing a platform for collective action in which governments, civil society organisations (CSOs), businesses, donors and the United Nations can work together in a coordinated and targeted way to reduce rates of undernutrition. To date, over 50 countries have signed up to the SUN movement. These countries have or are developing national plans for nutrition that provide a framework for all stakeholders working on nutrition to coordinate efforts around common results. As countries have developed their plans, they and other members of the global SUN movement, have been considering what makes a good plan that is useful for both national governments and other stakeholders? This brief summarises key elements that have been identified as contributing towards good national nutrition plans based on a review of 20 country plans and processes.UK Ai

Report of the WINNN-ORIE Nutrition Stakeholders Engagement Event, 29 April 2014, Abuja

On the morning of Tuesday 29 April 2014, around 70 stakeholders discussed how to tackle undernutrition in Northern Nigeria, including staff from state and federal government, multilateral agencies, Nigerian research institutions, and domestic and international nongovernmental organisations. The meeting was convened in Abuja at the invitation of the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Planning Commission Nigeria. The meeting reviewed the implications of new research findings by ORIE on the severity of malnutrition in Northern Nigeria and the interventions implemented by the (WINNN) programme, in partnership with government, to tackle malnutrition. This report summarises the key issues and recommendations.UK Ai

Global Framework on People - Centred and Integrated Health Services

Future Health Systems research into empowering communities to demand and shape health services has informed the development of a WHO strategy on service delivery. The strategy reflects a paradigm shift towards an increased emphasis on preventive public health, as well as curative strategies, to address current and future health challenges

Tyrone Guthrie

This chapter explores the life, work and legacy of the Anglo-Irish theatre director Tyrone Guthrie, with a particular focus on the UK and North America. It argues that Guthrie originated the model of the hybrid artistic, entrepreneurial and bureaucratic figure of the Artistic Director, which came to dominate the Anglophone theatre in the second half of the twentieth century, and that he also exemplifies crucial paradoxes and contradictions to be found in the settler colonial cultures of North America in this period and their relations with their former metropole