On the road in an Airstream packed with big ideas

By

May 12, 2010

From self-updating eyewear to a wind-power generator, Design Revolution Road Show aims to make life a little better

“I think there’s always going to be something special about doing things in person,” says Emily Pilloton, a designer and the curator of the Design Revolution Road Show. She’s taken that philosophy to heart in her ambitious nationwide exhibition by packing a shiny Airstream trailer full of inventions and meeting people face-to-face. The 35-stop tour is a promotional tour for her book, “Design Revolution: 100 Products that Empower People,” and it’s aimed at encouraging people to think differently about design.

The products in her book (and her trailer) are all about making the world a better, not just prettier, place. Among these pieces is the HYmini, a slick-looking portable wind-power generator, and Adaptive Eyewear, which allows people in developing countries to adjust their own prescriptions without the expensive services of an optometrist. Emily hopes the road show will expand our conception of “design” by showing us things that transcend iPods and BMWs.

Last modified: May 12, 2010 at 11:25 am
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Comments

  • Geoff

    Love your show. A fine replacement for Bill Moyers. Its too bad that much of the site is restricted here in Canada. We Canadians must be seen as a threat, as your ” Next Weeks News suggests. :-)