The first comprehensive exhibition of Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen is entering the American leg of its tour. Patronized by Finland’s President Tarja Halonen, the traveling installation celebrates Saarinen’s brief yet influential 15-year career.

Yale educated Saarinen followed in the footsteps of his father, renowned Scandinavian architect Eliel Saarinen, in designing some of the 20th century’s most recognizable and defining structures. His preference for clean, expansive shapes is embodied in all of his work, from the Memorial Gateway Arch in St. Louis to the iconic “Tulip” chair he designed in conjunction with Florence Knoll (pictured above). With the likes of Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, Saarinen emerged as a pioneering influence in modern architecture and an integral figure in American postwar aesthetics.

The exhibit is currently on display at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and will be making its way to Los Angeles, St. Louis, New York, Washington, D.C., and New Haven in the coming months. If you have the chance, it’s a definite must-see.

A few days ago,Continuum, in collaboration with I/ACT, the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce and Technology and the Lombardy Region of Italy hosted a unique event at our West Newton studio.. The “Partners in Innovation” event celebrated the start of a closer collaboration between the Lombardy Region of Italy and the State of Massachusetts to create leading edge enterprises and to develop innovative products and services in the process.

Bringing together the best resources of two dynamic regions for mutual benefit is indicative of the new economic reality and the great opportunities of a borderless world.  It is appropriate to note that Boston’s Mayor, Tom Menino was recently in Cernobbio, on lake Como to attend the “Mini-Davos” Ambrosetti Forum.

Immediately following the event at Continuum, we showcased several Italian companies that are innovating in diverse industries–normally not associated with Italy–at the Angel Investor Conference hosted by the UMass Boston College of Management.  These pioneering companies ranging from Achtoons, a cartoon animation studio that creates magical multimedia programming for children; Crowd Engineering and SmartRM, two ground-breaking software companies, and i-m3d, a medical diagnostic innovator leading the way in non-invasive colon and breast cancer detection.

We at Continuum believe strongly in the power of interdisciplinary, cross-cultural and international collaboration to design a better future. We welcome the opportunity to contribute our innovation expertise to identify untapped areas for synergies between the regions and to make this collaboration successful across industries.

A recent NY Times article highlighted CNN Shirt, a Beta test offering from CNN.com Videos that provides t-shirts with “popular“ headlines printed on them. I have always been fascinated with t-shirt societies, and more and more lately, I find myself returning to the BustedTees.com site. It’s my culture shot at how news events are impacting the college crowd. If you track the site, you can get a pretty timely playback of significant events and trends–nicely digested in printed t-shirt form. But now, you can get your personal wearable belief statement directly from a trusted news source. I am glad that headlines are getting the second life they deserve–that is some of my favorite copywriting that just seems to go to waste after the news cycle is over.

The man who helped so many of us through our awkward teenage years, gave us a creative outlet where we might not have had one, and gave us a chance to enjoy something fun and rewarding with like-minded friends and family, passed away at the age of 69.

If you were affected by this, you already know who I mean. If you weren’t, then the name E. Gary Gygax probably doesn’t mean much to you either.

He didn’t invent a new biomedical process; he didn’t develop a more efficient internal combustion engine; he didn’t help squeeze more transistors onto a silicon wafer. E. Gary Gygax invented Dungeons and Dragons. I don’t want to go on and on about it; either you get what I’m saying already or you aren’t the slightest bit interested. What can’t be denied is that geek culture would not be recognizible today without his contributions.

Rest in Peace, O Grand Dungeon Master.

Both Wired and the New York Times have published great pieces on Gygax’s legacy.

Oh, and if you think I’m not cool because I like Dungeons and Dragons, you couldn’t be more wrong. I’m one of the coolest guys out there - just ask my Mom!

I spent the earlier part of the week at SCAD at a design charrette we helped them host. Design for the other 90% was the theme. Some 200 or so industrial design students are spending 4 1/2 days working in groups of 5 or 6. The groups were assigned regions and topics - South America, peace and stability for instance. Each day (and most of each night) the groups are getting first hand experience with a phase of our design strategy process – alignment, discovery, analysis and envisioning. Its inspiring to see these talented young designers applying their time and talents to understanding and proposing solutions to some of the worlds real problems.

I’m hoping this experience will inspire them. I think it will. Focusing 4 days on far off lands and how most of the people on this planet live must seem such quite a departure from designing cars of the future and jet skis!

Congrats to the folks at SCAD (and Continuum’s Beth Johnson) for all the work to set this up. But, most of all thanks to the students participating. Perhaps you can see that you can make a difference in this world.

Check out details on the event

http://scadcharrette.net/

In Boston? Get to know us better. Come to an after work cocktail party….

Continuum sponsored AFTA work cocktail party in Boston at 28 Degrees on February 27; 6:30 to 9:00

AIGA Boston AFTA events are agenda-less, free-form gatherings of area creative folk. Each month a different firm gets to pick the place and play host for the evening; AIGA Boston gets to thank one of our generous sponsors for their ongoing partnership; and YOU get to drop by “afta” work and hang loose with the local design community!

PBS’s Design Squad, a reality show that exists to get kids to explore what it’s like to work in all types of engineering and design, was a category on Teen Jeopardy this week. Sadly, it was the last category the kids picked. Let’s change that. Design and engineering are fields to get psyched about - let’s help people understand and embrace their value.

We had fun working with PBS on the finale for Design Squad’s first season. We were reminded of the importance of early engineering and design education.

Check out more information on the Jeopardy episode and National Engineering Week in general. While you’re at it, check out the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair.

Join Dan Buchner, Vice President of Innovation and Design and designers from Continuum for this one-day workshop — an interactive journey into the world of design thinking. Through short lectures and fast moving and interactive work sessions, Continuum’s designers will take you through the design thinking process from concept to realization.

March 27, 2008
8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Business Innovation Factory
315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101
Providence, RI 02908

Click here to register.

Sustainability. Green. Environmentally Conscious.

What does it all mean? What are the implications; the repercussions, the challenges and the opportunities? As designers, we have an inherent interest and responsibility to look closely at these topics and discover solutions. At Continuum, we believe the solutions and the opportunities in “designing green” exist in better understanding the behaviors, perceptions and motivations of consumers.

Working with our partner, Communispace, Continuum has engaged in a thorough study of consumer behavior as it relates to all things green and sustainable. The study is called Colorblind.

This animation anchored the Coloblind exhibit at the Greener Gadgets conference.

On February 1, 2008, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, and designers gathered to discuss the business case for the greening of the consumer electronics industry. Greener Gadgets is a one day conference featuring key representatives from some of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world, innovators from academic thinktanks, members of startups focused on renewable energy, and some of the leading minds in the word of sustainable design and business. Topics addressed included: design for sustainability, product life cycle management, take-back and recycling programs, energy efficiency, greener materials, and green lifestyle and product marketing. An attached gallery space featured a green prototype office display and technology exhibits from companies on the cutting edge of green tech.

Check out Continuum sustainability champion Grant Kristofek’s recap of the event. Check out the imagery as well.