Portable Light
source: KVA MATx
More
than 2 billion people live without electricity, most in extreme poverty. The Portable Light project is a non-profit initiative established
by KVA MATx that creates new ways to deliver renewable power and light to the
developing world in a textile form that integrates flexible photovoltaics and
energy efficient solid state lighting.
The
Portable Light Project creates new ways to provide renewable power in solar
textiles that can be adapted to meet the needs of people in different cultures
and global regions.
Portable Light provides renewable solar power to
charge a cell phone and provide bright, white light to support community based
education and household economic development.
Portable Light textiles with flexible solar materials and solid state lighting
enable the world?s poorest people to create and own energy harvesting bags,
blankets, and clothing using local materials and traditional weaving and sewing
techniques in an open source model. Portable Light enables people in the
developing world to benefit from flexible solar nano-technology and accelerates
the movement to clean energy worldwide.
The designers who established the
initiative are Shelia Kennedy, AIA and Frano Violich, both architects, from the
firm Kennedy & Violich Architecture. KVA MATx is a division of their
architecture firm.
?Sheila Kennedy, AIA, principal and founder with
partner Frano Violich, AIA, of Kennedy & Violich Architecture (KVA) in
Boston believes there is an exciting horizon for architects to return to the
design of materials. One of the main missions of KVA and MATx, its materials
research unit, is to expand the diminishing role of architects. Its goal is to
forge a new relationship with materials, one that will draw on mass
customization. "We have always taken existing materials and products and
expanded the palette beyond their usual use. Research with new materials is an
extension of what we have been doing all along," she says. Kennedy
describes two main "design drivers" that she believes are changing
how space is made and organized. The first is the advance in solid-state
technology; the second is the wireless and hardwired distribution and
integration of information infrastructure.?
source:
http://archrecord.construction.com/innovation/2_features/0310carbonfiber.asp
You can learn more about the design firm here.
Also check out these resources about the Portable Light project:
Portable Light-- what an amazing idea and
initiative designed by an architect!
What do you think of this project?not just as a
design project, but also as a social initiative? How do you feel about
architects and other designers leading initiatives to empower people and solve
some of the world?s most important problems?
What makes us, as designers, uniquely qualified to tackle projects far
beyond simply designing buildings, spaces, products, etc.?
- This project is something great that is really important to the world. As designers, we are always thinking of something new and amazing or using materials different ways, but what are we really improving? Designs are made to enhace landscapes, cities, schools, etc, that by our standards need to be better, but in reality are leagues beyond what others have. This new design and new use of materials focuses on the improvement of a way of life, giving less fortunate people something that hundreds of millions of people take for granted. It is refreshing to see people looking outside the "need" in metropolitan areas and putting forth research to do something that will really make a difference.
- I believe it is very important what is going on and that more people should get involved in similar objectives. The thing is that many people how think of others and wish to help do not have any experience in trying to find a way to aid those in need. That is why it is our job as designers, our duty, to create new products that will provide shelter and relief to people that for their whole life have known only turmoil, coldness, and sadness. Not only should we take on this challenge because we are qualified, but because this is why we are her studying design. We are in it to change places, change lives, and to make the world we live in a better place. This is our call, it is just up to you, will you answer?
Posted by Andrew Jones on October 10, 2008 at 01:10 AM EDT #
Designers poses global thinking stripped of egoism. We think about the whole world, we are the whole world and the world is us. Being able to see humanity as a whole is our strongest virtue. "LifeStraw" and "Portable Light" these projects have no luxury to them, but actually make the world a better place to live for the poor. They bring us one step closer to Modernist dream - Utopia, a world without suffering. It is a known fact that history goes in loops. I have a feeling we are beginning a new coil now. But unlike early Modernists, who tried to turn the world into fantasy with the beauty of their art, and thus make people forget (in a good sense) about pain, contemporary designers try to solve world problems directly with tools created by blending cutting edge technology with innovative ideas.
What will the new era be like?
Posted by Lidia Churakova on October 11, 2008 at 05:54 PM EDT #
Designers as a whole are forward thinking individuals. We not only think of a device's aesthetic qualities, but how what we create will fuction and how people will interact with it. Designers are always creating spectacular new objects and devices but when a designer comes up with something that is so world changing and groundbreaking it is truly amazing. Designers must have the ability to see what has yet to be done and find out what can be. This "Portable Light" project is earth changing not only in the fact that it may one day provide millions upon millions of people with a common commodity that we enjoy daily; electricity, but it is bettering the world as a whole by pushing the planet towards sources of clean renewable energy. It is also concious of the native peoples way of life by integrating this amazing design into their native culture. I believe that it is our job as designers to try to propel the world forward in socially concious matters. As designers it is up to us to promote change whether it be by providing light, warmth, shelter, or food to millions of people designers need to always think about how they can improve the world one design at a time.
Posted by Reginald Rasaun Howell on October 13, 2008 at 08:41 PM EDT #
The combination of textile and light was a beautiful and remarkable design. Not only was it a helpful tool but also it was a perfect gift to those who don?t have electricity at hand. The Portable Light brought many people in poor countries the gift of light and the opportunity to see and work in dark times. The inventors have put many thoughts when it comes to designing this product. They have thought about the people whom they wanted to reach and about the ways they can use the solar power. As a result, they have found a way to use the existence of solar power along with the textiles elements to make a final piece. The designers have taken their knowledge and in return, created a new usable, versatile object. They have sought the challenge and solved the problems with their creation.
To me, that is what makes us designers. When it comes to being a designer, we have recognized the problems in the world and use our ability and knowledge to create and find the answers. We are required to form trials and have errors. Because there are so many questions in the world, we have to challenge ourselves when it comes to finding the answers and solutions. Because we have so much passion in tackling out projects and our need to think about our social environment, we understand that knowledge and talents are connected. With knowledge to bring in outside sources and the talent to create a beautiful and perfect design, we can find answers to change, to help, and to succeed.
Posted by Jenny N. Le on October 13, 2008 at 10:03 PM EDT #
This project is great because it helps those in need. It has the possibility of having a truly global impact. The flexibility of it's applications are worth investigating.
It's always good for people of any occupation to use it to help others. It's even better when one can help a multitude of people. Everyone should play a part in designing a better world. So naturally I feel great about designers doing something good for people and the environment and I'm obliged to do the same.
A designer's eye on any particular problem introduces a more keen scrutiny to any particular subject, naturally a designer is going to think of ways to make anything more useful and appealing. The fact that designers are taught to address problems by systematically generating and testing ideas makes them uniquely qualified to tackle projects beyond simply designing buildings, spaces, products etc...
Posted by Menes Kedar on October 14, 2008 at 04:35 AM EDT #
This Portable Light project is a not just a design initiative. It is not just a social initiative. It is something even more than that. It is an initiative to break new boundaries in technology and in design thinking. But most of all, it is the beginning of expanding the realm of the designer's scope to the every day object and to the social problems that affect our communities.
The Portable Light project is affecting the poorest people that would most benefit from the product. This is a powerful and humbling project. I look forward to seeing its applications expand outward to our communities. With the USA the leading country in the world for carbon gas emissions, it would be interesting to see this project develop into a movement for a green community. Providing a motive and the ability to use clean energy.
I am very excited to see architects and designers leading these initiatives to make change in people's lives. We, as designers, have the capability to critically analyze problems in our surroundings and bring in our own problem solving skills and our design process to tackle these problems.
Posted by Yasmeen Kashef on October 14, 2008 at 11:25 AM EDT #
If this product was presented without a mention of the creator, an architect would have not been my first choice.
Even though designers are already humanitarians, KVA MATx has created something that addresses far more than look and feel.
The versatility of this solar-powered fabric enables people to use it in any setting or space, and the fact that it is fabric helps people who are not used to electronic products handle it with ease.
Designers are innovators who bring changes not for the sake of change, but with the intention of improving people's lives.
The parts of the world that still have problems simply lack designers.
Posted by Boon Jin on October 14, 2008 at 12:17 PM EDT #
When first reading about the portable light, I was slightly confused as to why they would make it a flexible fabric material, rather than a hard surface. However, after further research not only does its versatility make it easy to transport I found it really clever that the fabric can be woven into traditional bags that people can use while its charging during the day. The designers even took it one step further than that and proposed it be woven into a blanket to use both as a light source and to keep tuberculosis patients warm during the day, then at night provide sunlight to help them recover. The Portable Light is an amazing innovation that will most definitely help underprivileged communities.
Because of the designer?s ability to think creatively in all aspects it allows them to come up with innovations like the Portable Light that have many practical uses. With the current climate and fuel crises I feel some focus should be on designing more objects made out of eco-friendly materials and sustainable resources that can be used in third world countries as well as back home in our communities.
Posted by Sarah Johnson on October 14, 2008 at 06:50 PM EDT #
Note:
(I understand it is past time for my post, but I'd like to contribute regardless.)
Personal Response:
We are first people, then we are designers. I agree with Yassmeen in that the Portable Light Project is firstly a societal initiative, and I would say a specifically a humanitarian initiative, and then a design initiative. Seeing designers working within the context of sustainable development is noble calling but should be recognized a natural calling.
Watching companies take advantage of their wealth of knowledge and resources is very positive and exciting. Specifically, I honor the innovators of the the Portable Light Project for the work they have done. I refuse, however, to separate their good will from the standard that we all should be held to. I will not doubt that as a contributing individual of a greater international community that we do not have something more to give than a lifetime of work solely benefiting personal gain. I will also point out, that as a citizens of such a wealthy democratic nation, we stand in a place of privilege, stability, and leadership. This reinforces even more our vast span of ability to aid others with our skills and resources, as demonstrated in the Portable Light Project.
I hold deep praise for KVA MATx and all the hard working, innovative individuals involved with the Portable Light Project, but I will not alienate their deeds as a distant, solitary, angelic intervention. Rather, I rejoice in a project that heroically bolsters rare examples of such a natural calling, BUT I will not stop short of holding myself to the same standards.
Posted by Alexandria Jarvis on October 20, 2008 at 12:48 AM EDT #