Sarah Hay

The Secret of Happiness

Sarah Hay — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:49:06 +0000

Last week sustainability + food was on my radar. This week, it's happiness. Maybe because of Coca Cola's massive Open Happiness campaign for the 2010 Games, maybe because spring has come early and the cherry blossams make everything cheery. The Happiness Project recounts the author's daily adventures in pursuit of happiness, and a NY Times bestseller, while the Future Well is a new design firm specializing in health and happiness. I'm thinking that the secret of happiness is simply discovering the things in the world that make us smile. For example this public poster series by the Dopludo Collective!

public poster - break the pattern

Sarah Hay — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:35:23 +0000

public poster - secret to happiness

Sarah Hay — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:13:17 +0000

Arriving at 0

Sarah Hay — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:11:05 +0000

Bill Gates TED talk is being called one of the most important speeches of the year. It is about climate change. Although we cannot see the talk yet online, Alex Steffan from World Changing has kindly summed it up for us, with some added critical analysis and links to supporting articles. Anyone interested in sustainability and climate change should read it and talk about what it means on a more local level with friends and family. To me, this is big news because the political has been removed. It's neither right nor left, conservative nor liberal. It's real. It's human.

Gates spoke about his commitment to using his massive philanthropic resources (the Gates Foundation is the world's largest) to make life better for people through public health and poverty alleviation ("vaccines and seeds" as he put it). Then he said something he's never said before: that is it because he's committed to improving life for the world's vulnerable people that he now believes that climate change is the most important challenge on the planet.

On the consumer level, the solution to achieving zero emissions is through net zero buildings (buildings account for up to 30% of emissions). NetZeroLiving.ca is a project that was recently launched by our friends at LightHouse. Ci was hired to come up with the creative concept and copy writing for the campaign – Make an Impression Without Leaving One. You can download the PDF brochure here, or visit the site to learn more – design principles, case studies and incentive programs surrounding net zero homes in British Columbia and Canada.

Olympic Fever, Village Culture

Sarah Hay — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:47:15 +0000

With only two more days until the opening of the 2010 Olympic Games, Vancouver is an exciting place to be (so long as you are not in a car). The buzz, mounting as people flood into the pedestrian friendly streets full of art installations and photo opportunities. I think I am most excited about the people watching, to witness the city transform and of course all of the (free) cultural events. The world is here.

It was announced that the Olympics have won the bronze medal for their efforts in environmental sustainability efforts. The David Suzuki Foundation praised organizers for building energy-efficient venues, using clean-energy sources, relying on public transit during the Games, and offsetting part of the event's emissions. The first Olympics to take such an integrated approach. They fell short in communicating these efforts: To date the 2010 Olympic organisers haven't made the most of their opportunities to tell the story of their climate initiatives to Canadians and the world.

Riding past the Olympic Village is a beautiful feeling as I now sense the huge accomplishment felt by all those involved, thousands of workers poured their blood and sweat into the development. The Olympic Village represents so much of what is possible in the realm of building and community. So much was learned. Segue to The Challenge Series, an educational publication about the planning, designing and building of the Village. Broken into seven chapters that each cover a different topic, the narratives focus on the challenges we face in light of climate change and in pursuit of sustainability (including all pillars). It focuses not only the urban design strategies and technological innovations (eg. district energy, rain water catchment, radiant heating and cooling) but also on the people who were involved in the project.

Of course more could have been done in terms of communicating all of the sustainability efforts, and it still can. Measuring or quantifying sustainability is like aiming at a moving target and is something that can only emerge over time. I am, like so many others, curious to see how the city recovers after all is said and done. These 12 short days have changed so much already.

On another note, not to be missed is work by Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer – Vectorial Elevation:

Vectorial Elevation is an interactive artwork that allows participants to transform the sky over Vancouver, Canada. Using a three-dimensional interface, this web site lets you design huge light sculptures by directing 20 robotic searchlights located around English Bay. A web page is made for each participant with photos of their design from four cameras located around the city.

Amazing photos of the interactive installation can be seen at vancouverisawesome.com, while the offical CODE live website where you can add your own design is here.

The Week in Food

Sarah Hay — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:39:11 +0000

Food in the media is at the top of my radar these days. I've been cooking a lot of great recipes at home and with such mild weather, I am getting excited to start planting some seeds in the earth. I was most impressed to see Michael Pollan on Oprah a few days ago. Delighted and hopeful in thinking just how many people across North America were tuned in to his brilliance and concern. The average American eats fast food four times a day, he reports, while we have inversed our food to healthcare spending. No wonder organic food is not at the top of mind as a sustainability issue for most, according to The SHIFT Report. However we do know that 60% of North Americans have made changes for the better when it comes to food, and 20% plan to make some healthy changes.

A recent peer reviewed study demonstrates that there are indeed harmful pesticides found in everyday food products. Chensheng Lu, the principal author of the study writes: "Once you switch from conventional food to organic, the pesticides (malathion and chlorpyrifos) that we can measure. The level returns immediately when you go back to the conventional diets." The study is yet another wake up call for people to make more conscious choices related to food.

From Food Inc. raising questions about where our food comes from, Julia and Juliet bringing love back into the kitchen, to Chipotle changing the nature of fast food in the USA, to Pollan's new book Food Rules, to the rise of urban agriculture and people spending more time in their kitchens, signs are pointing to the fact that North Americans are waking up and asking the questions about what we are putting in our bodies and how it effects us.

Also noted:

Our friends at Spud! would be happy to know that they were featured on Trendcentral's daily feed – Farm To (Your) Table: Fresh, local fare can now be delivered as you like it.

And for those of us in Vancouver who read the New York Times, a very complimentary and flavourful review of our culinary offerings as the world comes to pay us a visit.

Bon Apetit!

SPI banner 2010

Sarah Hay — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:19:45 +0000

Ci is a consultancy

Sarah Hay — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:44:49 +0000

When Vocal Globalists Are Also Artists

Sarah Hay — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:12:05 +0000

Part of the fun about Twitter, I’m finally discovering, is that you get to ‘follow’ people you only ever get to see on TED talks, or by reading their books and magazines. John Maeda, President of Rhode Island School of Design, has an extremely refreshing and optimistic outlook on life which makes him that much more enjoyable to follow! One of his latest tweets that caught my attention was a quote by author Palolo Coelho "Art and storytelling are the only bridges we have left in a world that is collapsing." From Ci’s perspective, this is especially pertinent (in a strategic / romantic / Alchemist kind of way).

So what happens when our Vocal Globalists* are also Artists and Storytellers? Good things. For example: Challenge Your World 20/20 is a partnership between Challenge Your World and Motionographer. 20 video artists create 20 wild, whimsical, and unconventional machines that solve environmental issues. They believe “If we’re going to transform the world we have to push ourselves to think differently.” You can see the videos here. My favourite has to be Recycle Invaders by Thiago Maia!

* Vocal Globalists are passionate about social and environmental issues and make up 34 percent of the population. They are more concerned about Global Warming than any other group. They are very much connected with their community, talking amongst friends and writing blogs. They take the time to be aware of the issues, and are simultaneously anxious and confident about the future (SHIFT Report Sustainability Passion Index (SPI)).

A Desire To Communicate

Sarah Hay — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:04:13 +0000

Dr. Ron Burnett, President of Emily Carr University, and former teacher of mine shares his optimistic view of the Literate Future:

“The beauty of language is its flexibility and adaptability. The various modes of conversation to which we have become accustomed over centuries have a textured and rich quality that depends on our desire to communicate. That desire crosses nearly every cultural and political boundary on this shrinking earth. Rather than worry about whether text messaging will undermine literacy, we need to examine how to use all of the new modalities of communications now available to us to enhance the relationships we have with each other. That is the real challenge, quality of exchange, what we say and why and how all of that translates into modes of expression that can be understood and analyzed.”

What I take away from his closing paragraph is by simply having an open mind to our now multi modal existence, we may be able to better cherish and appreciate conversations, share knowledge and strengthen relationships; that the real challenge is to not waste our time and energy with mindless distraction. After all, feeling connected to family, friends and communities is the top sustainability issue for North Americans. Today, there have never been more ways to stay connected with one another.

I will be posting here more frequently, and am looking forward to it. Garnering information from multiple channels – feeds, tweets, newspapers, blogs and the SHIFT Report findings – to record and support the cultural shift to sustainability. It is happening, friends.

Light Land

Sarah Hay — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:12:45 +0000

Bike safety, now with lasers

Sarah Hay — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:11:36 +0000

It's been too long since my last post. Similarly, it's been too long since I've taken my bike out for a ride what with all the snow Vancouver received over the holidays. It's all about to change...

There's been a lot of talk in Vancouver lately about sustainable transportation, bike safey, etc. One idea that is sparking debate in the local papers is whether or not the City should delegate a lane each way on the Burrard Bridge to cyclists and inline skaters. I like the idea of course, but wouldn't it be amazing if at all times, cyclists had their own identified boundries that cars could see and mind on every street? Enter Light Lane. Light Lane projects, with lasers, your own personal bike lane complete with bike icon behind you which follows you along your journey. Unfortunately this amazing idea is still in its conceptual state but I and many other cyclists are intrigued. I like it so much, I'm thinking of ways to make it myself! Or.. maybe someone already has on Instructables.com... I wouldn't be surprised.

[via:bikehugger]

Ci's Another Black Christmas at PSFK

Sarah Hay — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:29:32 +0000

PSFK, a fabulous global trends blog, posted our 'Another Black Christmas' desktop illustration to share with their readers. Here's what Dan Gould wrote:

Christmas cards are a long standing tradition, and a nice gesture for sure - but what about the huge environmental cost? Conscientious Innovation, a Vancouver based sustainability marketing consultancy has tackled this issue by creating an interesting alternative. Called “Another Black Christmas” their holiday greeting takes the form of a desktop background designed by artist Meghan Hildebrand. The image is primarily black, so it uses less of your computer’s energy and comes in four different configurations appropriate for Macs, PCs and different screen sizes. Download here.

Thanks PSFK, we like it too!

Hard times can increase innovation and collaboration

Sarah Hay — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:15:02 +0000

Last Sunday's Vancouver Sun featured an article, written by sustainable design consultant Kim Davis, on innovation and collaboration in light of economic uncertainty and instability. In it are many insightful quotes from Kierstin drawing from the SHIFT Report findings on North American's deep desire for connectedness with friends, family and community. Read the article here online or download the PDF version at the bottom of this page.

Truth Behind the Green

Sarah Hay — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:21:04 +0000

Another well crafted article written by Kierstin has been published, this time in Speaking for Impact (Canadian Association of Professional Speakers). You can download the publication PDF here and scroll to page 12 to read the article. Kierstin shares plenty from The SHIFT Report's intelligence and makes some interesting connections between environmental and social pillars of sustainability, consumer attitude and action, all in the context of strategic brand planning for the current economic and cultural times we face. Read it while it's ripe.