Social Value Ventures: Bio - Tech Inspired Designs

Most of the current leading entrepreneurial ventures are committed to solving social and environmental issues.

A couple genius examples I found on CNN.com combine creativity, technology, and problem solving into a new product and perspective.

Suzanne Lee www.biocouture.co.uk/



Suzanne Lee is a fashion designer with a vision to work with less conventional, eco-friendly materials. She uses a kombucha recipe including symbiotic bacteria, yeast, and microrganisms combined in a fermentation process to spin microbial cellulose threads.

Her organic clothing creations are stained by ion oxidation and fruit/ vegetable staining. This process is efficient in its use of waste products, and biodegradable nature. Watch her presentation:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2011/05/28/ted.suzanne.lee.TED?iref=allsearch

The CNN article describes the textile process as well as obstacles and strategies for consumer use:
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-05-29/opinion/lee.grow.clothes_1_cellulose-green-tea-kombucha?_s=PM:OPINION


Thomas Heatherwick http://www.heatherwick.com/

 

Thomas Heatherwick, an amazing British designer, sculptor and architect, showcases some of his latest projects inspired by energy efficiency and bio-technology on TED http://www.ted.com/. My favorite is the Seed Cathedral (above), a UK pavilion made of 60,000 fiber optic rods with seeds encapsuled at the end, that sways and moves with the wind.

His presentation on TED also includes a modern building design that takes up less land, allowing for more natural environment:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2011/06/04/ted.thomas.heatherwick.ted?iref=allsearch

How many times have you dwelled on the solution to a problem just to realize it was right under your nose?

The solution to renewable resources is right there as well. We just need to take a step back, let the impossible be possible, and change the way we think about the world. Obviously easier said than done, but here are some possible steps to change perspective and come up with new innovative ideas:

1. Write down in detail the purpose of a project including objectives to be met, geographic location, significant value in completion
2. Incorporate science and technology into thinking about how to not only complete the project, but intertwine a social value
  ~ In a Social Entrepreneurship class taught by Joseph Sulentic at the University of Iowa, we explored the 'social value' of business ventures. The best example of social value is the plastic water bottle that you buy at the gas station for about $1. Instead of drinking tap water for 1-5 cents, you pay for the convenience of the plastic bottle. However, when you factor in the pollution caused by that plastic bottle if not recycled, is it worth $1? The social costs associated with the bottle water exceed its one dollar valuation.

Short-term convenience seems to be one of the driving forces of Western capitalism. But preservation and conservation of our natural resources will prove most convenient in the long-term perspective.

Shopping Cart Cargo Bike

Check out this awesome innovation! I would definately ride this to the grocery store!!!!

http://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2011/05/shopping-cart-cargo-bike.html

Fire'N up the Grill!!

Last night Donna and I grilled out before Art Walk in Fairfield. 

I marinated chicken breast in Lawry's Lemmon Pepper Sauce for 24 hours and grilled 4 minutes each sideTasty! We also had asparagus and zuchinni on the grill.  Brown rice rounded out our healthy meal.

I'm so excited to begin grilling. Most of my dinners lately have been grilled fish or chicken and veggies!!

Up and Coming!

My first BLOG~

Last night was my first post for Evolving Lens. Living out my excitement to start my first blog, my first composition happened in a spark of enthusiasm. However,   future posts will consist of more efforts as I intend to use this blog as a venue to 'publish' my up and coming projects. The title, Evolving Lens, was a two minute brainstorm with sense of urgency to get the site up and running! But I am happy with its establishment, as our experiences in life are viewed through each our own unique lens which is constantly evolving with time.


Insight to what is 'in the works' ~

Personal narratives such as transition from college to the working 9-5 business world (title to be determined)

Local culture of Fairfield, Iowa series

Business and marketing compilations

News of interest

Travel reviews ~ Des Moines, Burlington, West Burlington, and other destination venues

Stay tuned!

:)

Advice for College Graduates

Only two and a half months over a year ago I graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Journalism & Mass Communications and an International Studies minor. Completion of 18 semester hours of qualifying classes allowed me to receive the Entrepreneurial Certificate as well, a program that I recommend to all college students. I skipped town, or should I say the country, during the flood of summer 2008 to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Pushing myself outside my comfort zone and submersing my life into a different culture is an irreplaceable experience in which I learned so much about who I am.

Today, I am living in Fairfield, Iowa, working as a Media Assistant, or Media Buying Representative for Hawthorne Direct. We are a full-service direct response advertising agency.  My responsibilities involve management and support for eight to ten media campaigns for over 100 broadcast and cable television networks. I also recruit for our company at Univeristy of Iowa and Iowa State career fairs, which is where I got my start.

At the beginning of my job search I was interested in advertising, marketing, and sales positions. I made an appointment at the UI Career Center to discuss my career options post graduation, and have my resume reviewed.  Following through with advise given paid off. I signed up to volunteer at the the September career fair, and compiled a list of ten companies' booths I was interested in visiting.  I took the list with me to the fair which also included bullet points of information under each. Preliminary research on company websites allowed me to be knowledgable throughout conversation with the representatives. I also had questions for each. 

First, I approached the booths that seemed less intimidating due to the fact I was less interested in the positions available. This way my nerves were at ease by the time I spoke to the people I really wanted to network with. After each conversation, I re-composed myself in the student break room and prepared for the next. I also handed out personalized resumes to each potential employer.

The career fair landed me at least three interviews. In November, I received an email from the human resources manager at Hawthorne informing of the Media Assistant position available. I expressed my interest and set up an interview. The interview involved meeting with the HR manager, senior media assistant supervisor, and a phone interview with the director of the media department. Before I left Hawthorne that day, I was offered the position which I gladly accepted.

The job market is very competitive, so remember that anything you can do to set yourself apart is worth it~ experience gained, connections made, etc. Take initiative! Get involved and make the most of every opportunity! Most of all, dream big and live your dreams.