Smarter phones and better product design6 September 2013
Our Make It Better campaign teams up with London Design Festival
London celebrates the world's best products this month as the London Design Festival takes over outdoor spaces and exhibitions around town.
The cutting-edge technology and design on display is inspiring. But the production of these items can have a terrible impact on people and the environment, such as dangerous mining metals for smartphones.
We're working with design experts to highlight these issues during the festival - and the power of designers to make a difference.
We often praise new products but seldom give consideration to the environmental and social impact on the far-flung places where materials are mined.
The London Design Festival is honoured to support Friends of the Earth's Make It Better campaign to raise awareness of this complex issue.
Max Fraser, Deputy Director of London Design Festival
Design can save us
Our Make It Better campaign wants to see the innovative thinking behind products like iPads applied to making less damaging products.
We want companies to understand their impact throughout the supply chain, then use this to design more efficient products. That could be longer-lasting gadgets that are easier to repair or ensuring valuable materials can be reused or recycled.
Good design has a vital role in this.
At the core of product design, you're moving forward - always an opportunity to evolve, to rethink, to change. That's a great place to be as a designer.
Yves Behar, Designer
Love the product - and the way it's made
Find out more about our Make It Better campaign here or sign up for updates.
© Friends of the Earth/Landor
