Blog Archives

DESIGN STRATEGY, WORK AND REFLECTIONS

The Notes on Design Website My work in Mozambique and various other things that I am involved in sometimes generates interest in the design community. I am myself of course very happy to tell about my projects, to promote the work of the so many people that I meet and operate with. There are such […]

April 30, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN  No Comments

PANCHO GUEDES, ARCHITECTURE ON A GRAND SCALE

PHOTO ALBUM OF PANCHO GUEDES A collection of details from my track around Maputo on a nice rainy Sunday morning. I went last Sunday on a treasure trail to a number of the buildings designed by Pancho Guedes, the other of the two most famous Portugese architects. I actually live in a great block of […]

April 29, 2010  Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in: ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN  No Comments

PRIVATE HOUSE ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT

The final touches on the floor slabs, rendering the concrete so it is ready for use when the house is built, and the wooden neighbouring house in the background. Trees and mountains. Even though I am mostly working with design strategy, located in Mozambique, I still love to be an architect. My projects mostly take […]

April 29, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN  No Comments

CREATIVE ECONOMY AND AFRICA

The Palace of the Nations in Geneva where I had a meeting with the people running the Programme on Creative Economy and Industry One part of development is culture. It is somewhat different from infrastructure and basic needs. Some time before moving to Mozambique I remember someone from Doctors Without Borders saying that those that […]

April 22, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN, PONDERINGS  No Comments

ISAC FACULTY OF ART AND DESIGN TIMETABLE

Like all schools ISAC has its timetable. It is the first proper one since this is the first year and the last semester we ran on a simpler basis. I like to post the timetable here for the record of how the first semester is run. The timetable in the latin countries (and ISAC adheres […]

April 22, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: ISAC - KHiO  No Comments

BOOKMAKING – A METHOD FOR DESIGN

Documentation, reflection, introspection, fun. The book to the left I made for my neighbours in Benand, with the cover out of a tourist dish-towel with an image from the village. The other images show the bookmaking in progress on the kitchen table The sketch book is the most important tool that the designer has. Yes, […]

April 15, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN  No Comments

NEW SCHOOL YEAR IN ISAC

Students filling the assembly hall on the ISAC campus The second semester in ISAC started today on the 10th of March at 10:00. The school year here in Africa-Australis (Afica south of the Equator) is from early March to end of November. Different to the other side of the Equator. Summer holiday is December and […]

March 10, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN  Comments Closed

VISUAL ARTS AND DESIGN IN ISAC

Sóley designed this banner last August when the panic for the start of ISAC was in full swing. The use of the squares is actually based on the African mask or shield pattern where there are squares formed by bamboo or straw construction. The leaders for the establishment of ISAC at that time were also […]

March 7, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN  Comments Closed

ONE YEAR IN MOÇAMBIQUE

Now, one year has passed since I moved to live permanently in Maputo. Many things have happened in that year. There have been revelations beyond any of my expectations, ups and downs. For one thing, it is the fifth country I live in with the fifth language and it has been lots of work really […]

March 6, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: PONDERINGS  Comments Closed

PORTUGESE MINISTER OF CULTURE VISITS ISAC

Pocession on the campus, where Madame Canavilhas hopefully managed to understand slightly our conditions. Students and teachers welcomed her dearly Now that the second semester is soon starting in ISAC, things are really coming to place. It is great to have a bunch of new teachers after only the four of us ran the running […]

March 5, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN  No Comments

Filimone Meigos, the director of ISAC turns a corner

The flamboyant director of our new academy here in Maputo decided to become 50 on the 4th of March, the day the Portugese Minister of Culture Madame Canavilhas came for her formal visit to this institute with a great and promising future. Filimone is never want for words and responded to the small fest arranged […]

March 5, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: PONDERINGS  Comments Closed

DESIGN PROGRAM IN ISAC, SEMESTER START SOON

The campus has very nice areas, here the teachers are walking between buildings The design teachers in ISAC are a small hardcore group with very good working spirit. Helder, Gabriel and Karina met in my house today to go through the program named: INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN. It is good to have run the first semester […]

February 28, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN  No Comments

TWO TYPES OF DIALOGUES ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE: ISAC

On day two of the week, full house listening to philosophy and visions I am fine with understanding Portugese when we are in normal conversation, in shops etc. and I have given talks and lectures in the language, using PowerPoint for support. When the dialogue moves over to philosophical concepts and strategy, I must admit […]

February 22, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN  Comments Closed

FASHION SHOW IN MAPUTO

Mozart is a school of crafts, where young people can attend for few months at the time to get experiences of the various traditions in making here in Maputo. There is ceramic, sewing, metalwork, jewelery and many more. There was a small festival last weekend with various performances by the young peope, a kind of  […]

February 16, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN  No Comments

DAY OF THE PROFESSORS IN ISAC

A part of the round table today. The general director Filimone Meigos is furthest to the left Today was the first meeting of professors this semester at our new academy ISAC. Now the school is running proper since many positions have been evaluated and filled. That means we have good crowd and the faculty is […]

February 15, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: DESIGN  No Comments