So one day I discover this Conference called TED. The best minds in the one room. Awesome, how cool would it be to be there one day. Then TED start releasing videos of the talks, and to this day one of my favourites is still the acceptance speech by Cameron Sinclair. You see every year TED gives away 3 prizes in the form of wishes. Like the genie in the bottle TED tries to grant the wishes of 3 of these great minds, by asking the other great minds in the room to help. It is an amazing format. Truly inspiring.
Cameron’s Wish:
I wish to create a community that actively embraces open source design to generate innovative and sustainable living standards for all.
Simple plan. One big online database of the architectural ideas that they have been implementing over the years. Emergency accommodation, many innovations, but here is the genius. He wants all the designs to be released under what is called the Creative Commons Developing Nations Licence. Which is in simple terms this: The design is free to use to what ever capacity, money making or not in a developing nation as it is deamed by the creative Commons. But to use the design in a developed nation you would have to approach the designer under normal copyright laws. It protects the designer but allows for progress at the same time.
Cameron’s wish is coming true. The Open Architecture Network is now in beta stage. Never ever believe anyone when they say that one man cannot change the world. This guy is changing the world faster than you can say world changing. And if you are not so sure that he did it one his own, check out the story in the front of their book, Design like you give a Damn. It has a little story about just how small Cameron’s little operation was.
I urge you to watch Cameron’s speech. His inspiring story is on a level that is challenging.
