Emily Pilloton (Issue 18), founder of Project H Design, is just about to publish her first book titled ‘Design Revolution; 100 Products that Empower People.’

In her interview with us, Emily said her goal was “to apply product design skills to solve global problems.” She believes we “need to go beyond ‘going green’ and to enlist a new generation of design activists … We need big hearts, bigger business sense, and the bravery to take action now.” Here here!

‘Design Revolution’ is a compendium and a call to action, featuring more than 100 contemporary design objects and systems that are as fascinating as they are revolutionary; safer baby bottles, a high-tech waterless washing machine, low-cost prosthetics for landmine victims, Braille-based Lego-style building blocks for blind children, wheelchairs for rugged conditions, sugarcane charcoal, universal composting systems, DIY soccer balls …. It makes the case for design as a tool to solve some of the world’s biggest social problems in beautiful, sustainable and engaging ways – for global citizens in the developing world and in more developed economies alike. Particularly at a time when the weight of climate change, global poverty and population growth are impossible to ignore. She challenges designers to be changemakers instead of “stuff creators.”

Copies can be pre-ordered now from Amazon for US$27 + postage.

Emily Pilloton : Issue 18 : Introduction

Photography by Project H

Emily Pilloton is on a mission to make product design relevant, relevant to today’s world and the multitude of issues we face. Even before graduating with a degree in design she had already had a product commissioned for sale. It was a ‘Nest Chair’ made out of scraps of fabric. Quickly dubbed a ‘green’ designer she began to question the point of making anything, even if it was ‘eco-friendly’. Her questions gave form to Project H, the ‘Doctors without Borders’ of product design …

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