now it's time

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...to take action!
Everyone is talking about change.. yes, it is time to change; but definitely it is time to take action to enable this change we are all talking about!!!

Like Annie Leonard says at the end of the Story of Stuff video, it is time to re-create the society in which we want to live. Half a century ago, some economists created the consumer society for their own benefit. Of course, the society moves by itself, but these ways of actions were human-made. It is our turn now: let's think and participate in the design of the next society!

"The best way to predict the future is to design it"
-- Buckminster Fuller

I've been researching about new ways of living since already 3 years and I realised that people think a lot but never really do... and it is so frustrating for someone like me who wants to take action!
We have to be realistic: thinking and planing things for a global scale is hard to achieve. In my point of view, to make things happen we have to focus working on a local scale; and then share our experiences in boarder scale, to give others the possibility to reproduce great examples at their place and finally make things happen in a global scale!

This Palomar5 camp is exactly in that focus of think global, act local (bring people from everywhere in a same place, to make them create together and then all will be able to re-use these new techniques in their own environment). I would be so glad to be part of this project, let's work on the creation new ways of working and make them become reality!
I have already many ideas on the topic, I will be happy to share, improve and test them with you and all theses creative young minds - all different but, unite by the same motivation to make things move!
Waaaw, rien que d'en parler, Ich freue mich!

Please feel free to skype me (magovsky) or to write me an email (magalie.pedrono[at]gmail.com)

I can't wait to hear from you!
: )

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my role in such a team

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I am definitely a dreamer but I would say an activist dreamer, always ready to take action in order to make my dreams become a reality, with the head in the sky and feet on the ground! I am also a sense seeker, I do recognize myself in this category of strategic thinkers, long-term oriented, who have an overview of what is going on, and are able to give structure to projects. Thanks to my design background, I am part of the alchemist ones as well, able to give tangible form to ideas and concepts.

Like I already said several times I am totally into sustainability, maybe this could be the 6th group: the sustainability group, those that focus on harmony. I realised that you didn't use this word in all your website; probably because it is so obvious that you do not need to mention it. :p
For my part it is obvious too, but since it my main "fight" I cannot speak without using it (I dare you to count how many times this word appears in the blog - hahaha). I believe that the de-growth philosophy can help for better ways of living (and of working naturally).
The de-growth of materialism, productivism, and other stupid things done without really thinking about uses or impact; in order to enable an ever-growing minded action, artistic or philosophical reflections, and social experiences!

I know... this is a bit too idealistic or utopian.
Many of my friends used to see me as the freaky one for all my beliefs, especially the designers: I don't have the usual profile fighting against over-consumption, and being really into philosophy and simplicity.
It is true, but I don't mind... it does not mean that I cannot do my work.
By the way, my degree project hardly focused in this direction won two prizes in France (+)(+) ...and I take it as a proof that such design projects can be attractive to the professional world.

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philosophy...

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As I said I am not a traditional product designer and the first reason is probably because I do not believe in the consumer society. So why should I design for it!?
I do not credit passivity, I trust in human action. I believe in people as actors of the services they use and I design in this direction. I design to empower people in their everyday life with a big focus on sustainability and well-being.
I use design tools and strategy to get people away from traditional unsustainable models, and attract them to news lifestyle and behaviours by proposing new experiences as much desirable and enhancive.
I thus consider my job as a “help to the transition” and my main motivation is anchored in the emergency there is to change massively in our Western way of life... I think I finally found my way and I'm fine with it!

I believe in social experiences as I believe there is nothing more important than human interactions, hence I totally trust in the concept of DO-tank! (...actually I have the project of building one in France with my collective: new ways of actions and sustainable systems for the city of Nantes). I already met such an environment and it was always great experience and innovative reflections! Cultural diversities and multidisciplinary team are for me the best way to reach innovation by trying to mix different paradigms, and unite people around new ideas!
I definitely want to take part in the creation of news ways of living together. I think it is an enormous challenge, but that we can easily take it if we unite. In this sense it has a big part of politics, citizen politics! Besides it make this project even more complete because meaningful.
You think of it, you trust in it, you work for it, you live for it. : )

For my part, I realised that I am totally into it now, and in every level of my life from the very personal to the professional one.
I am glad, I feel coherent in my actions, and I clearly want to continue that way!

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inspiration and visions

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picture from CuldeSac.es
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projects and people who inspire me:
Sustainable Everyday Project
I met François Jégou (on of the founders) at the Changing the Change conference, I was already following it before. This is for me the reference on the topic of using design approach to enable sustainable lifestyles. I like this project because it is multi-focused, based on the participative innovation and involves international hard-motivated individuals. They work both at prospective level that for the very moment. For me it is the most complete project I ever saw about creating new ways of action, and every new project makes me dream!

thinkpublic
I had the chance to talk to them by phone, for a research I conduced on Social Design. For me, this design studio represents exactly the kind of activity you can do with design for Social Innovation. They "think public", they work with the public sector on national, regional and local level. They are highly engaged in what they do, they align their activities with their beliefs and principles; that's why they are trusted, and clients come especially to them. I would love to run or work in a such design company, mixing altruist ideology and creative tools, to help people to live better.

Platoniq and their project Bank of Common Knowledge
Platoniq is a cultural co-operative system. They work in several projects based on knowledge and material sharing. They aim to bring the internet possibilities to the street, to explore the news ways of sharing, working and living together. They are really close to the anarchist ideology, empowering people to live independently. Bank of Common Knowledge is a really good example of the power and attractiveness of such a project. It is based in a really simple idea but is extremely efficient and federative. I like this project very much, I definitely share and trust in this philosophy!

CuldeSac™
The two founders were my teachers of Conceptual design when I was in Spain, they inspired me a lot with their point of view, their techniques. One night, they invited us in their studio. It was the most incredible working place I ever saw. Open space, really cosy, big tables in the middle because "the best ideas use to come when you are relaxed" and there is no other better moment to help each other than having a meal! This place looks like home, they use to listen to music, to cook and share many moments together, this in order to better work. I definitely loved this way of working, of trusting and sharing with your co-workers... It is so informal and so efficient in the same time, they won a lot of prizes! I really loved it and still dream about doing the same for my own!

...and of course the SocialDesignSite project that I am involved in, because sharing and learning from each other is so important to improve ourselves in a conscious way!


Theses stories are models for me in many different levels, I do believe that we should work for things we trust, in a comfortable environment, because there is nothing more efficient than working with fresh and healthy mind!
Therefore I really want to create my own studio, to mix all theses positives exemple I saw across europe and live them day to day; and I am sure that this vision of the ideal studio will improve if I had the great opportunity to participate in the Palomar5 creative camp!

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some great experiences

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internationals workshops:
2007 - Socrate ip Program - Workshop in Toulouse, France
Design & Dance unfortunately only the french version works (photo album)
It was initiated by as an European experience. Three universities of France, Italy and Spain were part of the project. We worked on the everyday life gesture. I was there as a Spanish student since it was during my Erasmus time, and that was a bit peculiar. The workshop took place during two weeks; the first one for experimentations, and the second for a real production. You can have a look at some of our work here.

2008 - Designing Connected Places - Workshop in Pollenzo, Italy
Open and Safe Places (+)(photo album)
It was part of the project Torino World design Capital. 120 design students have been selected to participate in 6 various topics. With my team we worked on the perception of fear in the public spaces. The result is not so impressive but the experience was so rich thank to all these young minds from all over the world... One week was definitely to short, but great experience anyway! Have a look at the list of participants and our final production. You can also download the publication here it's in Italian, but you have nice pictures to look at :)

conferences:
2006 - ethics2006 in Nantes, France
2008 - Changing the Change in Torino, Italy
2009 - undjetzt?! in Postdam, Germany

living aboard:
In 2005, I discovered England (2 months of KFC)
In 2006/07, I discovered Spain (6 months of Erasmus)
In 2009, I discovered Berlin (8 months of Praktikum)

...and one of my most amazing travels: Road Trip Português

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my skills and core know-how

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I am a strategic designer, my skills are related to the design and the project management I studied. My main abilities are strategic design for Sustainability and Social Innovation (I'm used to design service and systems) and communication design (conceptually and graphically speaking)
I am an entrepreneur. I am always up to collaborate in the creation of projects and the collective I am involved in will officially born this winter.
I am a language lover, I can speak fluently French, English and Spanish. I have some notions of German, Portuguese and Italian.

My core know-how is based the analysis of uses and behaviours (observing, understanding etc.).
I work on how to involve people towards new ways of actions, new services in order to enable sustainability.
My degree project about Sustainable Clothing, is a good example of this approach, please have a look!
If you want to see some other samples of my work, you can have a look here, here, here and here. : )

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it's all about passion

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picture from GanzToll.com.ar
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I am a very passionate person, actually I cannot differentiate my passions from my works because I choose to work on/with my passions. I definitely think that we should all live our dreams otherwise life has no sense. And that is what I try to do everyday, live my dreams and not fall into the routine. As James Dean says: dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

Thinking on this post, I realised that all my passions are related to humans, probably because for me, the only thing that really matters is how we live and connect with the others.
I thus love having inspiring conversations, lively philosophical or political discussions and organising events or projects that bring people together. I am besides interested in everything that is foreign and different: I love observing people, learning from the difference. I love learning about new cultures, learn new languages, experience life aboard etc...
I am also really into sustainability, how to live in harmony with people, with the nature, and with ourselves. Maybe I am too spiritual about that, but I think it is a really interesting topic and my findings definitely help me to improve my everyday life : )
I totally fan of human action therefore I definitely enjoy everything that is hand-made: music, cloths, food etc... Be actor of your life!
I discovered the web 2.0 some years ago and I am now crazy about it, and principally thanks to the possibilities it offers, I love observing all the news uses and behaviours around it.
Personally, I'm involved several social networks, but my favourite by far is couchsurfing* ...and I guess you know why! :p

(*you can have a look on my CSprofile if you want to have more about my hobbies and interests)

Feel free to add me on Facebook, if you pass by!

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the diary one

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Hello my name is Magalie Pedrono. I am 23, I was born in December 9th, 1985 in France, under the sign of Sagittarius.
I'm half Breton and half Martinican; even if both are French regions, they are sparated by 6528 km and respective culture and way of life are totally different. I grew up in this mixed context and that is probably why I am so interested in everything that is foreign and different.
I always lived in a really simple rural environment before moving to Nantes for studies. What a clash: I loved it as much as I hated it sometimes. There are too many contradictions in the urban life... Why things have to be so complicated?
...I finally found my way, and actually I love all the expediencies that brought me to be who I am today. I learnt a lot.

I studied product design, maybe to realize that it was not what I wanted to do with my creativity...
It is a bit contradictory with my convictions: traditional design is, in my point of view, more related to over-consumerism than a real improvement of the quality of life. Hopefully I learnt many other things associated to the design practice: observing social environments and understanding the people needs in order to created effective solutions, using design thinking to go out of the preconceive ideas and connect different contexts; and applying communication skills to create strong identities, inspiring universes, etc....

In 2008 I passed a degree in management of innovation project and entrepreneuriat, to improve my strategic skills. Then I developed an strong interest in systemic thinking that is way I came to Berlin in march 2009 to do a traineeship in the Systemic Consulting think-tank SEgroup. I learnt how to develop my research and observation skills in systemic way and I am really glad about it because it was missing me to work fully as a strategic designer.


I felt in love with the sustainable and cultural urban project in l'île de Nantes, that is way I planed to create my Social Design studio there after finishing studies. [poliglot] (as the ability of understanding different languages) will be a collective of young creative people focused in responsible creation for new ways of living. For my part, I will mainly work on citizen participation and creating social experiences (new communication models, work practices, knowledge transfer techniques, public services etc...) by co-designing projects with clients and users, and by facilitating workshops and seminars.

Actually...... I can't wait going back to Nantes to start this project with my collaborators, but I am really happy here in Berlin and want to continue enjoying learning what the city and the SEgroup have to share with me as much as I can!!

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un truc de ouf!

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Saturday 15th. 11am. I'm in my room in Berlin, listening to The dø, and I decided to create this blog as my application for the Palomar5 Creative Camp.
I just heard about it yesterday thanks to Joana with who I work for the SocialDesignSite project, and my first reaction was:
This is soooooooo great!!
Too good to be true, I definitely want to be a part of it!

This camp is in full adequacy with what I'm working for right now, by the topic but also by the format! I do believe that workshops and do-tanks are one of the best way to be creative and innovative. Working together, being complementary, learning from each other, empowering ourselves and giving life to our visions!
This one seems to be so amazing, I'm so excited about it!

I hope you will enjoy to discover more about me thought the different blog entries.

Peace,
Magalie

Want to see what I look like?
(just click here - achtung this will be in french!)

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