Massive Change:

By Bruce Mau, Jennifer Leonard and Institue Without Boundaries

Passionately written and captivating in every way, Massive Change challenges the reader to create a new definition of design. One that encompasses not only the built environment, but all that surrounds it. A holistic approach which includes transportation, energy, data bases, materials, and life. As Bruce Mau puts it, “It is not about the world of design; it’s about the design of the world.” Massive Change is about design, and its utterly boundary less condition. Design as a singular method of making all things to be. Design as a global and limitless concept. Each end is there through design, whether it be planned or via the design of chance and chaos. Design of today was a way of changing the world for a better and more efficient existence

His book promotes the project that it is a part of ; global unity, a new way of communicating, a new way of thinking, a new way of designing. From the efficiency of the car to the controversial featherless chicken, design is an essential element to produce the better product and life we are capable of establishing. Through design we can accomplish anything

The 21^st Century is a time of conscientious choices. The word sustainability is around every corner casually dancing across café conversations or gallery opening disputes. Choices are no longer made merely on aesthetics or price, but with a concern for long term consequences. The world seems smaller and all choices made effects all of our neighbors. Bruce Mau’s Massive Change acts as the voice behind the conscience. It provokes debate and excitement about every day design. Through illustrations, interviews and essays Bruce Mau and his team break away from trendy, walkway design and show a brighter broader face, one that is for the good of the world.

Through a collaboration of scientists, engineers, artists and would be inventors Mau and his staff have gathered interviews, graphics and essays that promote beneficial world design. Using the power of design to solve not just to create, the book shows a new side, a new potential to design, or more accurately global design. What if design could stop global warming, create drinkable water from our sewers, or fuel from peanut shells? The book holds examples design that encompass more than what I ever though possible. From redesigning law, corporations and the military to protecting plant life. Design is more than it ever has been, and this book leads the way to what it can become.

This is a 240 paged manifesto on design and its future for the good of the world. It is a collection of ideas and inventions that take design away from merely function and form and into a realm of global aid. At first it seems disorganized with all the imagery and frantic text, but then it simply draws you in. The larger than life images, the bold questions and intriguing theories have the reader asking aloud, “Design can do that?”

Most importantly this book is not about a world gone wrong, or a reprimand of what we need to do, it is a message of hope of what we can do. The future of man has always rested on the choices we have made. All actions have reactions, each choice we have made has lead to what we are today. That being said, we have always asked ourselves, “What now?” Each time man achieves a significant threshold in life, a hovering silence of “ Wow, we can do that, what else can we do?” strives us to move onward without totally adjusting to the change we just integrated through the accomplishment just achieved. Bruce Mau asks the question, “Now that we can do anything what will we do?” The shear volume of people in communication with each other enables us to do whatever we want now. We have grown larger, the world smaller, not through population growth, but through technology. The percentage of people who can be connected today as opposed to even 3o years ago gives us a powerful resource to knowledge and abilities world wide. Man can be everywhere, reading everything, helping everyone. Massive Change simply asks the pertinent question , what will man choose?

Thios is an amazing book! A must read, with 4 big penguins!