Small Talks: Cities
Last week we hosted the first Small Talks of 2015, welcoming around 50 guests to our London Studio… and what a corker it was. The evening was brimming with urban ingenuity courtesy of three fantastic speakers. They shared their perspectives on how they tackle urban challenges and shift perceptions of our surroundings through our interactions with cities.
Like the two previous Small Talks, we brought together speakers that not only have interesting ideas and points of view, but are actively involved in turning their ideas into reality. We aim to find speakers at the forefront of new types of industries and disciplines. And by sharing their honest and insightful truths behind the work they produce, we hope to uncover the commonalities and differences to help draw inspiration beyond our own industries.
If you want to know more about future Small Talks events head to smalltalks.madebymany.com and submit your email, or follow us on Twitter.
–
Holly Gramazio - Playing in Cities
Holly is a game designer, with a particular interest in games for public spaces, events and installations. As well as a seasoned speaker and writer, Holly also curates game events and creates her own games in digital and physical spaces.
Holly’s talk focused on Play in Cities, looking at examples of projects that have encouraged play in existing places, and the physical characteristics of public spaces that make this more possible.
Lovely talk by @hollygramazio on making cities playful - I'll be looking at london with fresh eyes #smalltalks
— @simonnash January 22nd, 2015 19:37
–
Tim Fendley - Legible London
Our second speaker was Tim, partner of Applied - the way finding consultancy. An information designer, speaker and writer - Tim is at the forefront of urban way finding, developing new approaches to understanding and explaining places.
Tim shared Legible London with us - a new information system for London based on user-focused principles. Tim’s talk was a whistle stop tour of how such a project came to be, from the design process and decisions behind the undertaking, to the challenges faced by London and many cities today.
.@TimFendley teaching how our hippocampus operates in LDN, & applying the principles of Margaret Calvert. #smalltalks http://t.co/VyWLVaUM7G
— @KaraTM January 22nd, 2015 20:29
–
Claire Mookerjee - The Human Scale in Cities
Claire is a designer and urbanist who currently works at Future Cities Catapult, the UK's urban innovation agency. Claire has worked in a number of fields looking at the human scale in the city in relation to both architecture and the design of products and services.
Amongst other provocative thoughts around urban spaces, Claire spoke about her recent project Cities Unlocked that uses new technologies and user-centred design to make cities easier to navigate for their most vulnerable citizens.
@ClaireMookerjee @futurecitiescat "A human-centred approach & empathy will allow people and organisations to move mountains" #smalltalks
— @playwiththepony January 22nd, 2015 21:03
–
A huge shout-out to Holly, Tim & Claire, and for all of the many that helped us get ready for the event in the office.
.@smalltalks_mxm holy burritos! this was one of the most exciting, informative events I attended for a while. It sure feels like a miniTEDx!
— @criography January 22nd, 2015 22:21
–
For further reading on Cities:
Our own Paul Hamilton writes about Designing the Digital City
Check out the trailer for The Human Scale, based on the work of Jan Gehl
Are smart phones reducing the basic roles of public space? Down with Selfie Sticks
If you liked Tim’s talk on way finding then this podcast from 99% invisible might be right up your alley.
Previous Small Talk speaker Peter Bilak’s Works that Work delves into Constructing the World’s Biggest (Disassemblable) City
Continue reading
Unbillable Hours #12
Another weekly round-up of topics, thoughts, articles or activities that the folk at MxM have been sharing or doing between ourselves in London and collea...
We're hiring a Product Management Intern in New York - CLOSED
We're looking for a Product Management Intern to join us in our New York studio this summer.
Unbillable Hours: Futurist Edition
Unbillable Hours a weekly collection of things that we’re excited about; this ranges from activities that we’re doing (office yoga is still on several wee...