Esta semana pasada se ha celebrado en Amsterdam el B Corp Europe Launching Event. Ha sido una gran fiesta con más de 60 empresas que están trabajando por ser las mejores empresas para el mundo. He estado presente durante dos días en este evento y me ha parecido interesante compartir qué son las empr...

Most of you have been following KnowDo longer than I did, so I am not telling you anything new when I say that we have here an outstanding concept with a lot of potential. And let me tell you: We are now ready to explore it! When I was invited by the founders Chris and Filippo if I would join the team as Editor and Communications Manager, I thought (and said): “Hell, yes!” As I wrote here, I was really fond of the website since the beginning, and becoming part of the team was just the logical consequence. The idea of creating a genuine free space, making FB & Co. look cheap and superficial, made the little rebel in me very happy. So, what is my job here? Since I joined this...

“¡No les podemos preguntar eso de forma abierta a los ciudadanos! ¡Somos nosotros los que debemos dar respuesta a los ciudadanos!” “¡Al contrario! Confiar en ellos es una muestra de inteligencia”. Esta conversación representa dos formas de gobernar bien distintas e indica el camino que han adoptado algunas administraciones locales para dar respuesta a algunos de los problemas de la ciudad. En Barcelona encontramos un ejemplo reciente. Uno de los principales problemas de los ciudadanos de Barcelona es el acceso a la vivienda. La crisis económica y el elevado desempleo han mermado las posibilidades de acceder, o incluso mantener, la vivienda para numerosas pers...

Como desarrolladores de software, la evolución tecnológica nos obliga a adecuarnos constantemente a determinadas tendencias de desarrollo, que básicamente escapan de nuestra elección en la mayoría de los casos, por lo que, generalmente, basados en nuestros instintos más viscerales nos entregamos a e...

Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work in microfinance loans. Investment loans were given to poor people with no assets who otherwise do not qualify for for credit. Today nobody talks of these loans as salvation of the poor anymore. The internet site microfinanceschool.com wants the viewer to reflect on this tool against poverty. The idea of giving people loans as means to realize their business idea sounds logical, but loans always come with a price. A client must never forget that loans must be paid back with interests and that there is never a guarantee for success. But in pursuit of prosperity there are always temptations. Creditors can get rich of their, clients a...

Esta semana se ha abierto el portal web La Casa de las Ideas, un proceso de innovación abierta para responder a los retos de la vivienda en Barcelona, retos que son extensibles a muchas ciudades de España. Esta es una iniciativa innovadora, que impulsa un nuevo modelo de gobernanza y pretende corresponsabilizar a las personas y ciudadanía de los retos de la sociedad. Por primera vez, se abre un proceso de innovación abierta en el cualquier persona puede hacer una aportación que será considerada por el gobierno municipal. De hecho, el proceso acabará con la selección de 10 propuestas que tendrán el apoyo del gobierno de la ciudad para favorecer su desarrollo y aplicación. El proyecto se...

If you're looking for innovation, empathize deeply and remain open to feedback! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=19YnJGOJKZo  ...

I've found an interesting post that highlights some interesting readings in the field of social innovation and design for pro-poor business. It includes as well tools for teaching and practiotioners. You can access to the post by clicking hereHope you enjoy it.Pablo...

This is a collection of thoughts gathered from visiting FabLab's across the globe. One of my main reserach goals is to develop methods for global collaboration with digital fabrication: Its all about the documentation: In order for people to build further upon the work that you create, they need to access it. So share your CAD files, machine settings, photos, screenshots and which materials you use. Be empathic: Think about how people perceive the knowledge that you share. What is the first thing people see when they open your CAD file? In which sequence does your photos tell the clearest story? Which information is superfluous? Too much information means no information....

Hi, hei, hola! I’d love to share this snapshot with you: The story behind this? Well, I was recently invited to give a design-thinking workshop at Total E&P Norge, the French oil and gas company based in Stavanger (takk, Kjetil!).  I was trying to reserve a hotel room through the Nordic Choice Hotels site.  Of course the site was in Norwegian—as it should be.  I was happy to see, however, that they offered a “choice” (pun not intended) of languages on the top right-hand corner.  So I lazily picked English.  (Admittedly, I shouldn’t have if I ever want to learn my new country’s language.  My wife would not be happy.) To my annoyance, a window in N...