Ration Me Up at the Design Museum, London

Yesterday myself and a few colleagues headed down to the Design Museum, London for the launch of Sustainable Futures – Can Design Save the World? a new exhibition that:

presents key examples of how design can deliver a more sustainable future. The exhibition examines not only the objects themselves but also the infrastructure in which objects are produced and exist. At a time when designers and architects are under pressure to ‘think green’ and education establishments are placing greater emphasis on sustainability in the curriculum, this exhibition highlights how design can, literally, help save the world.

And, the exhibition features our very own Ration Me Up monthly carbon ration book.

 In October 2009, the newly formed The Ministry of Trying to Do Something About It issued carbon ration books at nef’s event The Bigger Picture.

Part of a collaborative Arts Council -funded project and the brain child of the artist Clare Patey (also known for Feast on the Bridge), Ration Me Up was an art installation at The Bigger Picture that aimed (with the help of the ration book) to illustrate the level of change is necessary if there is to be any chance of keeping global average temperature change below 2 °C.

None of us could have imagined how popular the ration book would become, and it is now a rather sought after item. Ed Miliband (who was surprised that one carbon ration would only get him a single pair of pants), writer George Monbiot, chair of the IPCC Dr Rajendra Pachauri, and environmentalist Bianca Jagger now all have one – along with several hundred others.

You can find more out about the Ration Me Up carbon ration book at the Ministry website. And, there is a short video explaining how the ration book works here.

The Design Museum will also be stocking the carbon ration book soon. So, if you want to get your hands on one, head down to the Design Museum.

Whilst small actions can lead to change, the ration book shows that a significant shift in the way we live our lives and reducing the sheer amount of stuff we consume is needed. By making active choices and changing habits, you might even find that consuming less opens a whole new world of possibilities.

The Ministry is planning to develop the Ration Me Up project further, so watch this space for updates.

Infomation about the event below.

Sustainable Futures – Can Design Save the World?,  Design Museum, London

31st March 2010 until 5th September 2010

Can Design Save the World? That’s the question the Design Musuem ’s Sustainable Futures exhibition attempts to answer through examining the objects on display. Taking a selection of projects, existing or are in the making, this exhibition presents key examples of how design can deliver a more sustainable future. The exhibition examines not only the objects themselves but also the infrastructure in which objects are produced and exist. At a time when designers and architects are under pressure to ‘think green’ and education establishments are placing greater emphasis on sustainability in the curriculum, this exhibition highlights how design can, literally, help save the world.