I like her BusinessWeek slideshow on The World's Most Influential Designers, particularly for the folks dedicated to social impact that she promotes. Thanks, Helen. Another nice piece!
Hilary Cottam
U.K.-based Cottam, 43, has become one of the most important figures in public service design and innovation. With a PhD in social sciences and a former life as an urban poverty specialist at the World Bank in Washington, she researches the emotional, social, and economic effects of design. Through her current organization, Participle, Cottam looks to tackle some of society's biggest issues—ageing or education—and solve them through design. In 2005 she was named U.K. Designer of the Year by London's Design Museum for her work in public service innovation.
Cameron Sinclair
Trained as an architect in London, Sinclair, 36, co-founded a nonprofit, social, and humanitarian-focused organization called Architecture for Humanity (AfH) in 1999. Headquartered in San Francisco, AfH now has 53 chapters of 4,650 volunteers working on projects in 13 locations around the world. Working to promote the power of design as "the ultimate renewable resource," Sinclair & Co. most recently leaped into action to help in Haiti, mobilizing forces to provide immediate shelter as well as plan longer-term reconstruction after the country's crushing earthquake.
Smith's philosophy: Low-cost, low-tech solutions made locally can help communities in developing countries address crippling problems. The MIT engineer and professor spent time in India as a child and in Botswana as a Peace Corps volunteer, where she saw the devastation of poverty firsthand. Her inventions include a hammermill to convert grain to flour as well as an incubator that requires no electricity. Smith, 47, was awarded the MacArthur "genius" grant in 2004, and she runs the popular and influential D-Lab class at MIT to teach international development and technology in the developing world
Valerie Casey
Recognizing the challenges of introducing sustainable principles to an industry that quite literally thrives on producing more and more, well, stuff, Casey, 37, founded the Designers Accord. It's a fluid, global coalition of designers and business leaders who are committed to agreeing on and implementing stringent yet practical environmental design policies. Having honed her own design chops at companies such as Pentagram, frog design, and IDEO, Casey now works as an independent consultant, advising clients such as NakedPizza on how, when, and why to use design appropriately and responsibly.
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