Foresight Design Initiative

Foresight Design Initiative is a Chicago-based non-profit that actively promotes sustainable practices in the Chicago area. Founded in 2002, Foresight is recognized as the Chicago chapter of the o2 Global Network, and hosts the monthly Chicago Green Drinks.

Purpose

The Foresight Design Initiative seeks to improve and sustain the quality of life in the urban environment through smart design, without sacrificing the needs of future generations. Embracing strategies that engage design practitioners, government agencies, the business and non-profit communities, and the public, Foresight collaborates to develop and empower initiatives, build community support and engender a positive human evolution.

History

FDI was founded in 2002 as the Chicago chapter of the o2 Global Network. Since the beginning of 2003, Foresight has hosted monthly Chicago Green Drinks networking events. Green Drinks Business Edition (originally called the Chicago Smart Business Hour) started in early 2005. In 2006, Foresight Design Initiative created the Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance.

Initiatives

As a part of its purpose of fostering sustainable and socially responsible design in Chicago, Foresight coordinates, hosts, and runs a variety of programs intended to strengthen links between sustainable design, business, and the general public.

Green Drinks

Hosted monthly, these are informal community events where individuals in the Chicago area can network over drinks. Each event also features a moderated panel discussion of some aspect of sustainable design. Attendance usually ranges between 75 and 140.

Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance

The CSBA is a network of businesses in the Chicago area that are interested in incorporating sustainability principles into their products, services, and practices. Fields represented within the CSBA include graphic, communication, industrial and interior design, architecture, design research and planning, marketing and entrepreneurship, government and non-profit work, and many others. Foresight provides these companies with resources, connections, and support.

Urban Sustainability Design Studio

FDI offers an annual 8-week program for individuals and professionals interested in gaining experience in researching, devising, and implementing sustainable business design.

Other Programs

FDI hosts the annual sustainability scavenger hunt, Explorago, and the annual networking party, Sustainable Convergence. It also publishes and bi-weekly newsletter and provides online resources like the [http://csba.foresightdesign.org/members/ Green Business Directory] and the [http://www.believechicago.org/guide/ Chicago Sustainability Action Guide] .

ee also

*ecodesign
*eco-efficiency
*eco-innovation
*environmental design
*Green Drinks
*o2 Global Network
*renewable resource
*social design
*sustainability
*sustainable design
*sustainable development
*Center for Sustainable Enterprise

External links

* [http://www.foresightdesign.org Foresight Design Initiative Homepage]
* [http://www.sustainablechicago.biz CSBA Homepage]
* [http://www.o2usa.org o2USA]

Articles

*http://www.id.iit.edu/events/awf/2006/presentations/nicholson.html
*http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/03/foresight_desig.php
*http://www.dexigner.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5321
*http://www.foresightdesign.org/08.08.06_ABC7_Twike.pdf