CEO for Change Launch Party + Video!

Krystal Persaud — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:12:43 +0000

Thanks to everyone who came out to the CEO for Change Launch party this past Saturday at People of Resource. I got a lot of great advice from design professionals in Atlanta. For more information and photos please visit www.ceoforchange.com.

Below is the CEO for Change video made by Jason Travis:

I started this project back in February. It is so wild to think about how much its evolved in the past 9 months!

CEO for Change Video Still!

Krystal Persaud — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:28:34 +0000

The video will be posted on Saturday, October 15th after the CEO for Change Launch Party!

If you are in the Atlanta area, I hope to see you there!

Contributing Writer for Crisp Green

Krystal Persaud — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:28:03 +0000

Hey all! I’ve lived in the South for 5 years and I still refuse to say “y’all”

I recently got a new position as a contributing writer for an environmental blog called Crisp Green, part of LiveOAK Media. Read about Crisp Green’s motto here. It is really fun and challenging so far. It has been quite a while since I have flexed my writing muscles! Big shout out to Karen MacKay who recommended me for the position.

My first post was recently published. You can read it here: New Film Shows the BP Oil Spill Through the Eyes of a Child

I am trying to attack the position as a “Green Journalist”! I want to uncover great projects happening in the sustainable community and spotlight them.

If you have any story tips, holler at me: krystal.persaud@gmail.com

CEO for Change Booklets

Krystal Persaud — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:54:27 +0000

First booklet made!

All project information will be available at CEOforChange.com soon!

CEO Photos

Krystal Persaud — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:35:45 +0000

I’ve been going around Atlanta taking photos of people who I consider to be CEOs for Change. People who really push industrial design in their respective fields. People who put design OUT THERE and realize how beneficial the design process is in developing innovative & sustainable products.

Above is Shelton Davis of Repurposed Goods and Kevin Shankwiler, Professor in the School of Industrial Design at Georgia Tech.

Here is mine All of these photos will be available on the website soon: www.ceoforchange.com

CEO for Change

Krystal Persaud — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:15:11 +0000

This side project I’ve been working on for the past few months is finally materializing! Read more about it below. There will be a Launch Party in Atlanta in a few weeks, more info about that to come!

CEO for Change is about reaching out to CEOs of top consumer products companies in the US and convincing them that industrial designers can transform their products to be more sustainable and innovative. I want to reach the CEOs of companies like Kellogg or Frito Lay where it’s hard to tell whether they are aware of the differences between designers and packaging engineers.

How can companies transform a product to be more sust…ainable? They can (a) alter the material to be recyclable/biodegradable (b) monitor their energy and material use (c) reclaim it from consumers and repurpose it …

Or my favorite option (d) utilize industrial design and redefine your product. It drives me CRAZY that so many companies do not know what industrial design is!

As an industrial designer, I’m setting the bar high for better and more sustainable products on the market. Companies cannot put out any more excuses, just great products. A major goal of this project is to inform more people about industrial design.

So, how am I reaching out to CEOs, you ask?

(1) I have created “CEO for Change” booklets that I am going to mail directly to 50 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. These booklets will be available for purchase at this event ($10 for professionals, $5 for students)

(2) With the talent of Jason Travis, we have created a brief “CEO for Change” video to tell my story. The video will premier at this event.

(3) With your help! If you support this idea that industrial design is an integral part of creating better and more sustainable products, come out to this event and spread the word. If you work for a company that you think doesn’t value design in its products, feel free to give them a “CEO for Change” book.

Unplug Prototype: Round 2!

Krystal Persaud — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:44:13 +0000

This past Saturday I had a particularly productive afternoon watching Harry Potter and drawing a Solidworks model of my Unplug socket covers. Instead of laser cutting prototypes, like I did for the SDC Fixed show, I want to get some prototypes made that are one solid piece. I changed the proportions a little bit to be more square.

I am using Ponoko to rapidly prototype them, can’t wait for them to arrive in a few weeks!

I hadn’t used Solidworks in a while… it felt good!

Southern Design Concern: Fixed

Krystal Persaud — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:06:35 +0000

Hey all! I’ve lived in Atlanta for about 5 years and I still refuse to say “yall”

Sorry for this delayed post. Here is a photo I took of my “Unplug” prototypes from the Southern Design Concern’s “Fixed” Event last month at The Sound Table. The venue was fantastic and there was a great vibe at the show. I’m really happy with how the display turned out.

For more information about the Southern Design Concern, meander over this way.

I’ve been so busy working on this side project about how industrial design is key in creating more sustainable products. Updates on that one soon!

The Southern Design Concern: Fixed

Krystal Persaud — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:52:44 +0000

The Southern Design Concern is a loose collective of designers who are from or currently working in the American South. Their mission is to bring attention to the work of Southern designers.

This Saturday the SDC is putting on a show called “Fixed”. I am really proud and excited to be part of the show! Here is short description about the show:

Fixed is an exhibition of repaired objects. Specifically, a select group of designers were prompted to explore the concept of repair beyond its literal or functional implications. With materials and typology of object open to their choosing, the designers were encouraged to find loopholes and, if necessary, to subvert the brief.

I am exhibiting my environmental outlet protectors at Fixed this Saturday, 11pm at the Sound Table in Atlanta. Stop by if you live in the Atlanta area!

Unplug – Environmental Outlet Covers

Krystal Persaud — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:36:40 +0000

Photographs courtesy of the lovely Lori Bailey; a very talented designer and a studio buddy of mine from Georgia Tech .

Description – Sometimes it seems like electricity is the magic juice that powers our electronic devices every time we plug them in. These are outlet protectors for the environment I have created; a set of two socket covers that serve as daily reminders of the real source of electricity and the impact it has.

These prototypes were laser cut out of acrylic and painted green. I am working on getting a few 3D printed too. It is really important to note that these models are in no way meant to serve as safety outlet protectors for small children. That is something I am working on addressing…