Founded in 2008, A Better World by Design was an initiative of Brown University’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) and is still one of the only conferences of its kind. Based on improvements in design and technology, the aim of the conference is to deal with as many ongoing issues in these two spheres as possible, in order to pave the way for future
conservational developments in society. Currently in its fourth year, the conference now hosts approximately 1,000 guests, an immense figure for a completely student-run conference. A Better World by Design depends completely on the goodwill and volunteer initiatives of students who run the entire three-day conference (like Hannah Burn, Special Events Coordinator and this week’s campus cutie). However, the organizing committee never has a shortage of volunteers. I am given the impression that anyone who has had anything to do with the conference keeps coming back. Through a process of carefully vetted applications, a new batch of volunteers is brought in, while previous volunteers become committee members, and the previous committee takes on a more advisory position. This movement among committee members ensures a new outlook and a fresh take at every conference, while still retaining the expertise gained over the previous year. It reflects a pragmatic practice of retaining competence and professionalism among their staff.
Camped out in Faunce’s Memorial Room the night before the conference, I feel as if I’ve walked into an electoral campaign. There are boxes of conference paraphernalia overflowing from the corners of the room, various committee members are talking earnestly in split groups, someone is discussing the compilation of gift bags, and badges for press and visitors are being put together with a pristine sort of efficiency; it’s all quite overwhelming. I find myself sitting amongst a group of people sending out emails and looking over statistics and finances, each talking over the other. Speaking to Paige Kirstein ’12about what the purpose of A Better World by Design is, she answers that it is based on the belief that, “design and technology can create social change.” The conference brings together “everyone from designers, businessmen, engineers [and] politicians,” giving the conference an extremely diverse background and an international acclaim that is rarely found in other student-run conferences. Paige explains that the conference was initially started as a desire for achievement that went beyond the standard classroom experience. The conference revolves around speakers, panels and workshops, with an exhibition on the final day that showcases numerous works of design and technology, all created by students. This year’s conference exhibited an impressive range of speakers and panels in topics ranging from “Zero Energy” to “Design Thinking for Social Innovation”. Through workshops and tours, the young entrepreneurs attending the conference have the opportunity to mix with professionals from across the country and gain initiative to further their projects.
While the showcases at the final expo do not necessarily need to be eco-friendly, the conference itself concentrates on environmental management. The goal of A Better World by Design this year was to provide “zero-waste” daytime events. The food system for the conference is based on a “cradle-to-cradle cycle” with support for local food initiatives and continuous composting. As part of this “zero-waste” proposal, A Better World by Design teamed up with a number of local producers, from farms to bakeries—an impressive demonstration of the values that the conference stands for.
The conference has expanded rapidly in the last three years. However, further plans for expansion may be hindered, given the fact that A Better World by Design is already at capacity if it plans to maintain its location at Brown. It would be the breaking up of a brainchild of the University, and would perhaps lose the prestige and appeal that it currently holds. If the conference cannot expand logistically, then its future plans should include further improvement and diversity in the conference’s structure and organization, which, largely, seems to be the focus of the committee this year. Both Paige and Raaj Parekh ’13 mention that, for the most part, bringing in a range of professionals to speak at the conference has not been too problematic: most of them are actually keen to come and speak for no charge. It is not surprising, given that the attendees at the conference are some of the smartest up-and-coming innovators around today.
What A Better World by Design does is bridge the gap between professional expertise and student
entrepreneurial efforts, with those already in specialized fields further fueling student initiatives or promising them future opportunities. On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the conference, Paige describes the conference as a “fresh look at design” which is “innovative” and, essentially, “shows a hopeful future.” She further states that a lot of the elder attendees have admitted that they have “come in feeling old and leave feeling young.” It is easy to simply state that design and technology are the catalysts that improve standards of living and society. It is rare, however, to see it put into practice so efficiently and competently, which is what makes A Better World by Design stand out from the rest.