Challenge #1: Desirable Alabamian bamboo / Swarovski Digital Crystal

• SLIDES from Swarovski Design Museum Exhibit Case and Bamboo Challenge

• Additional Link: film from the talk they did at the museum: Swarovski and the Commissioning Process 

• Additional Article in Whitewall Magazine

  On Alabamian bamboo: 

• ‘Bamboo Bootcamp’ slides
• Resource Fiber site
• NPR on bamboo in Alabama 
• Alabama Bamboo in bikes 
• Alabama first lady supports bamboo 
• Firm wants to manufacture bamboo in Alabama 

Tips on the challenge:

• Obviously you should think beyond these links – they are just a starting point.
• Bamboo and Alabama are not typically branded as luxury. What might you learn from the Swarovski and Design Museum case that could change this?
• If you propose partnerships, be prepared to discuss why the parties would want to do this / why it would be desirable for them.

Tips on moving quickly and productively:

• Set clear goals and discuss what the output will likely cover
• Divide work by competency and schedule, set roles where possible (e.g. research, visual mockups, exhibition pitch, strategy paragraphs, etc)
• Expose yourselves to more diverse stimuli early on
• Set up transparency (shared docs where possible) so you can trust you are each making good progress
• Use constraints to make fast progress (constraints in terms of focus, materials, format, etc.)
• Try multiple approaches at first, but don’t get too precious about which one goes forward. 
• Decide when to decide on one design. And stick to it. 
• Support each other rather than suspect or doubt each other