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Compassion in Home Design - Sol Austin

During our trendspotting trip to Austin, Texas it was hot. I mean really, really hot. After over 60 days of straight triple digit temperatures, the relentless heat did not let up just because we were in town. On an intense 103 degree day, we headed about three miles outside of town to tour Sol Austin - the only SOL (Solutions Oriented Living) development of it's kind.The development team at Sol partnered with the Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation to provide 16 units of affordable housing; 8 units that will be rental and 8 units for ownership. Unique in design and floor plans, the homes are community focused and designed with passive energy consumption qualities such as widows that face north and south to maximize daylighting while minimizing heat build up during the summer months. A net zero energy development, the homes offer community courtyards, a modular design, water conservation techniques, geo-thermal HVAC and solar energy solutions.

If you happen to be in Austin this weekend (Nov. 20-22), Sol Austin is part of The East Austin Studio Tour that includes innovative home tours, gallery exhibition, foods and unique musical venues across town. And, I am sure the weather must be much cooler this fall!!

From Bowling Alley to Modern Furniture Designs

A bowling alley no longer in use is repurposed into furniture designs that are both modern and earth friendly. The chic designs are crafted from reclaimed strips of wood from what used to be the Tava Lanes Bowling Alley. Designer and woodworker William Stranger created wall hangings and a floor level coffee table as part of this new collection aimed at creating sustainable designs with compassion for the environment.

Via: Inhabitat

Compassion at Work - Giving back at CMG

Our blog will be dedicated to trends in compassion in product design, retail and media for the next few days, and today we wanted to thank CMG (Color Marketing Group) for taking the time to help us all give back last weekend as part of the fall conference in New Orleans. It was hard work, but rewarding, and a perfect example of compassion in the workplace. Thanks to the generosity of CMG and the conference attendees who spent their Saturday with paint brush in hand and the spirit of compassion in their hearts!

Progress Coffee - Austin, TX

We're moving from fun to compassion in our series of emotion in product design and marketing strategy both here on the blog and in our upcoming newsletter (subscribe!). A great example of compassion for community is Progress Coffee in Austin, TX. In a converted part of a 1942 warehouse on the east side of town, Progress is a contemporary and comfortable coffeehouse with local and sustainable roots.

The coffee is fair trade, organic, shade-grown and locally custom roasted by hand in small batches. The food is local and organic, prepared fresh daily using only seasonal ingredients and everything from the cups to the spoons and napkins are compostable or biodegradeable.


Dedicated to being part of the local community, supporting the local industry and their customers, events held at Progress include art installations and music performances. We highly recommend making Progress your first stop when you arrive into town, it's the best place to acclimate yourself to the Austin way of life, get the scoop on events around town and grab a slice of the world's best cinnamon toast!

Color Caffeine - Deep Cypress

Urban Infill - Mueller Austin

The 711-acre Mueller site, vacated when Austin's airport relocated in 1999, is well on its way to becoming home to approximately 10,000 people, 10,000 permanent employees, 10,000 construction jobs, more than 1,100 affordable homes and approximately 140 acres of public open space. Unique features of the airport remain, such as the control tower and an old hanger converted into a theater, but the homes and streets are brand new and great examples of creative home design.

There are row houses and condos, but some of our favorite designs are that of the larger homes. A modern craftsmen style seems to permeate the development and the use of stone, woods and metals make for a unique statement in the Austin area: