Several RISD people and studios are referenced in three new design books published this fall. President John Maeda and faculty members Charlie Cannon and Liliane Wong are all quoted in Warren Berger’s new book GLIMMER: How design can transform your life, and maybe even the world. One of Wong’s students, Laura Sussman BIA ’08, is also mentioned in reference to her independent study project for a school in Tanzania. A poster design studio taught by Graphic Design Professor Nancy Skolos is given four pages in Steven Heller’s and Lita Talarico’s Design School Confidential: Extraordinary Class Projects from International Design Schools. And President Maeda is cited as a design expert in Roger Martin’s new release The Design of Business.

You may have read about  Air Bed and Breakfast, the brainchild of RISD alumni Joe Gebbia ’05 ID and Brian Chesky ’04 ID. They started their web company in 2007 to connect budget travelers with locals who are offering places to stay – anything from an air mattress in their living room to a private bedroom in a luxury loft. Now there is Airbnb Groups, a new group feature that allows RISD members to host and travel with others in the RISD tribe. Although just launched, the group already has 51 members signed up through word of mouth alone.

Read about one person’s experiences with Airbnb on this  New York Times frugal traveler blog. With listings in 90 countries, photos of accommodations, a secure payment method and a guaranteed connection with other RISD alumni, there’s no reason not to plan a trip with your tribe soon!

Providence’s New Urban Arts executive director Jason Yoon ‘01 PT recently traveled to the White House to accept a Coming Up Taller Award from First Lady Michelle Obama. The award, an initiative of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, is the nation’s highest honor for out-of-school time arts and humanities programs (only 15 groups were cited). This is amazing and deserved recognition for the 12-year-old organization dedicated to empowering young people through creative development and providing the studio/exhibition space to do so. Each year New Urban Arts helps 150 Providence public high school students and 20 emerging artists. Keep up the important work and congratulations!

(Jason and the First Lady are pictured here with Rosalia Velis, a New Urban Arts alumna.)

RISD students have worked hard to pull together RISD Exposé, a “pop-up” gift shop/gallery featuring their own original works of art – perfect for holiday giving. Working with the Office of Student Life, the organizers found a suitable location in Downcity Providence, invited all undergrad and grad students to submit work and designed the displays and presentation. They’re offering paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, clothing, furniture, glass, prints and sculpture at the temporary shop, which will be open daily (except for Mondays) from 11am to 6pm through December 12. Located at 232 Westminster Street, the inviting venue is full of extraordinary handmade gifts you can’t find anywhere else. If you can, stop by for the grand opening on Friday, November 20, starting at 7pm and/or support their efforts by giving everyone on your list the perfect gift of student-made art this holiday season.

The above object from the recent Design Science symposium held here at RISD gives you a sense of the wonderment we all observed together. -JM

Last year I met the multi-talented Amanda Koster in San Francisco where I did a short interview with her while waiting to speak at Web 2.0. I was so impressed with her story of how she created her own category of photojournalism participation in a way that is only possible today. I saw her again this year, and she kindly introduced me to her new book. I never podcasted the interview before (along with many other things I haven’t had the time to organize) so apologies for the delay. -JM

Prof. Ellen Driscoll, Department Head of Sculpture, recently closed an exhibition in Brooklyn using her unique approach to reusing plastic bottles and transforming them into delectable organic installations of white geometric forms. I caught her speak at the sabbatical presentation last year in November and was excited to receive the above photo. The exhibition will be covered in Art in America and specially featured in Sculpture Magazine. -JM

I caught the opening of Prof. Rachel Berwick’s installation entitled Zugunruhe at the David Winton Bell Gallery at Brown. I was absolutely mesmerized by the glass needle that sits in the anteroom to the “aviary” hidden in the large room behind. It runs from now until Feb 14, 2010 so if you are in the area I invite you to check it out. Prof. Berwick is the department head of our Department of Glass. -JM

Prof. Kyna Leski fresh off her appearance at Pop!Tech points us to an interesting symposium from this weekend at RISD. -JM

Nat Hesse ‘76 SC, RISD Trustee and President of the RISD Alumni Association, took top prize for his sculpture “Slouching Hero” at the Sculpture on Main Outdoor Art Exhibit in Marble Falls, Texas, earlier this month.  His work will remain on Main Street between Second and Third until next fall, so if you are passing through, stop the car and take a look!