April 2012
1 post
March 2012
1 post
World Water Week!
In recognition of World Water Week (March 19-25), here are a few water related things we’ve found interesting…
Water Footprint APP
Carry this Virtual Water digital companion anywhere and grow more conscious about how much water our everyday food and beverages really consume. If you don’t have a smart phone, they also sell a poster with same snazzy graphics as you see below.
...
August 2011
1 post
July 2011
5 posts
New Filters
Here are a few new filters we’ve been able to create as a result of bottle sales. Thanks everyone!
Tap Water Visualizations
David Wicks is doing some beautiful work with rainfall & tap water statistics. From the man himself:
Drawing Water uses water consumption data provided by the USGS and rainfall data provided by NOAA/NWS. The data is downloaded and parsed with a series of python scripts. The prints were generated using software written on top of the Cinder framework. The interactive mapping application and...
New Partnership!
We’re happy to announce that we’re partnering with TMA, a non-profit based here in L.A. to deliver BioSand filters to people in rural India. Now when you buy a bottle, you’ll be helping others to get clean water. We look forward to sharing photos and video of work done in the field.
I really dig the vehicle that’s used to transport biosand filters: It’s called a Piaggio Ape and was invented by Corradino D’Ascanio, the creator of Vespa scooters. After WW2, Italy was in shambles so Corradino thought the vehicle would be good tool to help with the reconstruction of his country. It looks like a no-frills, very utilitarian vehicle.
Tap Water & the Decline of Social Capital
Ten years ago, Robert Putnam wrote about the decline of social capital in America (i.e. why we don’t know our neighbors, belong to many clubs, or entertain our friends with dinner parties as often as we used to).
This decline is difficult to measure but it impacts many areas of society. For example when social capital erodes in neighborhoods, people install alarm systems in their homes; an...
December 2010
1 post
Bob's Shoes
It baffles me how ideas like this ever see the light of day. Did no one raise their hand during the brainstorm session to say how bad an idea it was? Or worse yet, did everyone think it was brilliant?
July 2010
1 post
Charity Water Is Brilliant In How They Structured...
I just watched this video about how Charity Water was founded. Scott Harrison recognized a common problem that most charities face. People HATE donating if they think their money will be spent on operational costs of the charity. They want their dollar to go directly to the cause. Because of this, Harrison structured the charity into two parts. 100% of the consumer facing fundraising efforts go...
May 2010
1 post
Tap Is Terrific Process
When we approached Seb Lester about designing a bottle, we told him the design should feel vintage - like this old pepsi logo:
He came back to us with these lovely sketches. All of them we’re pretty swell but the top right one was the best fit.
Next we played around with stylizing the type. We considered adding moisture droplets on the letters like you see below, but eventually decided...
April 2010
1 post
How Much Is Enough?
Seth Godin had an insightful blog post the other day about the nature of donating money to non-profits:
The reporter tells you, I’m going to show you a video of the meat you’re going to eat for dinner being slaughtered. You avert your eyes. Or the fundraiser says I’m going to tell you about easily avoidable suffering in the developing world. Avert your eyes…
Therein lies the problem for most...
January 2010
2 posts
Children's Safe Drinking Water
The previous post got me thinking about companies that are successfully in synch with a social cause. Pur’s Children’s Safe Drinking Water* campaign is a good example. Pur and Dr. Greg Allgood created these packets that transform bacteria and disease ridden water into drinking water. Pur makes water filters and CSDW’s packets filter water also. Pur and Dr. Allgood’s...
From Altruistic to Annoying
On New Year’s Eve I met a woman who was irritated with Tom’s Shoes. “Whenever I go to the shoe store” she said, “the clerk grabs my arm and says ‘If you buy this pair of shoes, Tom’s will donate a pair to a child in need!’ ” She was half joking but she was definitely annoyed. Part of Tom’s success depends on people spreading the word...