Merry Wanderer of the Night: Search results for design

Copyright by smart | Design Leif Podhajsky
smart urban stage is a global online project dealing with the term FUTURE OF THE CITY. We ask pioneers from metropolises around the world to question the urban status quo. the results are visions, ideas and solutions for sustainable lifestyles, modern social systems and forward-looking developments in the fields of architecture, design and technology. the worldwide event series is exhibiting ideas and solutions of forward thinking future makers. the brand behind this online project is the car manufacturer smart, which hosted special events throughout Europe during the last two years.

Now smart initiated the FUTURE OF THE CITY AWARD (with a final voting in January 2012). Within the 2nd round Month Of Design Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz (Stuttgart/Germany) Gordon Wagener was requested to ask 8 designers around the world: In reference to urban mobility, how will design evolve in the upcoming two decades?
One of the contributing designers is Leif Podhajsky – artist and creative director from Melbourne/Australia. His work explores themes of connectedness, the relevance of nature and the psychedelic or altered experience. By utilizing these subjects he attempts to coerce the viewer into a realignment with themselves and their surroundings. Leif creates artwork for a number bands and record labels around the world such as Modular Records, Sony Music, Lykke Li and Tame Impala and has exhibited work in Berlin, the Netherlands, Sydney, and Melbourne.
In the upcoming decades design will play key function in a new era of human existence. One in which humans have attained a higher state of awareness, a realization that we are all connected and a want to exist in a free, supportive and sustainable society. A society that places a high value on imagination, science, music and art as a way to move forward as a species and explore both inner and outer space, a place in which we share knowledge and embrace our differences.
In reference to mobility and the way we engage with our environment, our cities will become a product of a world where the monetary system has failed, as this seems to be the only way forward from a flawed ideology that gives nothing of value back to our society. We are witnessing a taste of this failure in our present day and things will only get worse.

We will need design, technology and ideas to break the syntax of this current model to create cities and environments in which humans well-being and not corporations are placed at the top of the chain. We need to see a rise in renewable energies with mass transit networks built to reflect this, the advent use of bikes and bike lanes, more green areas, communal gardens and parks, more ways to diminish waste and recycle, free widespread access to unregulated internet and localized production are just a few things that hopefully will start to change how we interact and live out our lives in the cities of the future. Leif Podhajsky

All other contestants and their artistic work can be seen here. Now it is your turn to show them which one has done best. Vote for your favourite design work by clicking on the vote button. Voting ends November 28th (6pm CET) ! the two artists with the most votes will take part in the Final Future of the City Award voting in January 2012.

VIA The Future of the City