Feb 14, 2019Urban market failures — can we design for a great city vibe?It started with a little café offering some gluten-free muffins over a rugged wooden counter, a few utilitarian tables set against a white brick wall, and a laidback bearded barista. Next came a throwback homeware shop selling enamel mugs, extra-long candles, and some wooden brooms; a Japanese inspired boutique selling…Cities8 min readCities8 min read
Jan 7, 2019A looming US-China War? Watch out for early signals of human swarmsThe short-horned grasshopper tends to be a harmless, gentle and rather introverted creature. Laying low in grassy meadows, it spends its days leisurely chewing on plants and stridulating familiar tunes by rubbing its legs together. Yet when these mellow creatures reach a certain point of geographical density, things begin to…War6 min readWar6 min read
Nov 6, 2017Systemic problems: dysfunctional — NO, coherent and self-serving — ABSOLUTELY!Along what used to be derelict warehouses and muddy waterways, runs the renovated Regents Canal, a popular destination for Londoners, especially on lazy weekends. Local councils have put much work into cleaning up the nine-mile towpath, with new waterfront apartments and trendy little cafes mushrooming along the route. Yet such…Housing4 min readHousing4 min read
May 23, 2017Social Fluidity as Resilience — an ecological view of 21st Century inequalityWe know inequality is bad, but what kind of problem is it? Is it a problem of wealth distribution? Is it a problem of moral justice? Is it the threat of political instability? A breakdown of social cohesion? Or part of the liberal world order woes? While obviously concerning all…Inequality7 min readInequality7 min read
Apr 11, 2017Illiterate grandmothers — solution to what problem?In my recent ‘Politics of Development’ lecture, my students and I analysed the uplifting case of the Barefoot College. This inspiring initiative set up by the Indian social activist Bunker Roy, is best known for its ‘Barefoot Solar Engineer’ programme. …Development4 min readDevelopment4 min read
Published inThe Startup·Apr 4, 2017Innovation Dynamics — tell me why its shit!Sitting in a bustling neighbourhood sidewalk café with a couple of old friends, I order the breakfast combo delight. Tel-Avivian breakfasts are famous for their combination of lovely little tapas assortments of salads and cheeses, served with eggs, and steaming breads fresh out of the oven. Unfortunately my spread is…Food3 min readFood3 min read
Published inVunela·Mar 31, 2017Rivals as patterns — Vogue vs Street StyleThroughout history, strategy tended to focus on the ultimate ‘rival’ — a worthy opponent who could be meticulously assessed for its wants, needs, resources, and abilities — Athens had Sparta, China’s seven warring states had each other, the USA had the USSR, and Holmes had Moriarty. …Fashion3 min readFashion3 min read
