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Consumer Behavior Economics Trend Watching

Watch John Gerzema’s “The post-crisis consumer” talk at TED

John Gerzema says there’s an upside to the recent financial crisis — the opportunity for positive change. Speaking at TEDxKC, he identifies four major cultural shifts driving new consumer behavior and shows how businesses are evolving to connect with thoughtful spending […]

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Design Innovation

Watch Joshua Walters’ “On being just crazy enough” talk at TED

At TEDs Full Spectrum Auditions, comedian Joshua Walters, whos bipolar, walks the line between mental illness and mental “skillness.” In this funny, thought-provoking talk, he asks: Whats the right balance between medicating craziness away and riding the manic edge of creativity and drive?

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Design

Watch Stefan Sagmeister’s “7 rules for making more happiness” talk at TED

Using simple, delightful illustrations, designer Stefan Sagmeister shares his latest thinking on happiness — both the conscious and unconscious kind. His seven rules for life and design happiness can (with some customizations) apply to everyone seeking more joy […]

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Economics Innovation Trend Watching

Watch Dave Eggers’ wish “Once Upon a School” at TED

Accepting his 2008 TED Prize, author Dave Eggers asks the TED community to personally, creatively engage with local public schools. With spellbinding eagerness, he talks about how his 826 Valencia tutoring center inspired others around the world to open […]

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Innovation

Watch Sam Richards’ “A radical experiment in empathy” at TED

By leading the Americans in his audience at TEDxPSU step by step through the thought process, sociologist Sam Richards sets an extraordinary challenge: can they understand — not approve of, but understand — the motivations of an Iraqi insurgent? And by extension, can anyone truly understand and empathize with another?

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Design Economics Innovation Trend Watching

Watch Noreena Hertz’s “How to use experts — and when not to” talk at TED

We make important decisions every day — and we often rely on experts to help us decide. But, says economist Noreena Hertz, relying too much on experts can be limiting and even dangerous. She calls for us to start democratizing expertise — to listen not only to “surgeons and CEOs, but also to shop staff.” […]

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Design Innovation Trend Watching

Watch Michael Pawlyn’s “Using nature’s genius in architecture” talk at TED

How can architects build a new world of sustainable beauty? By learning from nature. At TEDSalon in London, Michael Pawlyn describes three habits of nature that could transform architecture and society: radical resource efficiency, closed loops, and drawing energy from the sun […]

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Design Economics Innovation Inspiration

Watch Steven Johnson’s “Where good ideas come from” talk at TED

People often credit their ideas to individual “Eureka!” moments. But Steven Johnson shows how history tells a different story. His fascinating tour takes us from the “liquid networks” of London’s coffee houses to Charles Darwin’s long, slow hunch to today’s high-velocity web […]

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Design Economics Innovation Trend Watching

Watch Jason Fried’s “Why work doesn’t happen at work” talk at TED

Jason Fried has a radical theory of working: that the office isn’t a good place to do it. At TEDxMidwest, he lays out the main problems (call them the M&Ms) and offers three suggestions to make work work […]

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Innovation Trend Watching

Watch Oliver Sacks’ “What hallucination reveals about our minds” talk at TED

Neurologist and author Oliver Sacks brings our attention to Charles Bonnet syndrome — when visually impaired people experience lucid hallucinations. He describes the experiences of his patients in heartwarming detail and walks us through the biology of this under-reported phenomenon […]