DESIGN SCIENCE/GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LAB RESOURCES: Perspectives, Conceptual Tools, Global Data, Global Options

The following books provide examples of the work of the Global Solutions Lab and the methodology used to develop that work.

DESIGNS FOR A WORLD THAT WORKS FOR ALL
Solutions and Strategies for Meeting the World’s Needs: Volumes I–III

(2021- 2024 Editions)

The 2005–2024 Global Solutions Lab books, Volumes I, II, and III, are now available.

The 2005–2007 Design Science/Global Solutions Labs were held at the UN and the UN International School in New York City.
Since 2008, the Global Solutions Labs have been held at the UN in New York and Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. The 2020 and 2021 Labs were held virtually due to the pandemic. The 2022 Lab was held at Chestnut Hill College. The 2023 Lab was both virtual and in-person at Drexel University, the 2024 was virtual.

DESIGNS FOR A WORLD THAT WORKS FOR ALL
Solutions and Strategies for Meeting the World’s Needs: Volume I

Volume I contains:
PART I—Food & Water for All: Increasing Food Production/Decreasing Loss; Water Management; Governance
PART II—Clean Energy for All: Local Energy Systems; Regional Energy Systems; Global Energy Systems

Order Volume I soft-cover book here. Cost $7.00
NOTE: The Amazon listing for this book, Volume I and for Volumes II below, indicates that the book was published in April 2020. This is inaccurate. Both books are the 2021 versions. (The inaccuracy seems to be due to a technical issue with ISBN numbers.)
Download the free PDF here (8.8 MB)

DESIGNS FOR A WORLD THAT WORKS FOR ALL
Solutions and Strategies for Meeting the World’s Needs: Volume II

Volume II contains:
PART I—Education for All for Life
PART II—Global Health for All
PART III—Fair Economic Systems/Participatory Governance/Sustainable Life for All
PART IV—Human Rights for All

Order Volume II soft-cover book here. Cost $7.00
Download the free PDF here. (17 MB)

DESIGNS FOR A WORLD THAT WORKS FOR ALL
Solutions and Strategies for Meeting the World’s Needs: Volume III
(2024 edition)

Volume III contains:
PART I—Climate for All for Life
PART II—Electrifying Africa

Order Volume III soft-cover book here. Cost $8.00

Download the free PDF here. (5.8 MB)

Tools for Changing the World— A Design Science Primer
(New— 2024—edition of Design Science Primer)

Order Tools soft-cover book here. Cost $10.00
Download the free PDF here. (5.5 MB)

 

Context and Background/Perspectives, Tools and Systems

“Perspective is more important that IQ.” — Nicholas Negroponte
Systems are a way of seeing the world, of making sense, organizing of the world.

The following articles and papers provide additional context and background to the conceptual underpinnings of the Global Solutions Lab.

By Buckminster Fuller:

Design Science (videos)

Design, Design Science, Design Science/Global Solutions Lab
Design Science Methodology
Design Science with Medard Gabel (60 minutes)
Making The World Work for Everyone

State of the world (videos and reports):

Global Statistical Data Sources
Data is what we use to define the world— where we are, the present state, where we have been, the past state, and where we are heading— the future state. This link is to a comprehensive list of global statistical data sources that are used in the design science process in the Global Solutions Lab to design and develop comprehensive solutions to global and local problems. Reliable global and local data are the foundation for implementable, effective design and change. The more innovative, radical, disruptive, or revolutionary the change, the more solid and convincing the data needs to be.

Global Options

The above link takes you to a database of global and local options for reaching the UN’s SDGs and/or meeting basic human needs— “making the world work for 100% of humanity” that have been developed over the years in the Global Solutions Lab and elsewhere.