The Cooper-Hewitt National People’s Design Award will soon be d0led out to what the Internet-using public determines to be the best-designed new product or service. Interestingly, two of the top competitors at the moment are Apple’s incredibly high-tech iPhone and on the other side of it…TOMS Shoes, a company that created a philanthropic business model. They took a traditional South American shoe design, marketed it in the U.S. for a low price and gives a free pair of shoes to a needy child in South America for each pair sold.
Two radically different models of innovation through design. What’s your vote? Head here to be heard!
2 responses to “Design Award Showdown: iPhone v. Philanthropic TOMS Shoes”
Interesting. Put up like that it makes the iPhone look like a naked, selfish emperor standing at the corner of a busy throughfare. Changing the world, huh? Changing the perspectives indeed.