TechCrunch >> NewlyWish Looks to Disrupt $19 Billion Annual Wedding Registry Industry

In a world of customizable coffees and individualized experiences, the wedding industry is just recently starting to break from its historical lack of options. Pre-nuptials, many couples still face lists of venue-required caterers and fight their way past other undesirable prescriptions for their big days. Enter NewlyWish, a New York-based e-commerce platform that seeks to provide creative registry options beyond big-box retailers.

With its first product for couples, the newly minted winner of the Women 2.0 PITCH NYC Startup Competition provides a custom multi-merchant online marketplace. Users can choose from and register for goods at brick-and-mortar stores, which have historically been excluded from the $19 billion annual domestic wedding registry market.

Read this post in its entirety on TC.

Make a Joyful Noise: Go Go Games Launches for Kids

I can’t think of a new game I’ve been more excited to see brought to the world than the Go Go Games suite (though SuperBetter is also one I’m ecstatic about). The iPad app for children with autism spectrum disorders is the creative brainchild of interaction designer Heidi Williamson, user interaction expert Joy Wong Daniels, and software engineer Alexis Hiniker. The game, which is now available for 99 cents on iTunes, includes colorful train, car, and spaceship matching games that are deceivingly focus-demanding (by design). Kudos are in order for this team, which tested with dozens of children and educators before shipping its inaugural product with imaginative music by Adam Seltzer.

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Designing amid Digital Distraction

You may have noticed that things have been a little, shall we say, crazed in our culture. You don’t need to go far to see that kids, teens, adults, friends, co-workers, and neighbors feel called to check their phones, emails, game scores, and online connections. All the time.

Among other things, researchers have found anxiety, depression, loss of sleep, stress, and weight gain to be tied to excessive time on computers and other devices. In a time of continuous partial focus, a few Stanford designers and I thought that the attention–and intentions–of millions of young people who will be shaping tomorrow’s world deserves addressing.

This year we created Presence Project and a tacklebox-like toolkit to help families reconnect around their passion projects. A few ideas for creating more imaginative experiences and enjoyment in being together can be found here, and these resources can also help on your quest. more

What Happens While You’re Busy Making Other Plans

This morning I saw a little boy, maybe three years old, walk into a coffee shop door (which would have been me on any other day). It wasn’t because he’s just getting his balance; he had a smartphone in hand and eyes on screen, making him a sort of miniature version of the distracted adults around. It has me thinking about how we design for awareness and more multimedia decision-making.

This year our d.school Design Garage team “The Presence Project” will be focusing on this issue exactly, and I couldn’t be more excited about the work. If you’re also interested in mindfulness and multitasking, the New York Times and Slate have run thoughtful pieces this week and there’s lots of dialogue at #calmingtech.

TeachAIDS Talks Knowledge, Expands to Botswana

This week was a big one for TeachAIDS, the Palo Alto-based non-profit that creates HIV prevention software that’s being used in more than 50 countries. On World AIDS Day it launched educational animations with characters and content specific to Botswana as founder Piya Sorcar (pictured left, with Lisa Ling) talked at TEDxWomen about the differences between awareness (knowing that the disease exists and kills) and knowledge (understanding ways to keep yourself from becoming infected). The organization has succeeded–and been culturally sensitive while doing so–where many large-scale campaigns haven’t: helping people get smart about their own health. Sorcar’s recent talk is well worth a look, and you’ll see why the work has received San Francisco AIDS Foundation kudos.

Mindfulness + Education

“Mindfulness in education.” Say it three times (slow).

This weekend The Association for Mindfulness in Education will host a workshop about mindfulness, teaching and education that sounds contemplative and fantastic. Starting with Mirabai Bush, co-creator of Google’s Search Inside Yourself course, and continuing onto the topics of classroom confidence, music, and the practice of being present, it would be a shame to miss. “A Guide for Anyone Who Teaches Anything” author Deborah Schoeberlein will start the Saturday session, which continues with a discussion of working with at-risk teen girls led by the Art of Yoga Project (an organization I work with and couldn’t be a bigger fan of).

Think the topics are of interest? You might also consider the Calming Technology Design Symposium that Stanford will host in early December (details to come and pre-registration here).

Women War & Peace (& What We Will No Longer Put Up With)

Upon this week’s premiere of Women War & Peace, PBS’ series examining the impact of war on those with the XX chromosome, producer Abigail Disney came to Stanford and the Clayman Institute to talk about the project’s genesis. The question of “what if you looked at war as though women mattered?” led Disney and her team to Liberia (where women stood up against Charles Taylor’s regime en masse, wearing white) and Bosnia (where 16 women boldly testified against army members who set up rape camps), not to mention Afghanistan, Israel, Pakistan, and Colombia. The result is striking, frightening, and…empowering. Watching it will make you refuse to allow women worldwide to continue to be erased from the record–and simultaneously demand more political power.

Halle Tecco on Invigorating the Field of Health Tech

Women 2.0 recently talked with Halle Tecco, founder of health startup seed accelerator Rock Health, about picking partners and the post-business school task of selecting participating startups. The non-profit program selected from 350 applicant ideas for its first class and gives startups $20K grants, mentorship, curriculum, and operational support.

W2: You’ve just set up shop in San Francisco with 11 very active in-house startups. Why health?
HT: Working at Apple’s App Store and covering health and medical apps confirmed for me that the medical space could use some of the creativity found in other technology segments. I sat next to the woman covering games and realized how motivated the developers were by the chance to build products they love. I wanted to see those same talented developers working on ideas to improve health. more

My Monday Reflection: Especially Bada** Bloggers

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous.

Between the Alt Summit for design bloggers and my work at Federated Media, I’ve been lucky to work with more than a few talented publishers. Their work speaks for itself, so I won’t be too long-winded in reflecting on five who have particularly inspired me in this crazy ecosystem. In no particular order, they are:

Victoria Smith, SFGirlByBay: The work of the art director turned poster designer turned design blogger is a treat. Saying Victoria has an eye for color is a complete understatement, and she knows modern furniture like no one else.

Shayna Kulik, Pattern Pulp: While many of my favorite bloggers live in the Bay (call me localist), NY trend forecaster Shayna creates bright daily posts that I can’t stop coming by for. Her work is punchy and informative, and you’ll be glad you were sent to see it.

David Pescovitz, BoingBoing: Whether writing about Cindy Sherman posts on sale or citizen science projects, I always learn from Pesco’s work on the tech and life wonders site. A researcher at the Institute for the Future, I’d love to take a science writing class from him.

Zem Joaquin, ecofabulous: Stylishness and sustainability are the core passions of Ms. Joaquin, and I’m yet to meet anyone else who makes conscious decision making so fun. Under the creative direction of Caitlin Bristol, Zem’s ecofabulous is a great resource for safe cosmetics, home wares, and apparel (if you’ve looked at my site searches for the past week, at least). I’m lucky to learn from them.

Audrey Watters, Hack Education: The ed-tech advocate’s coverage has been my go to source as I explore more in education entrepreneurship. Her weekly news roundups aren’t like anyone else’s, and you’d be remiss not to start following her.

Don’t forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Another Earth Shines at SFIFF

I saw the feature length “Another Earth” on a recommendation from a friend and the Times’ intriguing coverage; I left startled and, well, more intrigued. The San Francisco International Film Festival selection and Mike Cahill’s directorial debut is a vibrant look at the aftermath of a car crash caused by Rhoda (co-writer Brit Marling) and her attempts to help the grieving husband (William Mapother). Interplanetary elements are woven throughout, and well, to a haunting score. Friend and filmmaker Alley Pezanoski-Browne called it a “sci-fi film that is actually a character study.” Take her advice and see it.