I'm not a Facebook person. I'm just not. Yes, I have my opinions about why it just doesn't really appeal to me (and creeps me out quite frankly), but for the sake of a more informative and useful blog post I will spare you the details. One online social network that I actually find truly amazing and interesting though is the Open Architecture Network, which is described as "an online, open source community dedicated to improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design." The project is being realized by the good people at Architecture for Humanity as a means to connect designers and propagate architectural solutions and knowledge to solve problems. Among those good people (co-founder of the network actually) is Architect Cameron Sinclair, who will be stopping by OCAD this evening to give a talk about the role of the designer in the pursuit of a sustainable future.

Though the Open Architecture Network is his most notable project of late, there is still far more to mention about his design work throughout his career...

Aside from being the recipient of 2006's TED Prize, which honours visionaries and thinkers who've had overwhelmingly positive contributions to the world, he also co-edited Design Like You Give A Damn, and is a contributing writer to Worldchanging. Tonight's talk is entitled "When Being Sustainable is a Matter of Survival", and it's generating quite a bit of excitement around the OCAD campus this week. Like all lectures in the school's President's Speaker Series, this one is free for all to attend. The auditorium is expected to fill up fast though, so visitors have been advised to arrive well before the start time of 6:30pm.

For anyone unable to attend tonight but still curious about the issues being addressed, you can watch Mr Sinclair's talk at the 2006 TED Talk conference here. And while you're there, take a look at some of the other equally mind blowing presentations. I assure you they will not disappoint.

Cameron Sinclair's talk, "When Being Sustainable is a Matter of Survival" begins 6:30pm at OCAD (100 McCaul St, Auditorium). Admission is free.