John Thackara

John Thackara, www.thackara.com, is director of Doors of Perception.

This global design network, with offices in France and Bangalore, connects together a worldwide network of paradigm-changing designers, technology innovators, and grassroots innovators. This unique community is inspired by two questions: "what might life in a sustainable world be like?"; and, "what design steps are needed to get us from here, to there?". Doors' activities are chronicled on an award-winning website and email newsletter, and discussed at its celebrated conference which takes place every two years in India.

Once a London bus driver, John Thackara's most recent book is In the bubble: designing in a complex world. John is also programme director of the new biennial Designs of the time (Dott 07) in North East England. Doors' recent clients have included a major airport, Europe's high-speed train network, the Hong Kong administration, the University of Amsterdam, the regional development agency One North East and the Design Council in the UK, and a top five global logistics company.