Upcoming Conference: 101 More Things Designers Can Do to Save the Earth

Designers have an enormous impact on the state of the planet, especially in the realm of Graphic Design with the vast natural resources and energy that get consumed in the production of printing paper. The work that Graphic Designers do for their clients, the way they run their studios, and the persuasive impact of their design skills to convince others to get on board can all make a difference.

The School of Visual Concepts is holding their second annual sustainable “designworkshop” called “101 More Things Designers Can Do to Save the Earth.” The event is geared towards graphic designers, art directors, creative directors, production managers, creative firms and in-house department managers. This is certainly an event that should not be missed, and there’s no excuse not to especially since it’s free and, (to say the least) very informative. The event will be held from 10am - 4:30pm on the 28th of this month at the auditorium of the Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Topics Will Include:

• How graphic design and marketing communications contribute to the problem of global warming.
• Ways to rethink every project to see if its environmental footprint can be reduced.
• How to spec and shop for paper, inks, and printing that are more planet-friendly.
• How to convince your clients and managers of the virtues of adopting more sustainable design practices.
• Examples from top design groups of how they’ve taken a more sustainable approach.

Presenters Will Include:

• Eric Karjaluoto Founder, SmashLAB and designcanchange.org
• Glenn Blue Co-founder, Olympus Press
• Fumi Watanabe Senior Designer, Starbucks Global Creative
• Ashley Arhart Design Director and Strategist, Hornall Anderson
• Mike Styskal Chief of Visual Operations, Dept. of Energy Design
• Denise Waggoner VP of Creative Research, Getty Images
• Jill Bamburg Dean of Sustainable Business MBA, Bainbridge Graduate Institute

Wednesday May 28, 10am - 4:30pm
Seattle Asian Art Museum
Volunteer Park
Seattle

Register online at svcseattle.com

Sponsored by
Aquent
Olympus Press
School of Visual Concepts
AIGA

Strategies for Shaping a Sustainable Future: THINK B.I.G. at Brown University

In order to keep the motivation level rolling beyond Earth Week, please turn your attention towards several climate change initiatives that have been going on within the college student community. In one example from Thursday, April 24 to Saturday, April 26, Brown University took their environmental stewardship to the next level by launching their first Brown is Green 2008: Strategies for Shaping a Sustainable Future, with a series of amazing lectures from a range of disciplines. While bringing together a wide range of prominent leaders, from renowned scientists, policymakers, and CEOs, to designers, community leaders, activists, and artists, this approach demonstrated how a community can make an impact on different levels, from both bottom-up to top-down. Their goal was “to bring attention to the connections between seemingly different practices and industries that have all aligned to work on climate change and sustainability issues.” The list of notable attendees included State Treasurer Caprio, Governor Carcieri, Mayor Cicilline, Senator Whitehouse, Ira Magaziner of the Clinton Foundation and the administration of President Clinton, Adam Werbach of Saatchi and Saatichi S, renowned green architect John Picard, and Stephen Schneider, a lead climate scientist of the Nobel laureate UN FCC.

Of particular note, were Adam Werbach, global CEO of the leading sustainable marketing firm Saatchi and Saatchi S (former head of Sierra Club, and a 1995 Brown Alum), and Ira Magaziner, chairman of the Clinton Climate Initiative and the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative. Werbach described his mission as “closing the gap between two bookends.” He believes that one of the challenges is to reduce the polarization between the wealthy nations, and those that are in desperate need of help because of the existential threat that global-scale climate change is. In striving to solve this dilemma, Werbach suggests that sustainability needs to engage people at a consumer level. “Whose environment are we talking about?” he asks, and how do we make sustainability of the market place matter?

This is where PSP (Personal Sustainability Plan) comes in; one of Wal-Mart’s climate initiative schemes asks its staff to commit to a personal resolution. Through the PSP, leadership, respect for oneself, others, and the environment are learned. The incentive to go on a diet or quit smoking in return, are more effective when in a sustainability context, and treats behavioral change in a completely holistic manner. Granted, you would think Werbach wouldn’t engage himself to be a part of the Wal-Mart monopoly, but what was admirable, was his reasoning in taking on this monster. It is a perfect opportunity to make the biggest impact on the greatest number of people. Small changes like this, must occur from the bottom up, but motivation also needs to be inspired from the top down.

In addition to Adam Werbach’s approach, it is important to consider that of Ira Magaziner, who offers a more political perspective on climate change. In the course of his lecture, Magaziner spoke about the many different strategic steps the Clinton Climate Initiative has taken, one rather interesting example being the concept of combining the retrofitting of buildings with energy service companies (by working with building owners), so as to reduce overall energy use. This strategy involves municipal buildings, commercial real estate, public housing, and schools and universities worldwide. What is most impressive is that none of this is funded through government subsidies, and the goal is to jump start the market through new jobs and opportunity. In that the Clinton Climate Initiative has partnered with the 45 largest cities in the world, the potential exists for it to have a major lasting impact.

For those unable to attend, please visit this link to the Conference Agenda.

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Eleonore de Lusignan is an Ecolect guest blogger and a soon-to-graduate Industrial Design student at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI.

What is the Green Retail Experience?

This weekend and into early this week I browsed the International Home & Housewares Association show here in Chicago. The show consisted of a smattering of home appliances and products- new, old, and green. To my delight, the headlining topics of nearly all panel discussions and talks were focussed on the future of sustainability in product design. Two talks really stuck with me: “Green Today, Here Tomorrow: the emotional currency of sustainability”, and “Making it Happen: exhibitors panel discussion on sustainable materials”. The result was a cathartic dialogue I’d like to open up to you: what is the green retail experience?

My thoughts arose from questions presented from the buyers in the home appliance industry regarding the friction between novelty and sustainability. We have created through supply and demand, the experience of walking into a store and expecting to see new seasonal products. We anticipate seasonal colors, products, and innovation. This experience has resulted in a lot of new products developed in haste and without much regard for environmental responsibility. The question is, how can retailers maintain the “new” experience while being a sustainability leader.

Designer, professor, and sustainable materials panelist Hans Maier Aichen of Design Ideas suggests to define the evolution of a product through details. “We need to do less and do better”. As designers, we have a heavy responsibility. Today our industry is overflowing with an excess of products (this i witnessed at the show while passing manufacturers exhibiting, for example, every single microwave they produce- i saw walls of rice makers, toasters, coffee makers, microwaves all noticeably different but functionally similar), this excess has created cut-throat competition, and has resulted in unsustainable low prices.  As we move into the generation of green retail with responsible products, how do we lead by designing and formulating the green retail experience?

Ecolect in The Lone Star State

Ecolect is off to Austin, TX for the sxsw interactive awards. Stay tuned for additional posts from the front of the scene! Thanks in advance to all our readers who took the time to vote for us in the “educational resource” category.

To find out more about South by Southwest conferences and festivals visit sxsw.com.