Do the Green Thing
As scientists issue dire warnings about the state of our planet, designers across the globe are working to "Do the Green Thing."Pictured above is street art created by Portuguese artist Bordalo II who uses everything from burnt aluminum cans and old appliances to scrap wood and old tires to create life-like animal figures. In the process, he keeps this material from ending up on the streets, in the oceans, and in landfills.Other initiatives include work by photographer Benjamin Von Wong who works on issues of social responsibility and sustainability. One recent project by Von Wong is to call attention to e-waste and the fact that less than 15 percent of electronics and circuitry that we throw away each year is recycled into new products. Von Wong strives to shed light on this disturbing statistic through his elaborate hyper-realistic visual style.Founded more than 10 years ago by Andy Hobsbawm and Pentagram partner Naresh Ramchandani, "Do the Green Thing" is a public service for the planet that uses creativity to tackle climate change. They've spent the last decade making films, posters, podcasts, and products to inspire more than 45 million people to live more sustainably.As we celebrate another Earth Day, take inspiration from these photographers, artists, and designers and think about ways that you can "Do the Green Thing."http://www.designindaba.com/articles/creative-work/6-designers-who-use-waste-inspiration-new-productshttp://99u.adobe.com/articles/58984/pentagrams-naresh-ramchandani-do-the-green-thing
Do the Green Thing
Do the Green Thing is an organization dedicated to making films, posters, walkcasts, and everyday things to inspire people to live more sustainably.Working with a collection of creatives from around the globe, Do the Green Thing publishes every couple of months on topics that affect our everyday lives.Last October they took on the cosmetics industry and how the elevation of global beauty standards and harmful psychological effects involving self-image, there has been little debate about how our pursuit of beauty affects the environment. Besides the overconsumption and waste generated by the cumulative use over time, there are also the ingredients themselves. Microbeads that bypass filtration systems are ending up in the sea. Preservatives in moisturizers have been linked to genetic mutations in frogs. In addition to offering facts, the article discusses the differences between generations of consumers and solutions.This year as we celebrate Earth Day, do the green thing, and sign up to get their latest issue.Sources:http://dothegreenthing.com/issue-4http://www.designindaba.com/news-features/showcases/do-green-thing-creativity-vs-climate-change
Students & Scientists Working Together
Graphic design is used for everything from advertising to information graphics to entertainment. Many feel that graphic design is at its best when it’s used for advocacy. Some go further and ask if graphic designers actually have a responsibility to use their skills to advocate for social causes. If doctors have a responsibility to take care of those that in critical condition, then one can reason that graphic designers have a responsibility to create communication which motivates people to take action on critical issues, like the condition of our planet.The 6th Extinction In-Motion Video Campaigns were created by Carnegie Mellon Communication Design students. The collaboration between the students, scientists, and conservationists was based on the idea that graphic designers can create a bridge between dry scientific data and the population that needs to hear it.In honor of this year’s Earth Day, take a few minutes to see how these students put their skills to work, and think about what you can do with yours.
