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
How sustainable are your design practices?
Graphic designers intentions are often in the right place when it comes to practicing sustainably. They advise their clients about using soy inks and recycled papers. They design eco-friendly products. They embrace the idea of designing "cradle-to-cradle" and consider the life cycle of products. However, designer Jessie McGrath argues in her MFA thesis that "the idea of sustainable design is an illusive goal because a product can never be truly sustainable by virtue of the fact that it is a product."In her thesis McGrath questions whether or not sustainable design is an oxymoron and quotes Nathan Shedroff, chair of the MBA in design strategy at California College of the Arts. Shedroff states, “A sad truth is that almost every solution designed today, even the most ‘sustainable’ one, has more of a negative impact on the planet than a positive one. This means that the world would be better off if most of what was designed was never produced.”McGrath offers one solution in the form of "The Yellow Shed," a prototype for a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people live well and consume less. Find resources for turning green design yellow along other links to learn more.Sources:Nathan Shedroff and Hunter Lovins, Design Is the Problem: The Future of Design Must Be Sustainable (Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfeld Media, 2009), xxiii.
How much do students know about ethics?
In the Spring of 2010 I conducted a survey among undergraduate graphic design students to find out how much they know about ethical issues in graphic design. The results showed that there are many issues they know little or nothing about. Questions concerning licensing fonts, reading terms and conditions for EULAs (End User License Agreements), and correct image use all showed that a high number of students are unsure and unclear about these issues. Of all the respondents, 59% of the students answered “sometimes” when asked if they only use properly licensed fonts and 16% said that they didn’t know what this meant. When asked if they read the legal copy on EULAs, 54% answered “sometimes.” When asked if it’s ok to use images that they find on Google, 23% answered with “I don’t know.” Nearly half of them didn’t know what working on speculation means. Students were confused about issues of sustainability and social responsibility as well.Download a pdf with the all the survey results: emkane_survey_resultsHow much do you think graphic designer students know about ethics?