Archive for the ‘Design’ tag

Re-Nourish (Greener Designs)

I borrow this paragraph from Re-nourish…

Graphic designers have made some fairly amazing and powerful work since the inception of the profession with the early Art Nouveau movement in 1890. We have changed public opinion on wars, politics, as well as influenced new consumer behaviors that dramatically increased the world’s economic output. We’ve made life simpler (at times), faster and easier to navigate. However, as much progress as the design profession has made for society at large, we’ve also been responsible for helping to create an over-consumptive population and an ecosystem teetering on disaster. With every new print piece we produce we make or brand we promote, we also impact the general health of our planet through the vehicle and materials we choose to use.

I believe it is necessary for designers to be planet-conscious about their work. However, the success of greener designs hinges upon the outcome of the collaborative suggestions-decisions process between the designer and the client about the greener-good. One must do ones part for the earth eh.

Here’s a must read… the Re-Nourish Sustainable Design Checklist (PDF)

And if you’re a organization thinking bout a greener printing environment in the office… looky here

And if you’re me and need pint size steps you can take today – try these things that I do: I would, try to design faster, so I use less electricity. Using the wacom for marquees (selections) coz it’s faster and more accurate than a mouse’ selection. Don’t print drafts (coz I lack a printer haha – I suppose you can select economical prints on recycled paper). Use energy saving bulbs on your mood lights/table lights and spot lights. Keep and re-use post-its if it’s used for just ‘one’ word. And… turn off ur speaker, monitor and notebook cooler when it’s not in use… besides, the blue and green LEDs are quite distracting at night.

And, use a Starbucks tumbler for ur lattes (you get an RM1 discount)!

Meanwhile, I’ll mourn the lack of green printers in Malaysia.

The Kesterize Ideal

Today I found this quote…

“The difference between a great design and a lousy one is in the meshing of the thousand details that either fit or don’t, and the spirit of the passionate intellect that has tied them together,” wrote the American sociologist Ted Nelson.