GR M10 Module 15: Sustainable design

Designers around the world have used their work to raise issues about racism,
sexism, consumerism, injustice, and war. To address issues of injustice, some pro-
duce works that criticize oppressive governments or political leaders. Some critique
white-male domination of the society. Designers who break with traditions often do so
to criticize the institutions in society. In these cases, design may be used as a form of
protest.
Other designers exercise their social responsibility by promoting sustainable design
(also referred to as green design, eco-design, or design for environment) - de-
sign based on the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_design)

The Urban Forest Project:

http://www.urbanforestproject.org
Last fall The Urban Forest Project, an unprecedented outdoor exhibition, took root
in New York City. One hundred eighty-five of some of the worlds most celebrated
designers and artists employed the idea or form of the tree to make a powerful visual
statement on banners that were displayed throughout Times Square.
The tree is metaphor for sustainability, and in that spirit the banners from the exhibi-
tion were recycled into totebags designed exclusively for the project by Jack Spade.
(1) Profits from the sale of the totebags went to Worldstudio AIGA Scholarships and the
AIGA/NY Mentoring Program to sustain the next generation of design talent.
(1) Tom Jakobsson
The environmental benefits of trees are many, one of which is improved air quality.
(2) Marian Bantjes
This message serves many purposes: as a hopeful note to anyone who sees it who is
not feeling well for whatever reason; as a comment on the environment; as a mes-
sage from a Canadian (myself) to America; and as a personal message to my friend,
the designer Ray Hrynkow, who is currently battling cancer. Get well soon, everyone.
(3) Seymour Chwast
(4) Ed Fella
A verbal instead of a visual, of a sort, of some bits of a nature of a particular place.
(5) Rob Alexander
In this tree are the national birds of every country currently at war or in an ongoing
conflict. Each bird is illustrated in the colors of its national flag.
(6) Alexander Isley
As this banner is slated to be a bag in its afterlife, I approached this project as an
(2)
 exercise in foreshadowing.

EXERCISE:
1. Visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_design
and after you familiarize yourself with the concept of Sustainable Design,
take a look at the following design concepts:
- Adbusters - Buy Nothing Day - http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd
- Robbie Conal - http://www.robbieconal.com/stuff/shtickers.html
- Colors Magazine - http://www.colorsmagazine.com/issues/index.php
- Design Can Change - http://designcanchange.org
- AIGA - Center for Sustainable Design - http://sustainability.aiga.org
- Design by Nature - http://designbynature.org
- The Urban Forest Project - http://www.urbanforestproject.org
*Note: some images contain content that may be disturbing

2. Answer the following questions:

Do any of these design works make you uncomfortable? Why do you think the design-
ers chose to create such work?
Do you agree that design can change society? Why or why not?
Please submit a link to an example of socially responsible design in your opinion, and
(3) explain your choice.

(4) (5) (6)