Graphic Design For Environmental and Social Change

Posted on November 18, 2009 by itees

I just received an email where the ONE.org (organization) asked the members to send in their ideas for a new t-shirt. They received over 500 designs, and the expert (?) judges selected 3 finalists, followed by more than 58,000 people voting for their favorite. The winning t-shirt was designed by Valerie Strecker of Slidell, Louisiana. Okay, my first question is, is Valerie a graphic designer? I just googled her and I cannot find anything about her. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with her design, I’m just wondering if she’s done other things and I as a designer, would like to see them. If anyone can enlighten me, I’m awaiting the comments.

What is interesting to me is a quote by Chalya Shagaya (ex fashion model turned fashion stylist and holds a degree in Justice and another in Computer Information Systems; her company is Stickman Concepts), which cuts right to the heart of the original message I was was trying to convey when I first launched this site in 2006… which was to wear clothing that says something about yourself or helps spread a message, not just a brand or designer’s name. Chalya said,“What we wear says a lot about who we are…the right design has the power to go even further, and spark a global conversation. It starts with, ‘I love your shirt, what does it mean?’ and ends with greater awareness of the role we can all play in ending poverty and disease in some of the most vulnerable place on earth.”

Now, I must say that I’m very upset about this new arena for graphic designers. We are being watered down by a population growth in the industry and at the same time so many companies are outsourcing and driving the value of what we do down. Throw into the mix the new websites popping up where they’ve asked designers to enter contests for FREE, and compete against each other for a small winning fee. This is as shameful as the industry can get. We must start a campaign to close down this practice.

As a designer who has been working for almost 30 years, I know we deserve more respect and I’m horrified with new designers entering the profession each year and what they must think. If the only way for them to win assignments is to compete against their friends and the industry throughout the world for FREE, it’s a sad situation for the design industry.

Being One in a Quarter of a Million Graphic Designers

Posted on November 16, 2009 by itees

I just read an article on GreenerDesign.com and they were writing about being second or third place in a contest and how that can still make you a winner. In the design profession it’s widely known that we enter contests, so we can be rewarded by our peers, because clients rarely compliment, most pick apart or send revisions. They rarely start a response by saying, “wow what a creative idea you’ve come up with”, it’s usually more like, “I’ve rewritten the copy”, or “I’ve decided I want to go in another direction.” To be fair to the clients, they do occasionally compliment.

Meanwhile, one fact that was starring me in the face while reading, and I was so proud of my profession… There are over a quarter of a million graphic designers in the U.S. alone! Now, having been in this profession since the early 80s, I sure have been designing a long time, so I’m wondering why this profession has grown so large? Knowing that the competition will be so tough for each and every graphic designer that graduates, why do they think they will succeed?

One reason must be because every designer has their own style and creativity and will always bring their own spin to a project. Could it also be that being a graphic designer has finally become a profession that deserves respect?

In reading further into the article one thing that also had an impact on me was learning the amount of books, brochures, direct mail pieces, invitations, business cards and more, that are being printed and the impact that has on our environment.

From the website, GreenerDesign:

“These designers have a significant — though often unrecognized — impact on ecological and human health. They have a hand in the creation of 65 billion pieces of unsolicited direct mail every year, not to mention magazines and books, product packaging, and other printed matter. When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, the pulp and paper industry is the fourth largest emitter in North America.”

I’m going to continue with my own efforts in trying to make sure that each new piece designed will be printed in an eco-friendly way, if my clients will agree to it and hopefully they will. I may only be one in a quarter of a million designers (in the U.S.), but even one can make a difference. Imagine if more designers around the world cared to make a difference.

Eco-friendly Design Without the Eco-friendly Product

Posted on November 14, 2009 by itees

Recently, I was shopping in an office supply store and came across some notebooks with the cover design on the outside promoting eco-friendly thinking, but the product didn’t say anywhere on it, that is was printed on recycled paper, or have any kind of logo or seal on it. So, I’m wondering why design something with the right type of message, but not go the next step and print it on recycled paper or FSC-certified paper? Because it usually costs a bit more. Regardless, they should have printed it the right way.

A few weeks ago I was watching the HBO program, Real Time with Bill Maher and he was talking about being in the supermarket and seeing the Froot Loops packaging that is advertising it’s a healthy, fruity, product? Agreeing with him that thinking of that cereal as healthy is a bit of a stretch considering the amount of sugar in that cereal.

Then I went to Cartridge World recently, to bring in my cartridges for recycling, and I see a new package on the wall called Ecco, so I think it’s eco-friendly ink. They even created green swirly packaging to make us think it’s eco-friendly. Nope, that’s just the name of the company.

It’s important to promote eco-friendly and green thinking, but let’s not try to fool people into buying a product that isn’t what it appears to be!

Have you seen any eco-friendly designs, or “green” packaging and the manufacturers did not follow through and actually produce them the right way? Send your comments in!