Sustainability Lecture Organized by AIGA

Posted on March 13, 2010 by itees

On Friday, March 12, I attended a lecture with another designer. Organized by the AIGA, “Design Thinking & Sustainability w/ Chris Hacker from Johnson & Johnson” took place at the Tishman Auditorium in NYC.

Aside from the problems with their powerpoint presentation, which got quite a few chuckles from the “designer” audience, it was a presentation about the possibilities we as designers can achieve if we make the effort. It’s important to lead our clients toward “green” packaging and printing even if they think it’s going to cost more, because it’s the right thing to do. Sometimes, depending on the item and the quantity, it may not cost more, so why not give it try.

Chris Hacker, who has been Johnson & Johnson’s Chief Design Officer for the past five years has overseen the application of sustainable design thinking and practices. In addition to building a 120-person think tank, where environmentally-conscious decisions are part of the process, he, along with the the rest of his team are implementing ideas with all sorts of products.

By simply changing the overall design so the product can be reused, eliminating part of the packaging which isn’t needed, or changing the printing techniques and inks, we can reduce the amount of paper or plastic being used and when you multiply that times the amount of products sold, that’s a lot of trees saved, and less waste.

We have the power as designers to reshape the way consumers see products, and can sometimes make a change that is environmentally sound and yet consumers don’t even notice. Most consumers are into being “green” and if they realize a product has changed to help the environment, like less packaging, or they can recycle it, they’re more likely to buy it and feel good about it.

young-leaves-in-forest

From the Johnson & Johnson website about “Protecting the Environment”

“We set high standards for our operating companies in the area of environmental responsibility — striving for performance that does not merely comply with regulations but reduces our environmental impacts. We have a responsibility to take care of our planet and preserve its beauty, resources and strength for future generations.”

You can be sure with every project I work on, I’m committed to producing or printing it the “greenest” way and will work hard to convince my clients to do the same.

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.

Photo Expo and Picturehouse NY 2009

Posted on October 23, 2009 by itees

“The camera doesn’t take the photo, you do. Use your eye and your heart…” This is what I heard from one of the instructors at the Photo Expo at the Javits Center, yesterday. This event every October is quite overwhelming. As you walk in and see the multiple aisles, most are drawn to either their favorite vendor, to try out new cameras & amazing lenses, to see all sorts of new techniques and equipment, or to the print companies who are showing the quality of their printers. It’s also a gallery, since the best way to show how great the printers and papers are, is to display work. They’re showing famous celebrities or amazing scenics from around the world, taken by well respected photographers. There are also instructors giving free technique lessons in Photoshop for those interested at various company areas.

photo-expo-javits

photo-expo-nikon-cameras

One thing that I noticed this year was that Hewlett Packard was distributing a small pamphlet “Green IT for Dummies” (not for sale) created by Wiley. They also handed out a sell sheet featuring recycling information for large format banners, and had on display an example of what happens to ink cartridges when we recycle them, the process of how they are broken down, and eventually can be made back into cartridges again. To read more about what HP is doing, visit: http://www.hp.com/recycle

I then walked over to the company area for Epson printers and since I use these, always like to see what’s new as far as paper and equipment. I asked one of the employees about what Epson was doing to recycle catrtridges, paper, equipment and whether they are creating any recycled paper. He informed me that they didn’t have any literature about it, and that I should remember that their paper is part plastic, but to look at their site about their commitment to the future, which I did. Here’s what I found on the Epson corporate site:

Environmental Vision 2050:

Epson is aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by 90% across the lifecycle of all products and services by the year 2050. At the same time, as a member of the ecosystem Epson will continue to work towards restoring and protecting biodiversity*2 together with local communities.

Epson has set the following four key conditions in order to work towards achieving Environmental Vision 2050:

1.Reduction of CO2 emissions by 90% across the entire product life cycle.

2.Inclusion of all products in the resource reuse and recycling loop*3.

3.Reduction of direct CO2 emissions by 90%, and elimination of global warming gas emissions other than CO2.

4.Restoration and preservation of biodiversity as a member of the ecosystem, together with local communities.

“…Epson is aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by 90% across the lifecycle of all products and services by the year 2050. At the same time, as a member of the ecosystem Epson will continue to work towards restoring and protecting biodiversity together with local communities.

Epson has set the following four key conditions in order to work towards achieving Environmental Vision 2050:
1.Reduction of CO2 emissions by 90% across the entire product life cycle.
2.Inclusion of all products in the resource reuse and recycling loop.
3.Reduction of direct CO2 emissions by 90%, and elimination of global warming gas emissions other than CO2.
4.Restoration and preservation of biodiversity as a member of the ecosystem, together with local communities.

________________________________________

Picturehouse NY

Last week I attended Picturehouse NY, and this is always a favorite event of mine. All the photo stock agencies in one place and they are all so friendly and welcoming. Maybe it’s because we all do business through the internet and sometimes it’s nice to meet the people we work with, in person. It’s also nice to meet stock agencies that are just starting out and see what they’re offering. In some cases, I met the actual photographers in their booths. One of the agencies, Bridgeman, Art, Culture, History, had huge blow-ups of famous paintings with small cut-outs, and took our photograph with our face in place of the actual face, that was so funny and then they slipped the printed picture into a mousepad which I’m now using.

If you’ve never been to either of these FREE events, I highly recommend marking your calendar for next year. For anyone reading this today, Photo Expo at the Javits Center is still on, go now!