Sustainability
We create sustainable solutions for print and web–a creative endeavor for the common good–that’s our intention. Sustainability is best defined: At its core, sustainability is about people. In order to promote a healthy planet, we must start with a healthy society. The Living Principles for Design is a catalyst for driving positive cultural change. It distills the four streams of sustainability–environment, people, economy, and culture.
Designing Backwards
We incorporate the concept of “Designing Backwards” (developed by Brian Dougherty). It entails a radical new process of designing by which a new project is viewed from end to beginning. Along this brainstorming journey, we gain insight that informs the decisions we will make. This knowledge enables us to creatively avoid most of the roadblocks that may inhibit green solutions from developing downstream.
- Waste: Design for destiny; Consider reuse; Recyclability; Compostability
- User: User experience; Add value through design; Educate, Enable action
- Delivery: Design for distribution; Explore efficient packing; Stripping away layers, Alternative distribution
- Warehouse: Consider print on demand; Perform actual usage audit
- Bindery: Consider mechanical bindings; Eliminate trim waste
- Printing: Design for green printing; Explore recycled paper; Design press sheets; Consider digital printing; UV inks; Low OVC printing
Eco tips for print design
- Consider an electronic version instead
- Use least amount of material
- Deliver message effectively with less environmental impact
- Use highly recycled material sourced responsibly
- Consider production energy, pollution, hazardous waste
- Seek vendors who use renewable energy
- Avoid ink colors with high metal content
- Print with low-voc inks
- Think about re-usability of product (creating a closed loop)
- If not reusable, recycle or biodegrade material at end of use
Eco tips for web design
- Seek hosting companies who use renewable energy (preferably, not just credits)
- Keep programming code tidy (requires less of host server)
- Low wattage color palette
- Design printer-friendly pages to use less paper
- Develop page content that supplements/replaces printed material
- Plant a tree by adding the Carbon-Neutral Badge
