I still freakin' love bamboo

I've been a mac user since the 80s, and need to keep using one for work, but check out this sweet computer from Asus using good old hardy bamboo!
I'm not sure about the rest of the parts, but this bamboo shell is certainly a step in the right direction. Pointing the aesthetics of computer hardware in this direction is itself a great step. I think it's beautiful, although a little "Gilligan's Island"...

Download frenzy

As of 8 December, 2008, two thousand and six copies of the sustainable graphic design widget have been downloaded.
Amazingly, in a late 2008 frenzy, one thousand and thirty copies of my Masters research have been downloaded. This research, titled "Sustainable Graphic Design in Brisbane" is an abridged version of my masters thesis; it summarises the first half of the thesis in a short chapter, then gets down to the pointy end of the research. I am honoured that people have found it interesting, and only hope that either or both of these continue to contribute to the sustainable design community in a useful way.

Thanks, happy clickers!

Climate Change melts Brazilian Chap

Photo: Red Cross of Argentina

Produced by the Red Cross of Agentina to promote awareness of the perils of climate change, this great piece of guerilla publicity in Buenos Aires features a half-melted young man handing out fliers encouraging readers to take public transport, conserve water, reduce and recycle, and so on.
Original Story

Studio making a difference

The chaps over at the Paragon Muse have downloaded and read my Masters research: "Sustainable Graphic Design in Brisbane", and have really taken on board some of the findings. In fact, there have been 895 downloads of my thesis since I posted it, which I am really quite amazed and heartened by.

Some of the points the Paragon Muse chaps summarised from the findings were:

"Designers’ ability to creatively problem-solve make us uniquely qualified to help with coming up with possible solutions to environmental and social sustainability issues. (i.e. dealing with the actionable ideas part.)"

"Graphic designer’s skills in perception maniuplation makes us even more qualified in garnering attention to the challenges and motivaing at least an emotional response if not actual civic activity.(i.e. dealing with the awareness part)"

They have also posted some designs that they prodced with sustainability as part of their brief.

They are proof that any change toward sustainable design is a great move, and I hope they continue to evolve and inspire others as well. You can check out their blog post here

Nice one!

Long time...

Wow it has been ages since I posted anything. After turning my business away from design that was harmful to the planet, and focusing on sustainable graphic design, I have been too busy to post!

This makes me so happy, not just because it means I can still put food on my table, but because it means that business WANTS sustainability factored into their graphic design. Most people that I talk to about it haven't ever considered it before, but as soon as I explain how it's possible to design solutions that are as environmentally-friendly as possible, they are on board. 

Not only on board, but spreading the word.

Amazing to think that only two years ago, the general consensus was that I was crazy to take such an ethical stand.