TED Talks: Jason Clay

Although this, in essence, isn't discussing design directly, it discusses the changing attitudes of big brands that directly effect the design world. By looking at how much influence and trade goes through such a minimal amount of big companies it's easy to see how change is possible, but we all need to work together. The only way this can stay and make a change for the good is if everybody cares about it. As professionals that work hand in hand with brands, both big and small, isn't is partly our responsibility to speak up? Brands changing means we have to change too.

Jason Clay: how big brands can help save biodiversity. Aug 2010, online video, accessed 13 September 2011

Who needs ethics?

Summary: We don't need to preach about our views but if we do care, what are we doing about it? Everyone has their different set of morals, it's easy to think everyone has the same views as you and that your views are right, but that's wrong. Should all companies have set rules about who they will and won't work for? Do we all need to think about what we're designing more, are we ethically happy with what we're doing?

Can designers save the world? (and should they try?)

Summary: The main thing that I took from this article was the part about how designers don't have anything (except the fact that we're all in the same profession) in common. We don't all have the same views, not all designers think about ethics and who are we to tell them what they can and cannot do. The same also applies with people in general, who are we to tell them how to live their lives? These are definitely things to think about.

There was also a lot mentioned in this about the procrastination of people to take action. Everyones complaining, no ones acting and although the argument on global warming isn't settled, if it is an issue, what can/are we going to do about it? Is it even our place to make a change or does that responsibility lie with politicians?

Design & Sustainability pt.3

Summary: We will need to get back to a point where we associate the objects we desire with the process they've taken to get to us. We as designers are in the best position to highlight ecoliteracy to consumers. We need to work with scientists, ecologists, get out of our comfort zones and figure our an effective way to make the invisible visible. It's all about education, knowledge and understanding.

Gerber. A, 2009, Design & Sustainability pt.3, Creative Review [journal] 29 (1) Available through Business source premier. [accessed 1 September 2011]

Design & Sustainability pt.2

Summary: In order to really change our views on environmental issues in graphics we need to change the way we look at design. Rather than churning out design on a computer and thinking nothing else of them we need to get actively involved in the whole process and think about a products life from start to end.

Gerber. A, 2008, Design & Sustainability pt.II, Creative Review [journal], 28 (11). Available through Business source premier [Accessed 1 September 2011]

Design + Sustainability

As well as explaining the current affairs of "green design" at the time (2008) this article also really made me look at the way we view education in Graphic Design. To really make a difference we need to be educated on green issues as soon as possible rather then left to figure it all out on your own. This is a big thing I'd really like to look into in more detail.

Gerber. A, 2008, Design & Sustainability, Creative Review [journal] 28 (10), p21-22. Available through Business source premier [accessed 1 September 2011]

An inconvenient truth

Watched Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" last night as part of my research on environmental issues that the world faces. Although now this film is quite dated (it was released in 2005), a lot was still relevant. It helped in my general understanding to the science behind what's causing global warming and the effects that it has on the planet in terms of increasing natural disasters, rise in the planets temperature and what the political attitudes towards global warming were at the time. It also explained the technologies that we are in possession of to combat global warming.

However, there has been a lot of controversy around this documentary, with a lot of politicians, scientists and people of the general public debating that his "facts" given in this documentary are in fact, fiction. Although it is a biased view to one side of the global warming issue, it has, none the less, helped me in figuring out what's going on in the politics of environmentalism and what issues everyone needs to be made aware of.

One thing I really took from this, that I think will help narrow down what I discuss in my extended essay is that politics and education hold the power to change this horrible situation we've got ourselves into.

An Inconvenient Truth, 2006 [DVD], Davis Guggenheim, Lawrence Bender Productions

Plan of Action

Things I need to figure out first:

-What environmental issues does out planet face? (basic understanding so I can translate it into the design world)

- What is green design? Historical content about it, who's involved, names of companies etc.

- What are designers doing and saying about these issues at present and what their intentions are for the future?

- Designers responsibilities

- How can design change peoples actions and views?

Initial Proposal

Working Title : Green design: can we change the world?

Abstract: A look into the environmental issues that graphic designers are faced with and researching whether or not we hold more power than we think to shift the majority ways of thinking to be more environmentally friendly. Also to see if we as graphic designer are doing enough to be a sustainable area of the visual arts.

Aims of Research: To discover what we are doing in the design world to secure a more sustainable future for the next generation and how many companies are willing to take a put these issues at the top of their agenda. Can the way we approach design have a greater impact on the whole world.

Key Texts: Do good design: How design can change our world: How visual communicators can save the world - David B. Berman
Green Graphic Design - Brian Dougherty
Change by Design: How design thinking creates new alternatives for business and society: how design thinking can transform organizations and inspire innovation
Understanding environmental issues - Susan Buckingham

Research Objectives: To grasp a greater understanding of the environmental issues our planets faces and how that relates to the graphic design world. To see what's going on in terms of "green graphic design" at present and in the past and to get an idea of how many companies in design are actually taking these issues into account. To look into the power of graphic design and the way it almost manipulates the general public into doing what it says, can this be used for the greater good?