Sustainable Design Checklist from Design Can Change
By Gail Nickel-Kailing on February 16th, 2009
Design Can Change is an initiative encouraging graphic designers not only to consider the environment when they design projects but to think strategically about sustainability. Attached is a Sustainable Design Checklist to help you focus your decisions through the design process.
And below are some additional ideas from Design Can Change that will supplement the Checklist and which should get the ball rolling toward change:
Design and strategy:
- Design for re-use
- Maximize the shelf-life of your design
- Scrutinize the efficiency of your selected method
- Compare the impacts of each concept you develop
- Employ targeted efforts instead of mass mailings
- Do your proofing on-screen
- Encourage rich PDFs for annual reports
- Eliminate blank pages in your booklets and brochures
- Use office scrap paper or a tablet for sketching and brainstorming
- Learn about greenwashing, promise never to engage in it, and call out any product guilty of it
Production:
- Use local vendors who are committed to the environment
- Print on PCW (Post Consumer Waste) stock
- Try running your next project on cotton or kenaf fiber if it’s available to you
- Maximize use of the entire press sheet
- Minimize ink coverage
- Learn the words chlorine-free and vegetable-based and insist upon them
- Choose products that are manufactured with renewable energy
- Keep tabs on the latest printing and production technologies
- Avoid transporting printed proofs by using printers with synched and calibrated monitors for review
Your Business:
- Make best use of your website and limit your reliance on printed promotions
- Provide preferential pricing to organizations who embrace sustainability
- Treat your commitment as a competitive advantage in marketing efforts and when bidding on projects
- Become an expert, and counsel your clients on how to become more sustainable in their practices
- Get connected with local environmental groups and pool resources
- Go paperless: invoice digitally or sign-up for online bill notification
Around the Studio:
- Use your knowledge of green design in revamping your workspace
- Recycle all of your computer equipment and ink cartridges
- Use rewritable formats and web services instead of disposable media
- Turn off the lights on a sunny day
- Go vegetarian at lunch
- Get a filter and drink water from your tap
- Walk to meetings, ride a bike or take transit
- Limit use of motorized couriers
- Consider buying energy credits
- Embrace a green lifestyle when you leave the studio
As we all approach sustainability from a different perspective, the best advice is take what you want from this list and leave the rest.
3 Responses to “Sustainable Design Checklist from Design Can Change”
By Ted Walker on Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
“Limit your reliance on printed promotions”??? Great advice for a printer!
My shop does everything possible to produce printing in an environmentally friendly way. As for a “green lifestyle” and its political correctness, I will respect the environmental wackos when they eat grass on the side of the road. Until then, stay away from my BBQ grill. Eating has nothing to do with business. Get a grip, people.
By Gail Nickel-Kailing on Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Ted,
I hear what you’re saying, but want to point out that the person who prepared this document may be your customer or prospect.
They are talking to their clients about the use of print and it’s important for print service providers to hear what they’re saying.
Does that mean that WE’RE suggesting that marketers print less? No, that’s what THEY’RE saying already.
We need to be able to show them how to print better and when print is the most appropriate communication tool.
Print in the Mix (http://printinthemix.rit.edu/) is just one site that is providing useful information so printers can do that.
Looks like you’re doing some really interesting things at your company; please consider filling out an application for the WhatTheyThink Environmental Initiative Awards and tell us all about your green initiatives: http://members.whattheythink.com/environmental-award/
All the best!
Gail
By Phil Turner on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
Design Can Change – and must change, with the economy changing all over the world does that mean advertising goes into a frenzy of activity promoting the products with the biggest marketing spend regardless of the damaging effect that product has on the environment, lets hope not this time round…. the downturn in the economy could be the turning point the planet needs and coupled with the increased awareness of the consumer now its time designers, and advertising agencies all over the world took responsibility -it’s simple – if we continue to promote unethical products they will get bought!! If we turn those clients away and thought responsibly, eventually they will find harder and harder to find a designer or agency or printer to help them promote their rubbish.
It’s that simple – so there’s the next designers dilemma – do you turn that next brief down – I did and its very liberating – sure they will just go to another designer who puts money first, or maybe you explain the reason for not taking on the job, I did and they were astonished that I didnt want to design a catalogue full of cheap clothes imported from China made in sweatshops – one less container.
If you work in the design industry then we are all guilty of creating landfill so lets try to make a difference and take some responsibility.
I gave up 18 months of my spare time to create a book called http://www.yourplanetneedsyou – a handbook for creating the world that we want, and I’m working on the pdf version of it now to save ink and paper.
Phil Turner – http://www.philturner-uk.com
FREELANCE DESIGNER