Packaging Trash Become A Toy

Problem, how do you turn a package into a toy?  The Athens, Greek design firm Matadog had this problem when designing for a small raisins package. Their task was to put a toy into each box, their solution, make the box a toy.  Start solutions and sustainable in the process.  Read more over at GOOD.

The Living Principles

With Earth Day coming up it reminds us of our responsibility to do what we can to save the planet. As designers, we can help to move the cause forward and do a little good. One site that is a great resource is The Living Principles.

The site started out of the AIGA's Sustainability effort. Jump on board and see where you can help, make a change and learn more at The Living Principles.

The Living Principles for Design framework is a catalyst for driving positive cultural change. It distills the four streams of sustainability – environment, people, economy, and culture – into a roadmap that is understandable, integrated, and most importantly, actionable. Designers, business leaders, and educators can use The Living Principles to guide every decision, every day. This website is a place for the global design community to co-create, share and showcase best practices, tools, stories and ideas for sustainable design across all disciplines. Help us move the conversation, the industry and the world.

Reusable UPS Envelope

The whole world is turning green and I say its about time. UPS has redesigned and reintroduced its Reusable Express Envelopes. The envelopes come with two adhesive strips so you can send along another document in the same envelope once you have opened it. UPS wrote the following about their Reusable Express Envelopes:

UPS Reusable Express Envelopes have always been a great addition to your company's conservation efforts: They're more convenient for your customers than ordinary envelopes, and they're better for the environment. But now, reusable envelopes – available in both letter and legal sizes – have a color to match their purpose.

Redesigned and made from 100 percent recycled fiber with 80 percent post-consumer content, Reusable Express Envelopes reduce waste by allowing documents to be sent and returned in the same packaging. Now your customers won't need to locate an envelope to return documentation to you, increasing convenience and possibly reducing delays.

When recipients are ready to return documents to you, they simply place a new label (perhaps one that you've included in the original shipment) on top of the old one and reseal the envelope.

You can use, reuse and recycle this envelope. It makes economic and environmental sense.

I am glad to see UPS stepping it up. I look forward to the USPS doing the very same soon. Together by taking small measures we can make a change to the global warming issues that are facing us all.

(via Cool Hunting)

Saul Bass - Solar Energy Film

Found this link from Swiss Legacy to a film by Saul Bass on Solar Energy on the DAS FilmFest site. The film was made in 1980, produced by Robert Redford, and talks how the future is in solar energy. It is amazing how the technology has advanced so little in 30 years. On a side note, I just finished showing An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore to my class in our discussion of sustainable package design. My how it all seems to tie together. Watch both of this films, knowledge creates change.

(via Swisslegacy)

Sustainable Graphic Design - Earth Day - Part 2

To keep the Earth Day goals going, I wanted to pass along a widget on Sustainable Graphics. You can download the widget at this link on the Apple site. The widget is described as follows:

Divided into three sections; “paper”, “print” and “more info”, the sustainable graphic design widget delivers basic information about the environmental impacts that design methods and techniques have.

Designed primarily as an easily-accessed working tool for designers, the widget also has some ethical tips and links to other websites with more information.

Keep it green!

Sustainable Graphic Design - Earth Day

Want to learn more about how you can take sustainable design to your clients? Visit the AIGA site for the Center for Sustainable Design. The site is loaded with information and links. For a 20+ page pdf about sustainable printing, check out this link from the AIGA site. This site is well worth the time to investigate and learn more. Make sure you review the resources section. Sustainable design is here to stay not just a passing fad this time. We can all make a small difference in how we do our craft. These small differences will accumulate into big differences. Spread the word to your clients and they may find out that they can help save the earth and maybe a few greenbacks along the way.