Evaluate Essay

    Since graphic design needs a lot of materials for the printed products, the keywords for sustainability in graphic design are recycling materials as much as possible, use new technology with low toxicity or use the idea of biomimicry as tools to design or to create materials, encourage activism to spread sustainable design and so on. I’d like to approach to the possibility of sustainable design from graphic design point of view, focusing on the use of material and design activism.

   It is a job for a graphic designer to select what material to use for an outcome of the design like choosing ink and paper to write or print on. First of all, simply organic things could be selected for all the materials to reduce chemical impacts. For example, squid or octopus’s fresh ink could be selected for the ink(post 9/1/2013) and also natural fiber sheet for paper. Secondary, if I keep it much simple, any natural objects if they could be easily returned back to the nature such as leaves or stones(post  2/12/2013) could be used including live creatures, to minimize waste and reduce energy/water use. For instance, leaving honey in letter shape in public place to attract bees or ants could create message that we can actually see in the environment and also it disappears naturally after a short while when the attracted creatures finish eating it(post 1/12/2013). Or could do bring a huge group of people to stand in specific position so you can see images or words from a distance. These ideas are all very simple and manageable but it is sometimes better to go back to the basics in the term of sustainable design.

   Because one of the purposes of graphic design is to send a message to the people in most effective and understandable way, it could lead an excellent activism, such as inviting famous people to do a campaign, for spreading the idea of sustainable design. There is a British famous paper cutting artist called Rob Ryan. He is well known for his delicate beautifully cut out works with message of love and life. But he hasn’t done anything related to environmental issue yet (robryan, 2004). Since he is worlds-wide well known and most of his work uses paper as a main material, I came up with an idea of inviting him to create a work to announce a campaign of recycling or minimize waste by using waste paper. It would be visually beautiful and also quite recognizable what the message is for the audience. Collaboration of waste paper and talent of Rob Ryan will produces an amazing value to the waste and could be a strong message of what sustainable design today.

    Thinking about sustainability in design is essential for all the designers because as taking part of producing things, it is responsible to consider how the product ends up. Also since all the materials are limited on the earth, designers must deal with the limited materials as much as possible. I am glad that I could have an opportunity to study about this topic at the same time I study graphic design communication. Therefore I will always keep this point of view in my mind when I work on my design.

Pitts River Museum

I had an opportunity to go to Pitts River Museum in Oxford.
There were enormous kinds of collections in the museum and I found there was a collection of recycling.

A juice bottle used as a vase. Simple recycling. With can made flowers.

 A basket made of fibre bound with foil and crisp package.

A music instrument made of olive oil tin.

A watering can made of food tin.

A kettle made from melted plastic.

Most of them are made by simple process and created in developing countries. Although there is no latest technology, idea of sustainability is on action when it is in needs.

Squid in Ink

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/art-nature-imaging/art-techniques/squid-in-ink/index.html

Drawing of squid using fresh squid ink by Alice Shirley.
Squid ink is absolutely natural material and can be manipulated as watercolour even when it's dried.

Chalkboard paint

Found an interesting paint which can create a chalkboard anywhere on the wall.
It is also air pollution-free so doesn't have chemical impact on its use.

"ECOS organic paints offer a completely unique range of decorative finishes. It's the only range of totally solvent-free paints available anywhere in the world today, independently tested to reveal 0.0% VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).

VOCs are a major contributor to low-level atmospheric pollution and the use of these compounds leads to global warming. In addition, the use of solvent-based paints is a major cause of, asthma, allergies, sick building syndrome, chemical sensitivities and the general flu-like symptoms reported by many people using conventional paints, including Matt and Silk wall paints.
Most paints currently on sale, both gloss and emulsion, contain solvents and VOCs. ECOS paints contain none.
As a result they are ideal for use throughout the home, particularly children's bedrooms, nurseries and kitchens, especially if you or a member of your family is chemically sensitive or suffers from asthma or allergies. " (http://www.ecosorganicpaints.co.uk/store/blackboard-paint-uk/prod_233.html)

If this paint becomes a standard of creating chalkboards, it will reduce use of slate stone which is a main material for producing a chalkboard and also the use energy and water during the process.