Sustainable design is a trend that has been pushed now more than ever. Over the past several years, the world has encouraged reusable items, eco-friendly packaging, and impactful design. A well-quoted statistic says that 80% of the ecological impacts a product makes during its life cycle is determined within its design stage. So, what does it mean to design sustainably and why should you care?
Graphic Design and Sustainability
To design something sustainable is to create a product or service that considers its environmental, social, and economic impacts. A product or service is sustainable when it does not create negative impacts on current or future life cycles on the planet. As designers, it is our responsibility to understand how design and sustainability co-exist. We can create things that offer back more than they take.
The methods of graphic design are just as important when it comes to being environmentally sustainable – most of the work we do at Driftpoint is digital. We consume less energy and produce less paper waste with virtual meetings and online tools in our design processes. And as a remote agency, not having an office to commute to everyday helps reduce car emissions and our carbon footprint. We’ve also worked with RECON Rings to reduce physical waste by creating eco-friendly packaging that uses recycled materials.
Visual Literacy
But what about the social impacts? Benedetta Crippa, in this interview with AIGA, states that we consume things through visual literacy. In our daily life, we are always consuming. Whether it’s a billboard on your commute to work, a podcast playing while you work out, or a social media post you saw while scrolling before bed. Crippa states:
“To me, on the contrary, graphic design should be about dialogue, about telling a story and relating to who listens as an equal, as someone worth respect and integrity, as well as the freedom to walk away. My form, I believe, should make this world a more bearable place to be in, not a more insufferable one.”
At Driftpoint, we aim to tell stories through what we create. While working with Home Start Hope, we were able to express their mission of helping women and children in the Greater Rochester area using resourced design. We also tell the stories of military-affiliated organizations and veterans through our work with the LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum, the Murph Scholarship Foundation, and RECON Rings – organizations that support the men and women who fight for our freedom.
Sustainable Design and You
Do you have an environmental, social, or cultural cause you believe in? Making an impact by tackling today’s issues is a signal to sustainability. When you’re ready to tackle that issue, consider the power of graphic design when promoting your message. We would love to help tell your story. Contact us.
