BANISH the Plastic Bag!

On 13 March 2008, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, announced the 2008 Budget, which says it includes “[...] measures aimed at tackling climate change.”

However, it is interesting to note how the greenness of the budget is being widely criticised. In response to Darling’s Budget, the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas described it as a:

[…] criminal wasted opportunity to set the country on the path towards a more sustainable future [...] Instead of seizing the opportunity to reshape our economy to deal with the serious threat of climate change, Alistair Darling used his much-awaited first Budget to set out a weak and flimsy agenda, which brought new definition to the word “greenwash”.

Initially, encouraged that the government is a least listening to the public acknowledgment, that action needs to be taken to tackle climate change, however it was shocking to realise how small a step has been taken to eradicate plastic bags. One of the budget actions, to [potentially] charge for plastic carrier bags, IF retailers fail to take ‘enough’ (?) voluntary action to reduce their use, by next year… is ridiculous. Firstly, by focusing the public attention to the potential cost (one of those many purchasing decision-makers) of plastic bags, in my eyes completely undermines the global challenge that is climate change, blinding them to see problems caused by aviation and the like. As Lucas quite rightly argued, surely the Chancellor should be focusing on the feasibility of phasing out plastic bags altogether? If so many USA states can survive without the carrier, surely we can!?

Unsurprisingly, the UK retailers kicked up a fuss about the bag charges however, on a more positive note, the Daily Mail Newspaper did launch a BAN THE BAG campaign [pictured above], so maybe just maybe such media campaigns are our only hope in helping the public see the reality.

Filed under: On Culture, On Society, On Sustainability , 2008 Budget, Alistair Darling, climate change, Consumerism, Environment, Plastic, Plastic Bag, UK, Waste

Steven Heller Masters Series

“If you missed Steven Heller’s exhibition and lectures at the School of Visual Arts last year, this site is almost as good as the real thing” [Michael Bierut]. 

Via MB on DesignObsever

Filed under: On Events, On Graphic Design, On People , Exhibition, Graphic Design, Michael Bierut, Steven Heller, Steven Heller Masters Series

Eye Discussion: Ethics in the Creative Industries

I just stumbled upon an event I can’t quite believe I missed out on. Early this month, Eye Magazine teamed up with Camberwell College of Art, to host a forum on Ethics in the Creative Industries.

On the 11th of March 2008 the Design Cluster at Camberwell in association with Eye Magazine held a discussion forum to examine how ethical issues are being addressed within the creative industries. Key writers, designers and thinkers presented their thoughts in discussion with staff, students and representatives ‘from industry’. Speakers included: Ken Garland, Anne Odling Smee, Rick Poynor, Lucienne Roberts, Rathna Ramanathan and Noel Douglas.

“The event featured talks based on previous Eye articles. First there was a conversation between Ken Garland and Anne Odling-Smee, followed by designer Rathna Ramanathan talking about her work for the BBC World Service in rural India. In the afternoon we heard from designer-activist Noel Douglas and Eye columnist Rick Poynor, whose talk ‘The value of no’ encapsulated and expanded upon many of the themes triggered by the Camberwell students’ interest in First Things First and its aftermath.”

According to the recent eye-newsletter [via email today], the forum review will be published in the forthcoming Eye Mag – due in the shops next month. Whilst we all eagerly await the discussion reviews, the forum’s blog is a worthy visit if you are in need of some designer ethics.

Filed under: Art & Design, On Ethics, On Events, On Graphic Design, On People, On Social Design , Creative Industries, Discussion, Ethics, event, Eye Magazine, Ken Garland, london, Lucienne Roberts, Noel Douglas, Rick Poynor

Are you a “Good Designer”?

Amidst the feline army, I curled up on the sofa this afternoon, to finally finish reading Lucienne Roberts’ publication GOOD: An Introduction to Ethics in Graphic Design [2006]. An interesting read that presents a selection of opinions, from Ken Garland, Simon Eterson, Thomas Matthews, Deborah Szebeko of the magnificent ThinkPublic, Sheila Levrant de Bretteville and Pat Kahn to Daniel Eatock.

Truthfully, I was particularly taken by the inside front cover [of all things] – which captures an extensive collection of books and CDs, that [I can only imagine] are a selection of resources Roberts used as research for the discussion. Admittedly, to me, this image was the most personal visual used in the book - an authors touch that visually frames an introduction to the complex subject that is design ethics and [creative] social responsibility.

Starting at the beginning of ’Early Civilisation’ (p.21), Roberts takes the discussion through History, Philosophy (p.34), Law (p.44) and Politics (p.58), to a series of discussions with a collection of credible designers (p.113-192) – ultimately questioning what it means to be a “good designer”. I was taken by Paula Scher’s response, to which she responded: “I don’t understand how the word good is used here. Am I a well-behaved Graphic Designer? Am I socially conscious designer?”

For all designers interested in their work being more ethically or socially responsible, this introductory text offers plentiful food for thought over what is really takes to be a “good designer”. The text is a great introduction to design ethics, that I feel, should be mandatory reading for todays designers and undergraduates alike. On the topic of designer ethics, I came across an interesting article entitled In Search of Ethics in Graphic Design [2004] by Paul Nini, which I would also recommend reading.

Filed under: On Education, On Ethics, On Graphic Design, On Research, On Social Design , Book, Garland, GOOD Introduction to Ethics in Graphic Design, Graphic Design, Lucienne Roberts, Social Design

We All Walk in Different Shoes

We All Walk in Different Shoes is a great campaign from Kenneth Cole, which celebrates 25 years of non-uniform thinkers. “Appearance can be a defining characteristic for us all but it’s the ability to think differently that really makes a difference.” Via. Awearness.

Filed under: On Graphic Design, On People, On Social Design , Advertising, kenneth cole, fashion, people, individual, campaign

The Messenger/Receiver House

The Messenger/Receiver House is a project by design students Chris Knox, Colm Keller and Bastian Bischoff, studying on the Master Programme in Design at HDK (The School of Design and Crafts at Göteborg University in Sweden). Conceived to collect and analyse public opinion about homelessness, the graphic and product design students created this eye-catching public exhibit. As MocoLoco reported, the future of the M/R House project looks to involve “smaller versions to be decorated by homeless people and well known creatives to be auctioned off to raise funds for organizations that deal with homelessness.” Via. DirtyMouse.

Filed under: On Community, On Culture, On Graphic Design, On Social Design, On Society , students, Design, The Messenger/Receiver House, homeless, poverty, public, HDK

Noah’s Ark of Seeds (the real plan b)

Ever wondered what would happen, if we fail to prevent Climate Change? The Guardian Newspaper recently reported the ‘doomsday’ back up plan… (the real “Plan B”), The Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

February 26 2008: An ambitious project to safeguard the world’s future food supplies was inaugurated today. The £1.7m “Noah’s ark of seeds” near the town of Longyearbyen, in Norway’s remote Svalbard islands, will protect the 2m seeds that represent the world’s agricultural biodiversity against threats such as nuclear war, asteroid impact, terrorist attack, climate change and rising sea levels.

Filed under: On Social Design, On Sustainability , climate change, Environment, evolution, food supply, future, Noah’s Ark of Seeds, norway, seeds, Svalbard Global Seed Vault