Posts Tagged sustainability

t-shirt design: biodegrade

Inverted tetris… why not? (:

I have a few medium grey T-shirts left. Let me know if you’re interested in one or if you have suggestions for color combinations you’d like to see for next time.

bona fide green goods launches new e-commerce website

For the past several years, I have been designing print collateral, assisting with web production, and shooting product photography for Bona Fide Green Goods (formerly known as Real Green Goods), an earth-friendly department store based in Concord, New Hampshire. This month we’re excited to report that we’ve launched a new brand and a new online store – check it out! The new site features an extensive learning section, hundreds of sustainable, organic, fair trade, and recycled products, as well as 27 icons which act as a selection tool for customers interested in purchasing products with particular eco criteria.

I designed the new logo, promotional materials, and have been busy shooting photos of our newest products for the website. The designs reflect the brand’s focus on consumer education, socially and environmentally conscious products.

Here are some screenshots from bonafidegreengoods.com. Also, be sure to check out the blog!

Here are a few of the icons I designed for the “shop by icon” feature. I enjoyed the challenge of coming up with a small, unique, simple visual representation for each and every concept (whether it be literal or abstract).  See all 27 of the icons in action and “shop by icon”!

internship at ripe: green design studio in washington, dc

Although the studio consists of just a few team members, I quickly realized that ripe is no small deal.

During my four-month internship I experienced what it’s like to be a designer in a full service studio. While I was part of the team, I had the opportunity to do a mix of everything – whether it be researching and inspiration-gathering for a new brand concept, designing layouts for a website, sitting in on a client meeting, or final production work for a stationary package. There was always an interesting task to tackle.

It’s been great to work with a team that is just as serious about environmental responsibility as they are about creative, high-quality design. ripe considers how sustainability can affect all aspects of design, from conceptualization to final output. And from bamboo floors to French-pressed coffee, ripe is always seeking newer and cooler ways to become even “greener” around the studio itself.

One of the most valuable experiences I had was being immersed in behind-the-scenes organization of such a productive studio. Staying on task was vital, but the laid back atmosphere helped the day-to-day flow of photoshop files and phone calls, while generous amplification of Pandora radio tended to boost creativity by 300%. And of course, there was an adorable kitten to play with while taking a break from the screen (and occasionally some amazing chocolate dipped bacon lollipops from Farmers & Fishers to munch on)!

grocery store wars

Grocery Store Wars from Green.com on Vimeo.

This video was produced by Free Range Studios.

real green goods celebrates two year anniversary

Yesterday was the 2nd birthday celebration of Real Green Goods on Main Street in Concord. The vendors included Cottonfield (100% organic clothing), Pear Tree Studios (gorgeous stuffed animals/toys created from recycled sweaters and other material), and Stonyfield Farm (gave away samples of their Greek-style yogurt in a variety of fruit flavors). The weather was gorgeous–perhaps a bit too gorgeous–so many people were probably at the beach instead of shopping downtown. I hope my accordion tunes helped bring in a few people at least.

Below are a few pictures I took of some of our newest products! 100% Stainless Steel ice cube tray, the most delicious olive oil (from Palestine), and palm-oil free soap in bulk, made from olive oil (again from Palestine). You can find them all on www.realgreengoods.com.

My accordion, Lola. She brought in a few customers (and might’ve driven away just as many; who knows).

kite design: seed

seed

- bamboo

- hemp line / thread

- 100% recycled paper manufactured with wind power

- found wood (spool)

- inkjet print

kite design: ghost

ghost

- bamboo

- hemp line / thread

- 100% recycled paper manufactured with wind power

- found wood (spool)

kite design: barn door

barn door

- bamboo

- hemp line / thread

- recycled organic cotton paper

- found wood (spool)

- found vine (tail)

kites + wind power

Kite flying is a universal activity which keeps us in touch with the environment and our natural spirit. The materials, design, and flight of this kite spread awareness of sustainable resources we have around us, as well as the interconnectedness we have with our planet. The kite is made from bamboo, hemp, and 100% recycled paper manufactured with wind power. It is flown with one of our greatest renewable resources: the wind.

preliminary kite design sketches

us: original video and sound piece

I created this video for my Sound I final project in December 2008.

This five minute film piece uses imagery from Google Earth’s immense database of satellite images of the Earth’s surface. The sound component to the film utilizes sounds from synthesizers, computer generated sine tones, various instruments, and sounds gathered using a contact microphone. Beginning calmly with images of natural desertscapes, the film moves through several more stages of sound and image (tundra, forest, mountain…), a slow crescendo of nature to the climax of the sprawling city: fast, flickering imagery with a collage of sound portrays the chaos, disorder, and complexities of civilization and technology. The video, among other things, is a comment on the power of the human race and current global issues concerning our environment.

The film, as well as many others from my class, will be featured in MIXTAPE – an exhibition at the Brown Center – this week. Come check it out.

aiga baltimore: compost modern

From baltimore.aiga.org:

COMPOST MODERN

“Sustainability is the defining issue of our time. It will eventually become the context within which all design is performed, the lens through which all design is considered. Join AIGA Baltimore, for a 4-night exploration of the role we will play in the future of green design.

Through Compostmodern’s recorded lectures and vibrant discussions in a relaxed environment, participants will investigate the current and future potential for ecologically sustainable growth and responsible design. We’ll focus on real world solutions and practical applications of design, using fresh infusions of design thinking.”-baltimore.aiga.org

Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Creative Alliance
$35 members, $50 nonmembers

Creative Alliance
3134 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224

i just got a drying rack!

I purchased this wooden drying rack from Real Green Goods. It has 24′ of drying space and is fully collapsible, made in New England from SFI certified eastern white pine wood with birch dowels. This drying rack will reduce my use of a dryer. The average clothes dryer emits almost half a tonne of greenhouse gases a year, and I bet the community dryer emits more; it’s old and often in use.

I lived in an apartment in Florence last summer and we had a clothesline out our window  (as did everyone else!)

wind power generated from kites

“giant kites to tap power of the high wind” [article + video]

lifestyle inventory: ways i can further reduce my carbon output

Install more energy-efficient lightbulbs – My bedroom overhead light and bathroom lights are incandescents. The rest of my lighting is either CFL or LED, but I haven’t switched the bedroom or bathroom overheads because they’re difficult to reach. Making the switch over to completely energy-efficient lighting will help to reduce my electricity consumption.

Drying rack – I am getting one soon! It has 24′ of drying space and is New England made from SFI certified eastern white pine wood with birch dowels. Using a drying rack will eliminate/reduce my need for the laundromat’s dryer.

Compost – I will invest in a kitchen composter in the future. If I have the space to do it, I would like to set up a compost in my yard.

Buy more local food – I always buy organics when I see them in grocery stores (and occasionally I’ll see some locally grown produce), but nearly all of my produce is not locally grown. I read that up to 30% of the fruits and vegetables shipped from South America arrive damaged or unfit for being sold here in the USA, meaning that the energy used in growing, maintaining, and shipping this food was wasted.

Stop buying plastic garbage bags – Although I never bring home plastic bags from shopping, I still use them for my kitchen trash. I would like to invest in BioBags, and better yet, seek ways to minimize my waste output altogether.

Unplug appliances/devices – Although I unplug my microwave, coffeegrinder, and toaster oven when not in use, I own a synthesizer/keyboard, television, printer, and computer, all of which are connected to surge protectors which I leave plugged in when I’m not using them. I am currently reseraching what energy-draw these items have.

Purchase offsets and renewable energy – When I can afford it, I want to purchase offsets / buy green power for my home / studio.

My work as a graphic designer – Currently I am reseraching ways I can reduce my carbon impact in my work as a graphic desgner. I am researching papers, inks, printers, studios, and ideas for repurposing projects. Check out the rest of this website for more information about these subjects.

lifestyle inventory: ways i am reducing my carbon output

I am fortunate to have been introduced to many of these carbon impact-reducing products through the store I work at, Real Green Goods. *Below images courtesy of Real Green Goods.

MISCELLANEOUS

Reusable bags. I shop with bags made from jute fiber, a burlap coffee sack, 80% recycled cotton / 20% recycled bottles made locally (in New Hampshire), and organic cotton. I never bring home plastic.

Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottle. I carry it with me everywhere and try not to purchase drinks bottled in plastic. Although glass is heavier to ship, it can be endlessly recycled and doesn’t leach anything toxic.

Transportation. I don’t have a car here at school. However, I do take at least two round-trip flights home per year. Although I drive infrequently while at home, I live in a rural area so I am forced to drive long distances when I need to go somewhere.

Heating. I live on the second floor of an old building in a small studio apartment. I set my heat at 50 degrees and it hardly ever comes on, due to the rising of heat from the apartment below me. Because of this, my monthly gas usage is quite low.

Recycling. I recycle everything that I can: paper, plastic, metal, glass. (As of January 8, 2008, Baltimore enacted a single-stream recycling program and I’m happy to see my neighbors taking full advantage of it.)

KITCHEN

Bamboo cutting board. Bamboo is a cost-effective alternative to virgin wood. Bamboo is considered renewable since it continually sends out new shoots and is very fast-growing. This board is made from Chinese bamboo, which unfortunately adds to its carbon footprint due to long-distance shipping.

Walnut Wood Cutting Board. This board was made from reclaimed materials in New Hampshire.

Glass storage containers. Unlike plastic tupperware, glass containers won’t leach any harmful chemicals and can be recycled infinitely.

TWIST sponges / sponge cloths. These are biodegradable and replace the need for paper towels. 99.97% of all waste created during the making of the sponge is re-used in production. The cellulose fiber is from renewable tree farms, and the paper packaging can be converted into a birdfeeder!

French Press. I use my press for coffee and tea (bulk leaves). This press is made with stainless steel and glass and eliminates the need for paper filters.

Organic foods. I shop at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s and buy organics when I can. I’d like to purchase more food locally!

SOAPS + SUCH

Vermont Organics hand soap. This comes in bulk from the store I work at, Real Green Goods. Buying in bulk eliminates the need for packaging and reduces the amount of cardboard necessary for shipping.

Recycled Chopsticks Soap Dish. Made from sanitized used chopsticks. I also own a fair-trade “soap box” made from the abaca plant (from the Phillipines) which is durable and biodegradable.

Charlie’s Soap Laundry Detergent. Charlie’s is a biodegradable coconut based powder. You only need 1 tbsp. per load and it cleans wonderfully. It’s unscented and comes in a recyclable brown paper bag.

Hemp Oil Deodorant. (Lafe’s) A combination of mineral salts, certified organic hemp oil, and certified organic aloe vera and is void of aluminum chlorhydrate, alcohol, paraben, or propylene glycol.

Badger Balm Chapstick and balms made locally in NH. More than 70% of the ingredients are certified organic with the goal of being 95% certified organic in early 2008. All other ingredients are ecologically harvested, grown wild, and/or are fair trade.

LIGHTING

CFLs. 1 HappyLite CFL (36W), 1 bedside reading light CFL (18W), 1 kitchen overhead CFL (18W), 1 CFL desk lamp (?W)

LEDs. 2 LED nightlights, 1 LED strand (?W)

The Companion is a crank-powered/solar powered LED flashlight, radio, and cell phone charger (I’m working on getting this feature to function).

CLOTHING

Most of my clothes are hand-me-downs or come from thrift stores. I also own clothes made from hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton.

my green graphic design blog: a resource for sustainable thinking

I’ve imported several posts from my old blog which I created for a class I took called Climate Change and Sustainability for Artists + Designers. Here’s some information about “viridianarium”, an information resource for graphic designers looking for ways to “green” their work:

———-

After completing a number of online carbon footprint calculators, I found that although there are ways I am helping to minimize my CO2 output, there are still many changes I could make to further reduce my global impact. The calculators’ questions inspired me to thoroughly investigate my life and research how to reduce my carbon impact at home, on the go, and as a designer.

This personal research prompted me to create a resource for myself and other graphic designers who want to incorporate sustainable practices into their work (Viridiarium). I am constantly learning new information not only about the severity of the climate crisis, but also about how positive actions, on the individual, local, and global levels, really can (and do) make a difference. Designers have the power to inform, inspire, and hopefully initiate change — even if this change is as simple as changing light bulbs or switching from buying paper made from virgin lumber to paper with recycled content.

To read more, check out my sustainability blog (http://viridiarium.wordpress.com/). Although I’m permanently moving to annaeshelman.com/blog, I’ll keep the old wordpress blog open for viewing.