segdDESIGN Sustainability Issue

Open publication - Free publishing - More graphic

The May issue of segdDESIGN No. 28/2010 — the Sustainability Issue — is now available.  If you haven't seen this yet, please take a look as you will notice something a little different about this issue.

The focus of this issue is on sustainability and environmental graphic design. The issue is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled-content paper (both cover and text). Processed chlorine-free and made with BioGas energy, the paper is certified by EcoLogo, the Forest Stewardship Council, and Permanent Paper. Also, it was printed using vegetable-based inks and zero-VOC aqueous coatings.  

The issue’s focus is on sustainability, including Guest Editor Naomi Pearson’s foundation article on Life Cycle Assessment and feature stories on model “green” EGD projects such as the Green Depot store, The Nature Conservancy’s Design for a Living World exhibition, and Portland’s TriMet transit system, among others. 

In tandem with the issue’s publication, the SEGD Sustainability Forum has launched its new SEGD Green Resource Ghttp://greenresourceguide.segd.org/, a site focused on sustainability and EGD. It outlines SEGD’s Green Audit approach, focuses on strategies geared toward sustainability, and provides a wealth of resources for EGD practitioners striving to minimize the environmental impacts of their work.

This issues is a true success and provides information, stories and content specifically related to EGD. 

SGIA's 4 Step Sustainability Action Plan

Have you seen the SGIA's new 4 Step Sustainability Action Plan? The plan is designed to help companies become sustainable by following four steps: Plan, Do, Check, Act. Each step includes things like environmental checklists and energy audit worksheets.

This is a pretty interesting and in-depth action plan, one that is worth taking a look at if you haven't already.

http://www.sgia.org/govt/sustainability/index.cfm

The Green Audit

Environmental awareness continues to grow in all aspects of business. A key factor in building and designing environmentally conscious signage deals with aligning strategy and methodology with the materials used to meet the specific needs of a project. When taking a closer look at the fundamentals behind sign systems, we find that the parameters differ from the green rating systems that are commonly used today. Systems such as the LEED rating system work for buildings but do not necessarily meet the needs of signage. Although most of the core principals remain consistent, the methodology behind the design can be very different.

There are six areas of focus related to signage and EGD; Longevity, Air Quality, Waste Management and Disposibility, Recyclability, Energy Efficiency and Education.

The big picture behind the green audit for signage stems from the idea that not all things are created equal. Longevity tends to be the first question asked relating to signage and EGD projects. Longevity is related to the location and the expected life of the project. Once the longevity question is addressed, the issues surrounding the other five areas of focus fall into place.

Building and designing a healthcare facility is going to require a different environmental strategy than building a trade show exhibit or a museum exhibit or a complete airport package. All six areas of focus are important but each has a different role depending on the particular project. Once you are able to answer a few basic questions, the path to which strategies, methodologies and materials are needed present themselves.

The intent of creating a category for Audit Scenarios is to highlight specific scenarios and attempt to give insight into the strategies and methodologies behind each. There will be many posts relating to this subject which will discuss specific approaches.

This is an area that will require an open mind and hopefully a good deal of participation from everyone. If you have a thought on a specific materials or project scenarios, please feel free to share.