Of course we’ll see where life takes me, but I really hope to find myself working for a publishing company or a museum. I’ve talked about this before, but it’s because I want to design things that teach people, or encourage them to learn more about, well, all things! And I want to learn more too.
One thing I’m trying to learn more about is how my designs can actually help the environment. I haven’t opened my own Etsy shop or something similar (yet). But if/when I do, I want to implement as many environmentally friendly, or rather human-saving, methods as I can.
I really appreciate it when small businesses I order from are re-using packaging, or they use packaging made from recycled materials. And they have a sticker on the packaging stating this AND that you can recycle it too! Yes, it may seem like such a small thing, but it makes the message clear. It shows this person cares, and they care enough to tell you.
This is something I’d like to do from an in-house design standpoint—if that’s where I end up. Okay, think of museums. There are so many different guide maps you can pick up when you walk in. Perhaps you can recycle those pamphlets, but I feel like I don’t know! Now imagine on the pamphlet, somewhere visible, there is a well designed mark saying you can recycle this. It would help this pamphlet not get tossed away into a trash bin by making a message more clear. And making messages stand out is one of our most important jobs as a graphic designer.
Yes, of course, the designer does need to check if this material actually is recyclable before putting any defining mark on it. If it turns out the material can’t be recycled, then perhaps add an icon or message encouraging people to take it home and use it for a scrapbook, or store it in a box of memories. I’m sure many do this already (at least I do), but it would still help to have encouragement from the organization itself. If the material can’t be recycled, then designers need to promote other ways for consumers to use this so the life of the product can at least be prolonged. Or better yet, get the organization to switch to recyclable material.
We also live in a digital world, so making sure a guide map exists in a digital format (and one that is easy to use…) would help a lot. Create signage that stands out so people know to use the digital guide! Make sure the process and interface isn’t overly complicated to use just a map/guide feature! Obviously it’s been a while since I’ve been inside a museum, but I do think more museums are starting to take this approach. But still, as designers, we must critically look at how the organizations we work for are impacting our future.
In interviews they normally ask at the end, “Do you have any questions for us?” And I’m wondering if I should be asking companies what environmental practices they are actively engaged in. Of course they could give some work-around answer like many do on their websites, but maybe it would still give me an idea for how much an organization cares.
I want to work towards a better future beyond my lifetime. I hope to do this through the organizations I am employed under, and by my impact in my designs. Design is often times seen as temporary (just think of all the re-brands we do). But I think we, as designers, have a responsibility to seek new solutions which make design last, not only in people’s minds, but to help our environment too.
