Book Review: Design Is The Problem

I’Äôve just realized I’Äôve been woefully remiss and have not reviewed what is one of the best books to come out about sustainable design in the past several years. Nathan Shedroff’Äôs Design Is The Problem addresses all manner of designers  and holds them accountable for the potential bad and good their work can do for the world. Rather than dealing with an individual branch of design Shedroff looks at overarching systems of sustainability and how they can be applied to any field. After starting with a thorough review of what ’Äúsustainability’Äù even means and how to measure it, Shedroff then reviews several popular approaches from books like Cradle To Cradle and Natural Capitalism. This section is particularly useful in how it encapsulates several complex theories and then proposes how to make use of the best of all of them. The rest of the book is devoted to breaking down all the areas in which designers have an opportunity to apply sustainable principles using the classic ’ÄúReduce, Reuse, and Recycle’Äù framework even adding a new ’ÄúRe’Äù to the mix: Rethink. Even folks who are fairly familiar with the standard terminology may stand to learn a thing or two when it comes to Dematerialization and Transmaterialization, and Informationalization! The book is rounded out with real world examples that are sprinkled throughout, along with specifics about making sustainable processes a measurable reality, and a useful selection of resources. Nathan’Äôs accessible writing keeps the book from becoming a dry textbook and his points are well-researched & applicable to people with a wide range of knowledge and interest in sustainability. A truly useful guidebook, this should definitely be in the hands of anyone interested in the impact their work is having on the world.

[UPDATE: The publisher is offering a 15% discount on the purchase price if you use the code REBELLION when you buy the book through their site.]

Design Is The Problem
by Nathan Shedroff
Rosenfeld Media
$36.00 print & digital

$22.00 digital only

Michael Pollan in NYT on "Sustainability"

A recent New York Times article by Michael Pollan (author of The Ominivore's Dilemma) questions the sustainability of our current agriculture system and even the definition of the word itself:

The word ’Äúsustainability’Äù has gotten such a workout lately that the whole concept is in danger of floating away on a sea of inoffensiveness. Everybody, it seems, is for it whatever ’Äúit’Äù means. On a recent visit to a land-grant university’Äôs spanking-new sustainability institute, I asked my host how many of the school’Äôs faculty members were involved. She beamed: When letters went out asking who on campus was doing research that might fit under that rubric, virtually everyone replied in the affirmative. What a nice surprise, she suggested. But really, what soul working in agricultural science today (or for that matter in any other field of endeavor) would stand up and be counted as against sustainability? When pesticide makers and genetic engineers cloak themselves in the term, you have to wonder if we haven’Äôt succeeded in defining sustainability down, to paraphrase the late Senator Moynihan, and if it will soon possess all the conceptual force of a word like ’Äúnatural’Äù or ’Äúgreen’Äù or ’Äúnice.’Äù

Read the entire article HERE.

via Treehugger
Thanks Scott!

Buy Daryl Hannah's Biodiesel El Camino

Apparently Daryl Hannah is selling her biodiesel car (along with a pump & station!) via her website, details to come on December 20th. While you wait you can watch her show about sustainable living: Love Life.

Thanks Xtine!

Small (Business) Is Beautiful

A recent article in Ode Magazine "Small Is Successful" talks about the benefits of staying small in the corporate world and features the story of how Clif Bar owner Gary Erickson resisted a profitable takeover by Quaker Oats:

...rather than feeling on top of the world about this dream deal, Erickson was uneasy. "I stood in the office waiting to go out and sign the contract," he recounts in his book Raising the Bar. "Out of nowhere, I started to shake and couldn't breathe." He told his business partner that he needed to get some air. Outside in the parking lot, he broke down in tears. And then it hit him as he began to walk around the block: "I don't have to do this. I began to laugh, feeling free," he writes. "I turned around, went back to the office and told my partner, 'Send them home. I can't sell the company.'"

Read the entire article here.

Community Supported Consumptiton

SustainLane is a new community based online directory of green products and services, where you can search for reviews and/or add your own. While still in it's early stages (a query for Sun Screen pulled up only 3 items), it has the potential to be a great resource for folks who want to know more before they shop.

The folks behind SustainLane also provide sustainability rankings for the 50 biggest US cities; as well as government focused site; and even an animated series called The UnSustainables.

For The Love of Public Transit

Ralf Youtz was comissioned by Good Magazine to compose this sweet love song for public transit and perform it while riding on the new arial tram in Portland, Oregon.

While we're feeling all warm and mushy about public transportation let's not forget Billy Strayhorn's unforgettable tune Take The A Train, as performed by Ray Nance.



Award for best lyrics in an ode to public transportation would have to go to the Muppets for this rousing number which describes the subway as 'the biggest travel bargain in town - the longest running show underground'
Take it away, guys...

Design Can Change!

Vancouver design studio SmashLAB has created a new resource for graphic designers concerned with global warming: Design Can Change. The site, which is still in it's early stages, is meant to be a comprehensive source of information and inspiration on sustainability for environmentally minded designers, and it is already chock full of data (though rather difficult to navigate). There's even a pledge you can sign and plans for a community directory. While I wish that it wasn't just about environmental issues, but rather the entire scope of socially conscious design, it's definitely a nice introduction for folks who are just becoming aware of graphic designers' power to affect positive change in the world.

Better Thinking, the magazine.

The folks who brought you the perfect T-shirt, Better Thinking are now trying their hand at making the perfect magazine. The 1st online issue, with it's easily digestible stories on sustainable businesses and products is free so they're off to a good start. Read it here.