Final Outcomes

well backdating a little, but maybe something for the future...

information graphics that fold up to make a holder/bank for paper to be recycled. this design form would need to be a2 size if made from paper. also it may be better to use a longer lasting material in the interest of sustainability.

ok well heres an update and some thoughts on the project.

after a very long day of going to countless printers, the work is finally printed.

its a relief that i have something to show, but im not very happy with the final outcome. the posters work to an extent, but the type is way too big & clumsy. the layout on the back works well as a whole sheet, but as little pages you can read they dont really seem to work.

one feeling i have is that this project works better as a blog - somewhere that is always being updated, there is discussion and potential for loads of useful and inspirational stuff.

as a booklet or poster there is a limit to what can be used. i certainly found that tryng to showing all this information on an a3 sheet and with that fold layout, that the design was compromised. (maybe that was my fault)

another thing - unfortunately the only large plain recycled paper i could find didnt really work with the laser printer. it sort of melts on and looks a bit funny. the best option i think would be a high quality inkjet.

- this point is really key because in future it would be much easier to print on standard virgin paper and use a laserjet. a3 inkjet printing seems to be much less accessible, and therefore not as commercially viable.

even though im not entirely satisfied with the 'final outcome' i think the blog is the most valuable part of this project. i really enjoy putting stuff up on here and im pretty sure it'll keep on going!

somethng from renowned environmental friendly smoothie makers Innocent

inspirational reading.

went with the posters. just gotta get to an eco-printer. had been speaking to 'a local printer' (its the name of their company?) about printing the book & it was all good, but they wouldnt be able to make the posters' frnt & back to line up (registrate?).

anyway im on the hunt for a printer. if i cant get to do it at an eco place i can use a kall kwik or something but with my own recycled paper. hopefully Calverts can do it cos they can even put an eco friendly coating on to make it look more slick.

not sure whats im going to do about the research sheet. id rather do a little pack, but if its gotta be a sheet its gotta be a sheet i suppose.

righty

well its a bit fucking late in the day, but here goes.

spent this afternoon doing a 'taking the piss out of tree huggers' shoot, which went better than expected i have to say. not im not sure what exactly to do with them. do i?

a: stick with a3 posters that include all the information & research on the back

or

b: make postcards with only information relavent to the front image on the back.

i dont really like the idea of postcards - i think theyre a bit cheap? but they could be quite informative. (is there too much information to fit on a postcard - could be a deciding factor)

right well ill have a think for what i could do other than a poster or a postcard

ciao for now

check this out - you can ride a bike to work AND be creative!!

grand designs live, docklands, 4/6/06

grand designs exhibition. nice stuff there & spoke to loads of people about their work in relation to the environment. mostly construction stuff but very relavent when u look at how much energy needed to heat a building

blogger happy

i think this project in itself is going downhill. luckily the subject area is kind of bigger than the project so it can be a little more on-going than planned hehe. not sure if that counts as an excuse but hey.

well i have photos on my blog and links to other sites, so it cant be that bad.

eugh.

eden project, cornwall

went to eden project in cornwall last year. havent taken much direct influence from it, but if you can tear yourself away from london for more than a day or two its definately worth going to (its not all flowers and grannies!)

they want links eh...

well ive looked at loads of websites & talked to loads of people who will be credited in my final outcome as further reading or something, but to tick the boxes and make it easier i suppose, here are some links that i have (metaphorically) taken a lot from. so yeah check them out

http://www.howies.co.uk
http://www.carbonneutral.com/
http://www.edenproject.com/
http://www.leap-media.co.uk/
http://www.thomasmatthews.com/

well project should be nearly finished by now and i still dont know what format im gonna go for! the book spreads were looking ok, but quite average in terms of design. they needed something extra. pete mentioned that it was very predictible and i had to agree.

people cant necessarily relate to forests as much as their own environment so, to promote the fact that people can be eco-friendly AND not have to go and live in a tree, im thinking about taking the piss out of my original idea of having a studio in a treehouse.

im thinking maybe photos of an eco warrior in an office looking very out of place and confused; also a designer type trying to climb a tree clasping a Mac and a starbucks coffee

with a strapline something like - 'you dont have to work in a tree to have an eco friendly studio', but much snappier of course!

maybe could even film it. will prob be posters with information page on the back with all the research.

watch this space homies...

well its the right green now.

ok well i think the direction for this project will be more about me producing a piece of completely sustainable design. anything i print will be using recycled paper & properly sourced inks (for final printing - i dont think i could put veggie ink in my printer at home). either way, i hope to minimise any printing i do at all. ive been reading about being carbon neutral companies and how they offset their emissions & consumables by paying another company to effectively plant trees for them - sounds a little dubious to me but its definately worth me looking into in terms of the carbon footprint of this project.

in terms of a piece of sustainable graphic design i i know where im going, but looking at the brief for this project it talks about a collaberative element to the work. initial ideas of a treehouse (ha!) would be very collaberative but i need to get some people on board for this. maybe interviews with designers? design council? any ideas? will have to have a ponder...

d!ltside