vitals

vitalssustainability through design

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF....?sUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE & CARDBON DIOXIDE

INTERIOR DESIGN & HEALTH

graphic design in business

2

8

12

14

18

20

24

25

26

28

4

toc

3

letter from the editor

sustainable Architecture & co2

Top 5 Green Architecture Tips

interior design & health

paint: the good and bad

design in sustainable business

sustainable printing

sustainable packaging

10 tips for sustainable housing

what would happen if... ?

t

4

designed by: mary harveyeditted by: mary harveyimages by: mary harvey

I hope you learn in some form about how neccessary it is to protect our planet, as well as how important it is to have art around us. Art shapes us, and shows us things that we could never imagine. Never take it for granted. Be smart, be creative, and be everything that you can be. Sustainabilty will give you that chance.

Design is all around us.; There is no escap-ing it. In our day and age, design can be found in Architecture, Industrial, Interior, and Graphic Design. And while we create beautiful pieces of artwork using these dif-ferent forms of design, we can also preserve and protecy the earth from unneccessary harm. With this magazine, I tend to inform you, the reader, to appreciate the power of art as well as the world that we inhabit..

MH

5lett

er e

dito

r

from the

6

VITALSSUSTAINABILITY

photo

gra

ph b

y m

ary

harv

ey

7

VITALSTHROUGH DESIGN

Sustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide EmissionsSustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide EmissionsSustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide EmissionsSustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Sustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide EmissionsSustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions

8

photo

gra

ph b

y m

ary

harv

ey

by Roger K. Lewis

Sustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide EmissionsSustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide EmissionsSustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide EmissionsSustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Sustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide EmissionsSustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions

9

C a r -bon dioxide is in the air like never before, but not just as measurable parts per million in the earth’s atmosphere. Increasingly the subject of everyday conversation and cultural discourse, rising CO2 emis-sions are seen by many as no less a threat than terrorism, uncontrolled immigra-tion, avian flu or escalating gasoline prices.

A new exhibit on green architecture at the National Building Museum con-tributes to the discourse. Atmospheric carbon dioxide and its planetary con-sequences are what former vice presi-dent Al Gore talks about in the docu-mentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.”

Carbon dioxide was also the focus of a presentation at last month’s confer-ence, “The Architecture of Sustain-ability,” sponsored by the American Institute of Architects national commit-tees on design and on the environment.

Addressing the conferees packed into the Corcoran Gallery of Art auditorium, New Mexico architect Edward Mazria delivered a sobering, persuasive opening presentation about carbon dioxide and global warming. He also delivered a daunting challenge to architects: Design all new buildings, what-ever the type, to use half the fossil fuel en-ergy used now by buildings of that type.

By the year 2030, the goal is for new buildings to be “carbon-neutral” and use no energy from fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases. This means that less than 25 years from now, ideally no oil, coal or natural gas would be burned to build, heat, cool and light new buildings.

The 2030 challenge (see http://www.ar-chitecture2030.org/ ) is predicated on the fact that buildings and the construc-tion industry account for about half the energy consumed in the United States.

10

photo

gra

ph b

y m

ary

harv

ey

Thus Mazria contends that architects, re-sponsible for designs of a substantial por-tion of new projects as well as renovation of existing buildings, could contribute signifi-cantly to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.Innovations could include configuring buildings to be heated, cooled, ventilated and lighted more efficiently; specifying green and recycled construction materials; buying renewable energy while harnessing solar, wind, geothermal and biomass en-ergy; and exploiting available and emerging energy technologies. Mazria acknowledged that attaining the 2030 objective would not be easy, especially because it requires changed attitudes and behavior in sectors of the building industry beyond the influ-ence of architects. It also requires that public attitudes and behavior change. Nev-ertheless, he thinks architects could exer-cise more leadership than in the past. To-day, atmospheric carbon dioxide measures about 378 parts per million, compared with

about 300 parts

per million 450,000 years ago. Yet by 2100, carbon dioxide content could be as high as 700 parts per mil-lion. Most of this projected increase would be attributable to continuing use of fossil fuels for buildings, construc-tion, transportation and manufacturing.Mazria described the likely catastrophic effects of progressive global warming if temperature forecasts prove accurate. Melting polar ice would raise sea levels, inundating tens of thousands of miles of coastland and displacing tens of mil-lions of people around the globe. Much of Florida, the Gulf Coast and Mary-land’s Eastern Shore would disappear.

As humans, animals and plants migrate in response to rapidly changing conditions, disease will move with them. Thus, public health could be as worrisome as flooding.

11

12

5

1. RecycledmaterialsThere are no limits to the recycled materi-als that can be used in green architecture designs. Reclaimed wood can be used for flooring, trim and exposed wood ceilings. Recycled rubber tire chips can be used in landscaping. Even broken glass fragments are being used inside walls for insulation.

2. SolarpanelsSolar panels have been around for ages now, but thanks to advances in tech-nology they are now more accessible to the general public. Their new attrac-tive designs makes them more “green architecture” friendly. Solar panels are most often used to heat swimming pools and to power the whole house..

Top 5 Green Architecture Tips3. WatercollectionsystemsCollecting rain water is not a new con-cept. Most hardware stores carry large barrels that are used for the sole purpose of collecting rain water. This water can be used to water plants as well as a other uses limited only by ones imagination.

4. WindturbinesAn excellent way to apply green ar-chitecture to your property, wind tur-bines are highly effective in producing energy for your home by using wind as its power source. When considering the installation of these check first with your city to see if code allows them.

5. GreenroofingGreen grass roofs are popping up ev-erywhere. Both cost efficient and at-tractive, one can now apply green roofing systems to their entire roof or just a portion. The extra insulation helps keep energy consumption down.

13

5

And P

roductiv

ity

Can Affe

ct Hea

lth

Interior Desig

nAnd P

roductiv

ity...

Interior Desig

n

Can Affe

ct Hea

lth

by Melissa M

izell

14

And P

roductiv

ity

Can Affe

ct Hea

lth

And P

roductiv

ity...

Can Affe

ct Hea

lth

15

16

photo

gra

ph b

y m

ary

harv

ey

It’s a safe bet that sustainable design is here to stay. As more in the industry un-derstand this, they also are understand-ing that incorporating sustainable design strategies early in the process is an op-portunity for improving operating effi-ciency and organizational performance. As integrated design gains momentum, a range of project goals have a higher rate of success and the old obstacles to sustainable design begin to dissolve.

In the integrated design process, inte-rior design is just one part of a system. The interior designer plays an important role in recommending appropriate de-sign strategies that affect productivity, health and well-being. Additionally, through specification and purchasing of verified sustainable products, designers can influ-ence the market to move in a greener direction, directly improving human and ecological health. It is therefore crucial to select quality products and materials that live up to their sustainable claims.Building owners and facility executives also play a role in the integrated design process.

From the onset of the project, they should champion the sustainable design goals, es-pecially those related to ongoing energy and water performance of the facility. Sustainable strategies related to the base building, such as recycling and compost-ing, parking strategies that encourage carpooling, fuel efficient vehicles and bik-ing to work are also ideal for the build-ing owner or facility executive to bring to the table. After the project is complete, the owner or facility executive can edu-cate the building occupants on maintain-ing and using the space’s green features.

For many years there has been a percep-

tion that sustainable products are a tem-

porary trend and don’t perform as well

as conventional products. What’s more,

sustainable interior products are some-

times thought to be “crunchy,” with fin-

ishes that are natural but rough looking

and earthy, like composite wheat board

and hemp. Those are good materials, but

they represent a specific aesthetic that is

not the only option for sustainable prod-

ucts. The reality is that product manufac-

turers have responded well to market

demands for products that meet sustain-

ability requirements and deliver high per-

formance and aesthetic quality and variety.

As recently as a few years ago, many claims

were vague or revealed the manufacturer’s

lack of knowledge of what a sustainable

product is. Today many companies are

more sophisticated in their metrics and

reporting, as well as in using third-party

certification. Products with some sustain-

able characteristics are relatively easy to

find and verify. For instance, products that

use recycled content, such as wallboard,

carpet tiles, floor tiles, and translucent res-

ins are abundant in today’s market, usually

not at a cost premium. It is also relatively

easy to find products that emit low or

zero levels of volatile organic compounds

and products that are sourced locally

To create truly environmentally, socially and economically sustainable inte-riors, it helps to understand what efforts make the most difference. The fol-lowing seven principles can help guide the design process and ensure that sustainability is more than a superficial layer on an interiors project.

The value of interiors in the integrated design process is not just to create beau-tiful and efficient spaces. Good design helps influence behaviors. Communicat-ing how the interior spaces support human and ecological health sets up the first domino, and continues the transformation to sustainability, opening the door for greater participation by all those who occupy and visit the space.

1. KeeptheBigPictureinMind2. GoBacktotheBasics3. GetbeneaththeSurface4. Befrugal5. Double-taskingStrategies6. TakeItOneStepataTime7. LookBeyondFirstCosts

17

18

The scary thing about VOCs is that they are emitted from a variety of common household items like paint, lacquer. paint strippers, wood pre-servatives, household cleansers and dis-infectants, and even dry-cleaned clothing.

Levels of VOCs are usually 2 – 5 times high-er indoors than outdoors. When painting, the level can be as high as 1000 x higher than outdoor air. Even when dry, interior paint can emit VOCs for years after it is ap-plied! This means that you are possibly be-ing exposed in almost any building interior.

However, these days there are many low or no VOC paint options on the mar-ket so it is much safer to paint the in-terior of your home. Another benefit of these new paints are that they are almost orderless- which makes do-it-yourself remodeling much more pleasant!

At this point most of us know that some paints can give off harmful chemicals, and you may know that you should look for interior paints with Low-VOCs or No VOCs. But what exactly are VOCs and what potential harm do they pose?

VOC stands for Volatile Organic Com-pound. VOCs can include a variety of chemicals that are emitted as gases from either a solid or a liquid. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to VOCs can cause headaches, nose and throat irritation, skin aller-gies, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and some VOCs are potentially carcinogenic. Yikes!

VOCs are a large contributing fac-tor to indoor air pollution, which in turn, is a hazard to human health.

Paint: The Good and the Bad

19

20

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

graphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic designgraphic design

DES

IGN

IN SUSTAINABLE

B

USINESS...

21

by Carolyn Allen

Phil Hamlett brings humor as well as

wide graphic design and management

experience to his leadership roles in

the communciations industry, “Design-

ers have a hand in creating virtually ev-

ery product, artifact, and message we

encounter in the world around us, yet

collectively we are only beginning to

see ourselves as agents of change.”

Print still captures the hearts and minds

of the buying community, and designers

hold the keys to greening the print indus-

try. Designers can have the greatest im-

pact by asking vendors pointed questions.

Cutting edge answers will drive the indus-

try forward. The “system” makes green

choices available. IF recycling isn’t avail-

able in her town, “my mom won’t recycle.

When it became available, she took to it

naturally. It’s all about the system – about

making choices available for everybody.”

2006 was a big year for sustainability – and 2007 is even bigger. “Katrina made climate change kitchen-table talking points,” says Phil Hamlett. “It’s now ‘Save the planet or else.’ People see climate change as an even graver threat than terrorism. Even business has responded with major initia-tives: GE with its Ecomagination, and Wal Mart with greening its supply chain and building prototype green buildings, as well as making their truck fleet more green-house gas friendly. Sustainability is becom-ing part of the business DNA – core to how and why business exists and succeeds.Designers are being scrutinized. Take the iPod. Beautiful, slick design – but the de-signers ignored sustainability and they designed it with batteries that die and get chucked into the trash. Not sustainable. The molecules of design are the physicality – the LOOK rather than how things ARE. Designers can help everyone embrace the conversation about sustainability. They have the platform to convey the urgency that is being discussed at the executive level of their employers and client com-panies. “Sustainability is about everybody. It’s global. If anyone is left out, we’ll all suffer the consequences. We must all em-brace the principles of sustainable living.”

Printers are also being scrutinized – both

with compliance and by corporate re-

sponsibility and supply chain pressures.

Anderson Lithography (now Cenveo...)

is one California company that discov-

ered operational efficiencies could be

eco-responsible and smart business.

Cenveo Anderson Lithograph was the

first printer in the Western US to be

certified under the FSC system as a

chain-of-custody printer. They have dis-

covered that the marketplace now ap-

preciates their “environment manage-

ment system” which took them into the

current eco-business climate smoothly.

This is Cenveo Anderson Lithograph’s

turbine jet engine that runs their Co-

Generation on-site power plant. Fond-

ly known as “Elizabeth” and costing

about $750,000 in 1995, she has enough

horsepower to suck the air out of a

32’ x 32’ x 32’ room in 60 seconds flat.

Each year, Cenveo Anderson Lithograph

eliminates approximately 140,000 pounds

of smog-creating pollutants from being

emitted into the atmosphere, an accom-

plishment made possible by their 100%

totally enclosed printing facility with near

zero emissions as certified by the South

Coast Air Quality Management District of

California (SCAQMD). Their $10 million

CoGeneration system captures all VOCs

(volatile organic compounds) fugitive

emissions generated by the plant’s printing

operations and destroys them as part o

f

the electrical power generation process.

CoGen also controls the temperature &

humidity in their City of Commerce facili-

ty and provides cleaner and more healthful

air than what’s fo

und in the average office

environment. Cenveo Anderson Litho-

graph is the only printer to have received

the state’s highest environmental honor,

the California Governor’s Environmental

& Economic Leadership Award in 2003.

Packaging is about to undergo a major

industry overhaul. “Paper or Plastic” just

started the consciousness movement.

Next comes the amount of unneces-

sary packaging. And the amount of fos-

sil fuels used for packing and packaging.

And the end of life lack of planning that

is dumping plastic in our critical ocean

ecosystems. Values are shifting and tech-

nologies are shifting. The move is to

“go

benign”. That’s more than going green…

it is also restoring natural systems to

their natural functions that balance cli-

mate, soil systems, and basic air, water

and food systems. Sustainability threads

through everything. The Center for Eco-

Literacy has put out “The Hidden Connec-

tions,” to show how everything connects.

Sustainability is a dense subject that touch-es everything and has engineering aspects, design, procedures, supplier choices and even client communications. Clients are benchmarking their current practices so they can track improvements. And de-sign is part of that benchmarking process.“I’m a parent now, so it has suddenly be-

come imperative that we take care of this global climate change problem immediately – my son is depending on it!” Phil Hamlett, professor, designer and father concluded!

22

23

1.Printdouble-sided...it’seasy!Defaulting to double-sided printing and photocopying reduces your paper usage, as well as helping to save money by dramatical-ly reducing paper consumption. For an even greater impact, you can choose ‘2-pages-to-1-page’ printing on your recycled paper.

2.Re-thinkBeforeYouPrint/ReadandFileElectronicallySave trees and money by filing unofficial work on your computer instead of print-ing it out! Yes, filing your emails is im-portant, but do you really need to print hardcopies of emails and attachments?Think twice before printing off all those emails, pdfs, and word documents to read or file. Instead, learn how to save them through e-mail and electronic ar-chiving. This makes for easy access to any of these emails/files, as they are stored on the computer’s hard drive or on the departmental server. Just make sure you back up your work regularly!

sustainable printing

24

sustainable packaging1. More efficient packaging can reduce warehouse, distribution and transportation cost and consequently energy usage and greenhouse gas emis-sions (GHG). The amount of GHG and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions per ton of production accounts for 15 per-cent of Wal-Mart’s packaging scorecard. Efforts to reduce these emissions can also improve a CPG company’s competi-tive position relative to other suppliers.So while CPG companies need to look at the big picture—to uncover new sources of efficiency, waste reduction and cost savings.

2. Using a low-fiber package is a great way to improve packaging sustain-ability. However, removing fiber from corrugated board without compromis-ing the integrity of the package can be challenging. Microflute delivers the strength of corrugated board with the high graphics impact of traditional fold-ing carton. The result is a low-fiber pack-age with Point of Purchase (POP) appeal.

25

Ten t

ips

for

sust

ain

able

housing

1.WaterconservationUse water efficient appliances and fittings, such as 3-star ( or more) showerheads and water pressure-limiting devices, and include a rainwater tanks to supply water for use with gardens, toilets and laundry.

2. Natural heating and cooling(passive solar design) Good pas-sive solar design allows your home to re-spond to its local climate through natural heating in winter and cooling in summer e.g. good orientation and room zoning, capturing breezes for cross-ventilation, appropriate insulation, shading (e.g. suf-ficient eaves), building materials (light-weight construction/thermal mass), and fixtures and finishes (e.g. skylights and window treatment). Incorporation of pas-sive design reduces the need to rely on air conditioners/heaters. It can also indirectly promote natural daylighting and improve indoor air quality with circulating breez-es providing fresh air inside the home.

3. Energy and greenhouse ef-ficient water heating Install a so-lar, natural gas or electric heat pump hot water system to lower energy bills and reduce the single largest source of greenhouse emissions in the household.

4. Future-proof The living area and at least one bedroom and toilet on the entry level should be readily acces-sible from the front boundary or car space to accommodate your chang-ing housing needs as you get older.

5. Safe floors Design floors and showers to be step-free (hobless). Use floor surfaces that are slip re-sistant to guard against injuries.

6. Address the street An easy to read house number at the front of your property makes it easy to find. Good ex-ternal lighting and separated driveway and pedestrian entries also makes it safer.

7. Casual surveillance Design your home to have easy surveillance to play areas and the street from the main liv-ing area and kitchen for better security.

8. Long-term maintenance Re-duce the repair and ongoing main-tenance costs of your home by us-ing low maintenance materials.

9.IndoorairqualityAvoid materials that contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), such as paints/finishes and ad-hesives, which can cause irritation and al-lergies, and impact poorly on your health.

10.Outdoorliving Include permanent-ly covered outdoor play and entertainment areas with a good relationship to indoor spaces to maximise your home’s access to Queensland’s favorable lifestyle and climate.

26

27

?What would happen if...

What would happen if...

What w

ould happen if...

What w

ould

happen if...

What w

ould

happen if...

What would happen if..

.

Wha

t wou

ld hap

pen if.

..W

hat

would

happen if.

..W

hat

would

happen if.

..

?What would happen if...

What would happen if...

What w

ould happen if...

What w

ould

happen if...

What w

ould

happen if...

What would happen if..

.

Wha

t wou

ld hap

pen if.

..W

hat

would

happen if.

..W

hat

would

happen if.

..

28

What

would

happen if.

..W

hat

would

happen if.

..

by Collin Dunn

29

photo

gra

ph b

y m

ary

harv

ey

Green-minded, sustainable industrial de-sign is certainly nothing new. Unfortu-nately, designers have gotten a bad rap from time to time for being unnecessarily wasteful and dreaming up ridiculous ideas and products that have no practical appli-cation at all. I think we all remember the Rubix cube; need I say more? The same ac-cusations are true in the fashion industry, certainly, but if anyone out there things that great, green things aren’t happening in fashion, go read about Johanna Hofring and eat crow. Industrial design is all around all of us, everywhere, and not all of it good.But I have seen the future, my friends, and the future is good. I recently had the plea-sure of visiting an industrial design class at the University of Washington as they presented their final semester projects. Before I can tell you what I saw there, consider these products: used semi-truck brake pads, last Sunday’s New York Times, unused athletic shoe insoles, empty soda cans, and discarded paint chips. All of these things usually have a one-way ticket to ei-ther the trash can or the recycle bin, and in both places they eventually add to the collective pile of junk that is waste created by human beings living on this planet. Keep these items in the back of your mind, and ask yourself, “What would happen if...?”

This is the question that each of the de-sign students found themselves answer-ing as they endeavored toward creating something useful from something they found in the garbage can. Professor Louise St. Pierre asks her students to consider al-ternative prospects for the products they found. “I want my students to be able to look at important questions from very di-vergent perspectives,” she says. She wants her students to be able to harmonize what humans need and what humans want; ad-mittedly, this is not an easy task, but in the end all came up with something that even MacGyver would be proud of. But how?Bookshelves made from brake pads? Oki-dokey.Remember those brake pads, newspapers, insoles and cans? They all no longer exist in their original form. The brake pads have been redesigned into “Oki,” a bookshelf and a catch-all bowl, the brainchildren of Lauren Saint, Egan Metcalf and Christine Lee. The curve of the pad has been re-imagined and serves as both the edge of the bookcase and the basin for the “catch-all” bowl, a great place for keys, change, cell phones and the like. The simple shape and antiquated look gives the appearance of an artifact found in a New Delhi street market, though in truth, Oki is the most well-traveled bookcase you’ll ever find; it just comes by way of the long-haul trucker and not the Third World ceramics-maker.

30

photo

gra

ph b

y m

ary

harv

ey

Recycled newspaper and plaster make up most of the “Rinnova planters.”The newspapers, comics and all, were shredded, mixed with plaster, and mold-ed into planters, complete with drainage holes and a wooden stand. Though not large enough to cultivate a summer wa-termelon or ear of corn, they are a per-fect fit for urban windowsill gardening. A sleek, smooth design gives them a classic look and feel. The foks at IKEA would kill to get their hands on these plant-ers, though team members Dylan Davis, Marcel Blabolil and Jean Lee might first want to come up with a more Swedish-sounding name than “Rinnova planters.”So what happens when the paint store down the street decides to stop carrying “Summer Peach” or “Lipstick Pink?” Usu-ally, all of these paint chips go straight to the garbage or recycling bin, to make way for “Indian Summer Peach” and “Lip Gloss Pink,” but Terri Lee, Chuck Ely and Michael Nash turned them into “Hue” lights. With 1001 different color combination options, you can finally have a lamp that perfect-ly matches your “Canary Yellow” walls.Recycled pop culture.The final project showcased an inge-nious way to recycle pop culture: coast-ers made from aluminum soda cans

. A flat metal coaster is a little on the thin side, so each coaster was padded with an unused athletic shoe insole, dis-carded by the hundreds at your local shoe store when people insert their cus-tom insoles. Framed by vinyl tubing to eliminate the dangerously-sharp edge of the cut aluminum, they fit perfectly in-side tuna cans for a simple, unique and functional package to a nifty, fun product.The one common denominator with all of these projects is that aesthetics and the materials and resources used to make them are equally important. Professor St. Pierre stresses the need to view the world from many divergent perspectives; it isn’t just about creating a product that is beautiful. She says that beauty is innate, and all human cultures pay attention to beauty, thereby making beauty a human need. She reminded me that Buckmin-ster Fuller once said, “If I look at a design and it isn’t beautiful, it doesn’t work,” so while the beauty paradigm is an impor-tant one, industrial design cannot be about beauty for beauty’s sake. She wants her students to reach beyond something that is just in good taste today; a product that has “enduring beauty” are ultimately the most successful, and the most sustainable.Long into the future, as long as human beings traverse the earth, we will need stuff, and people to design this stuff. After seeing what is waiting to be un-leashed on the world, there is no limit to the heights that green design can climb. I’m happy to say that, for these students, the future of industrial design is now.

31

32

33