While it focuses on graphic design the books principles can easily be applied across all design fields. For me personally this book couldn’t come have a better time. There’s similar books out there but this is a very easy to read and straight to the point.
I’d be interested to hear what some of the designers out there who’s career may be ‘pro-consumerism’ have to say about the pledge. See here.
If you haven’t read the book, this pretty much sums it up in a few sentances. Have a personal mission. Rethink. Know what you need, then seek out products that fit you for a long time. Read Cradle To Cradle. Demand objects that are designed to last. Avoid disposables. Carry one great pen. Carry chopsticks. Carry your own shopping bag. Carry a tune. Be happy with your hair. Give ideas as presents more often, things less. Give a gift subscription to Adbusters. Eat less junk. Eat fewer animals. Avoid bottled water. Drink local beer. Seek simple entertainment. Have fun. Remember that you are already beautiful (and embrace those that have told you so). Avoid style magazines: fashion is declared rebellion, and a weak substitute at that. Entertain yourself simply. Don’t leave your car idling (except in Wasilla). If you don’t have democracy, fight for it. If you have democracy, fight to keep it. Then vote for lawmakers who will make laws that control visual lies and will regulate products that steal dreams. Shake off the excessive amount of stuff you have in your life, then see how much lighter you feel. Plan more carefully, so you can consume more efficiently. Resist all messages that seek to convince you that you need to consume in order to feel good. If shopping is your hobby, find a more sustainable hobby. If shopping is your habit, figure out why. Avoid products made of PVC, the hazardous waste of the display industry. Buy products that tell the truth. Resist designer products unless you see the value the designer has contributed. Resist being manipulated by visual lies. Resist giving up your mental environment to corporations that wish to post billboards in your mind. Don’t get too comfy. Stay alert. Demand truth. Share your truth. Speak out when you see visual lies. Think about how you can apply the principles in this book to all professions. Lead by example. Teach it. Live it. Share it. Design your better future, then help us all design ours.
I too was cool with this list til I got to that part. Adbusters dystopic view has done little to help resolve the problems they rail against. You could argue that they have no interest in doing so because their mere existence is based on said problems.
I really take issue with the “save-the-world” attitude a lot of designers seem to lug around with them. If you want to be a socio-political activist, fine. But don’t forget that one of the main things that seperates us ID people from regular sculpters is that our very profession is based upon the idea of companies paying us to design for them and for purposes of mass production…which means factories and some not-so friendly materials, and eventually more junk in the landfill. I have no illusions about my place in this system and frankly don’t have many issues with it. I sleep just fine every single night and enjoy each and every one of my paychecks.
If you want to “design for the world” and try to make it a better place, cool. But keep in mind that unchecked, boilerplate idealism doesn’t impress many people in the corporate environment.
Yeh I didn’t get that Wasilla one. I let it go over my head. I agree with Kolbassa, Adbusters are quite hypocritical, just check the store section on their website.
I really take issue with the “save-the-world” attitude a lot of designers seem to lug around with them. If you want to be a socio-political activist, fine. But don’t forget that one of the main things that seperates us ID people from regular sculpters is that our very profession is based upon the idea of companies paying us to design for them and for purposes of mass production…which means factories and some not-so friendly materials, and eventually more junk in the landfill. I have no illusions about my place in this system and frankly don’t have many issues with it. I sleep just fine every single night and enjoy each and every one of my paychecks.
I often wonder whether my views are just that of a naive student and whether I should just fall in line. Over the last year I have become increasingly interested in sustainability and consumption, so much so that I have decided to redirect my career path. So from what you’re saying, would you say a graduates portfolio that was full of sustainable concepts would hold them back?
But don’t forget that one of the main things that seperates us ID people from regular sculpters is that our very profession is based upon the idea of companies paying us to design for them and for purposes of mass production
Your right, a ‘save-the-world’ attitude is a bit naive and extreme. But you can’t deny that industry needs a re-think, why can’t designers contribute to this? Gone are the days designers are just styling good looking products. It’s easy for me to say all this, my career hasn’t even started yet…
which means factories and some not-so friendly materials, and eventually more junk in the landfill.
… but you seem convinced this is the only way to go about things? Are my views really that unrealistic?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you should mindlessly “fall in line”. Just be careful not to overplay your hand. Always remember: “Just because you’re necessary doesn’t mean you’re important”.
I think it’s good to have an eye on making things better. But some of the sweeping social, environmental, political reforms that some folks on this board regularly scream for are largely unrealistic and in many cases hypocritical. In my experience, designers are prone to being incredibly idealistic and gloriously naive…and it gets very obnoxious very quickly.
Myself, I make sure to turn my heat down when I leave for work, don’t leave on unnecessary lights and appliances, I don’t go out and buy every little knick-knack I can get my hands on just because they’re on sale at the local big-box store, and I volunteer my time when I can to various charitable organizations.
The most important revolution doesn’t happen in the streets (or in the forums of Core77), it happens in the mind. My philosophy is to help the people I interact with step outside of their regular thinking patterns and try to look at things from a different perspective. I don’t preach at them, I merely help facilitate their own thought process, which will often result in some small change for the better.
The Wasilla comment I can only resume is a thinly veiled snark directed at Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin…unless I am mistaken.
I should also clarify that there is a certain level of idealism that is healthy…especially for a designer. Just don’t go overboard with it…you should learn to question everything, even your own conceptions of what would be “better”.
nothing ground breaking there, just a extension of that chap from walden pond (not the penguin)… Its also the creado for anybody that grew up during the great depression of the 1929-39. Think sustainable is “new” hardly, it mostly was our status quo with only odd blips of hyperconsumerism untill a crash.
“do” was SOP for decades, read a little history. Its normal, the young (with their inablity or lack of desire to listen) seem to find “FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE” in the discovery of what in reality is old hard won knowlage. Its nothing new, we all go through it, grow out of it and in the end wise up and LISTEN.
Woah, chill, I am listening. Though I pay less attention when you make statements like this…
the young(with their inablity or lack of desire to listen)
But thanks for your input. You keep using words like ‘was’, ‘history’, ‘1929’. It may be due to my lack of listening skills but from what you’ve said, because people decades ago were saying the same things I’m saying now we should discard it? Please clarify and examples would be much appreciated.
I’m aware sustainability isn’t a ‘‘flash of brilliance’’. It’s something I prefer not to see flaunted and just done and I’m trying to avoid this discussion going down the whole ‘climate change’ route which seems to have become a form of religion. I don’t really understand why you’re so against everything that’s been said. Sustainability seems to be a touchy subject since it always boils down to politics.
I’m interested to hear from those that have read Cradle to Cradle and what they thought of it, how realistic is it that this sort of process could become common practice?
its not politics, its good common sense, good engineering and the historical norm. Youth dont listen, none of us did, it comes with the hormones, the toga parties and other general insanity. Its great to be young, enjoy it.
In my opinion, Berman’s pledge is more of a way for him to win a popularity contest and start an ill-conceived, unnecessary revolution based on hype. I am a designer. I am not a god, miracle worker, or magician. I work to support myself and my family. I hope that people use my products responsibly, and I look for ways to make our product more efficiently. But I am not about to force others to live the way I live or think the way I think. And I believe that I’m like most designers.
Berman’s website says:
“How did design help choose a president?
Why are people buying houses they can’t afford?
Why do U.S. car makers now struggle to compete?
Why do we really have an environmental crisis?
Design matters, like never before… In this time of unprecedented environmental, social, and economic crises, designers will choose what their young profession will be about: inventing deceptions that encourage overconsumption – or helping repair the world. Today, everyone is a designer. And the future of civilization is our common design project.â€
Design did not help choose a president. Pressing issues, campaign finance reform, shady business (on both sides) and campaign promises helped choose a president.
People buy houses they can’t afford because of the Fair Housing Act signed by Jimmy Carter and revived by Bill Clinton which forced banks to provide questionable home loans to sketchy borrowers. It isn’t that philosophical.
U.S. automakers struggle to compete in part because unions require employees to be paid at twice the rate of Toyota employees. The big three CEOs became complacent towards design and innovation, produced ugly cars and didn’t compete with warranties from foreign companies.
We have an environmental crisis because of diverse factors including competitive global economies, rising human population, methane produced by cattle, clear-cutting the Amazon to make way for ethanol producing corn fields, and natural warming and cooling cycles. But the air quality over LA is better than it has been in decades.
And finally, design matters as much as it always has. It isn’t a new profession. It’s been around since the invention of the spear. Pandering the idea that there are only two designers – those who invent deceptions and those who repair the world – is misguided, divisive, irresponsible, and hypocritical. By the way, you’d have to idle all the cars in Wasilla for a week to do the damage of one flight from NY to LA in Al Gore’s Magical Brown Cloud Machine he calls a private jet.
I just came across this quote earlier. As well as Obama’s speech today I feel it’s quite relevant to this topic.
“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, it’s unlikely you will step up and take responsibility for making it so. If you assume that there’s no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, there are opportunities to change things, there’s a chance you may contribute to making a better world. The choice is yours.”
– Noam Chomsky
Good point. Part of the problem with the manifesto industry is the neglect of the solid foundation already underfoot. Design doesn’t need to reinvent itself or re purpose itself or take to the street under a new banner every five years. In fact this type of discourse is a barrier for design being accepted as the value adding profession that it is.
As for Cradle 2 Cradle it is seminal work that will be referenced for generations. Implementation of it’s core concepts are not simple but the challenge it poses for designers to look at waste as food and the closed loop life cycle are definitely provocative and necessary.
Don’t sell yourself short, you regurgitate fox news memes better than any designer I know.
My belief is that most designers fall inbetween the OP and you and find it unfortunate we are stuck in the middle while you two go at it like whiney 4-year-olds.
It’s less about Fox News and more about the facts for those willing to do the research. Facts aren’t political. But from your statement, one could assume that you can regurgitate MSNBC memes better than most, if you want to talk about extremes.
I find it interesting that a disagreement to Berman’s line of thinking is considered whiney. Your comment reminds me of the intolerant driver who thinks that everyone driving slower than him is a slow-ass and everyone driving faster than him is a maniac.
But that’s okay. You have the right to believe what you want. Like I said, I’m not in the business of forcing you to believe the way I do. I prefer tolerance. I don’t dislike Berman for his point of view or political leanings, I just disagree with him.
I will, however, pose one theory. If 51 out of 100 designers have the same motivations as I do - working to support myself and my family, looking for more ways to produce things efficiently and hoping that consumers use my products responsibly - than no matter what my political beliefs, I am like most designers.[/i]