Green Graphic Design

Green Graphic Design Substack focuses on sustainability within the design industry, exploring topics such as burnout in creative careers, the environmental implications of materials like pigments, inks, and plastics, and innovative solutions such as eco-friendly fonts and materials. It also delves into the moral considerations of branding and design, the intersection of art with environmental awareness, and practical guides for sustainable practices in design projects.

Sustainable Design Environmental Awareness Creative Burnout Sustainable Materials Branding and Consumerism Eco-Friendly Innovations Art and Design Mental Health in Design Sustainability in Branding Sustainable Packaging

The hottest Substack posts of Green Graphic Design

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Natural Inks and the Artists Who Use Them

98 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creative Process
  1. Ink can be made from air pollution, offering an interesting sustainable alternative.
  2. Artists like Jeppe Ringsted use neutral inks that leave no harmful chemicals, respecting the environment.
  3. Foraging in your backyard can provide materials for making natural inks, offering a fun and sustainable creative outlet.

Burnout, Identity, and DIY Plant-Based Inks

235 implied HN points • 12 Jan 23
  1. Feeling pressured to constantly focus on design-related activities can lead to burnout.
  2. It's important to find a work-life balance that allows for diverse creative pursuits and personal interests.
  3. Exploring new creative endeavors, like making plant-based inks, can bring joy and fulfillment.

The Innovative Future of Plastic-Alternative Materials

117 implied HN points • 21 Jun 23
  1. Leather alternatives like cactus-based, mycellium-based, and pineapple-based options are being developed and offer eco-friendly, durable alternatives to traditional leather.
  2. Foam replacements are being innovated with materials like mushroom mycellium and algae, offering sustainable alternatives to harmful styrofoam.
  3. Innovative plastic alternatives including seaweed-based films, chiton-based materials, and kombucha and food-waste-based films are being developed to address the challenges of traditional plastics.

Top Sustainable Book Recommendations

78 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Political Impact Environmental justice Greenwashing Fossil fuels
  1. All We Can Save is a great starting point to learn more about climate crisis solutions.
  2. A Planet to Win gives hope and insight into why a better future is needed for all aspects of life.
  3. This Changes Everything exposes the intersection of capitalism and climate crisis, offering a new perspective on traditional solutions.

How do I Choose an a Sustainable Forestry Certification?

78 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Certifications Sustainability Ecosystems Deforestation
  1. To choose a sustainable forestry certification, prioritize those that consider both environmental and human impact
  2. Consider forest conservation and Indigenous land rights when selecting a forestry certifier
  3. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a global certification to look for due to its considerations for biodiversity and Indigenous rights

BioMusic, Extinct Bird Calls, and Walking Through Earth's History

98 implied HN points • 01 Feb 23
  1. Meditative app using extinct bird calls for relaxation and awareness.
  2. Interactive walking experience narrating Earth's history over 4.6 billion years.
  3. Concept album blending folk, classical, and chamber music with a climate change message.

Why AI Won't Save Us, How Much Money is a Whale Worth, and other stories.

78 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment AI Economics
  1. Naomi Klein questions the effectiveness of AI in addressing the climate crisis under capitalism.
  2. The concept of assigning monetary value to species raises ethical concerns about valuing nature based on economic benefits.
  3. Critical view on green capitalism highlights the limitations of monetary solutions to environmental issues and the need to confront capitalism to address the climate crisis.

History of Pigments: Tyrian Purple

78 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
💾 History Art Innovation Sustainability Climate Biotech
  1. Tyrian Purple, a pigment from snails, was highly valued in history for its rarity and difficulty to extract.
  2. The process of extracting Tyrian Purple involved crushing snails, soaking them, and boiling for over a week.
  3. Companies are now developing sustainable, animal-free alternatives to traditional Tyrian Purple extraction methods.

Why I'm Writing a Climate Out-Of-Office

58 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Crisis Extreme Weather Natural Disasters Global Warming Sustainability
  1. Extreme weather events due to the climate crisis are becoming more common and impactful
  2. Working conditions during extreme weather can be unsafe and unhealthy, requiring time and space to handle
  3. Creating a climate-related out-of-office message is important for self-care and to communicate with clients during challenging weather conditions

Letters to the Future, Seaweed "Plastic" and Recycled Styrofoam Tables? (spoiler: they're ick)

98 implied HN points • 05 Oct 22
  1. A project preserving letters for a thousand years using plastic shows the longevity of plastic and future anxieties.
  2. Sway is working on innovative seaweed-based plastic-free packaging that breaks down naturally without micro-plastics.
  3. Up-cycling styrofoam into tables may look 'stylish' but is criticized for being impractical, ugly, and overpriced.

What's Cheering Me Up Lately

39 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Design Reading Personal Games
  1. Author shares what's bringing joy in their life recently, inspired by a YouTuber.
  2. Appreciation for David Bird's 'Becorn' art and partner's creative fiction project.
  3. Discovery of the game 'Little Mouse's Encyclopedia' and starting a new personal project about nature journaling.

Algae Ink: The best plant-based ink around?

39 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🪑 Design Sustainability Color Production Environmental Impact Marketing
  1. Algae Ink is now commercially available and offers high-contrast blacks, carbon sequestration, and light-fastness.
  2. The production process of Algae Ink replaces petroleum-derived pigments with plant-based pigments, making it a more sustainable ink option.
  3. Algae Ink has environmental benefits like being carbon-negative, sequestering carbon, and potentially offering recyclability advantages over petroleum-based inks.

Are foils recyclable now?

39 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
  1. The recyclability of foils is still debated in the sustainable design community.
  2. Lab studies showing foil recyclability may not reflect real-world recycling challenges.
  3. Transparency in sustainability claims from companies, like FoilCo, is important for consumers to make informed decisions.

Art in Response to Pollution

39 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Pollution Exhibit Artists
  1. Impressionist artists might have unintentionally depicted air pollution in their paintings.
  2. Plastic pollution can be creatively visualized through art, like popsicles made from polluted water samples.
  3. Art can be a powerful medium to raise awareness about the impact of pollution on the environment, as seen in exhibits mixing animal bones with plastics.

I hate Instagram. But I feel I can't leave...

1 HN point • 12 May 23
🕹 Technology Social media AI Content creation Monetization Data Privacy
  1. Instagram can negatively impact mental health and productivity, leading users to employ app-blockers and reduce screen time.
  2. Instagram's business model can feel draining for content creators, pushing for surface-level and algorithm-pleasing content over thoughtful, long-form work.
  3. Social media platforms like Instagram are designed to keep users locked in, making it hard to leave and transfer followers, while facing challenges like misinformation and future changes in platform priorities.

Become a Green Graphic Design Expert with our Comprehensive Course

0 implied HN points • 06 Sep 22
  1. Course covers various aspects of green graphic design like sustainability, forestry impact, materials, and running a green design studio.
  2. Includes valuable content like over 12 hours of lectures, 30+ hours of coaching call Q&A replays, and optional certification.
  3. Emphasizes importance of sustainability in design, such as in materials choice, packaging, and communication with clients.

Welcome + Top 3 Green Graphic Design Tips Freebie

0 implied HN points • 20 May 22
  1. This post offers top 3 green graphic design tips for free
  2. The newsletter shares research on green design resources and environmental news
  3. Readers can engage with the creators for suggestions, questions, and concerns