This week, we scoured Google, we marveled and finally chose three design resources, trends and case studies from around the globe that inspire in their boundary pushing work. You’ll probably re-think using the colour green in your branding palette. And that’s a good thing.
For the past few years, corporations have been touting the launch of each new sustainability program – from employee engagement initiatives to renewable energy powered operations. And so, 2009 is an interesting year for Green Printer to check in on the results of these shop floor and boardroom decisions.
In a very interesting article, Anca Novacovici of Eco-Coach speaks about how corporations like 3M and Grossman Marketing group reaped in tangible – but unexpected revenue surges, savings and client kudos – by choosing the greener path.
“Going green can…fatten the top line. Grossman Marketing Group, a US$30-million (sales) maker of marketing, decided to spend up to US$4,000 every year to ease the strain on the nation’s energy grid by purchasing renewable-energy “credits” from two California wind farms. Adding 5% to its energy bill didn’t save Grossman money at the time, but it did attract eco-friendly customers like Google and Green Mountain Coffee. Envelope sales — which represent 45% of Grossman’s top line — grew 20% in 2007, which is a pretty good return on a $4,000 investment!” Read the rest of this entry »
Your firm has worked on some pretty cool projects like Live Earth and Pepsi, 1% for the Planet and the Volkswagen Carbon Neutral Project. Tell us what your clients come to your company for and what makes Core Industries different from other interactive strategy, design and development firms.
We’re the next evolution of a boutique interactive marketing firm. We are one of the few very high end development shops that has a clear mission of focusing on the triple bottom line: people, planet and profit. Clients come to us because they know that we get invested in their projects, their company, and their people, because we care about what we’re doing… we not out to make a quick buck. In fact, our overall mission is to help foster the emerging green economy. Our way of doing that is by using graphic design, computer science and marketing strategy to help our clients be more “sustainable”. And for us sustainability has a dual meaning: it means being responsible for our environment, but it also means making sure the business is sustainable. In other words, we help our clients thrive, not just survive. Read the rest of this entry »
When I first became interested in greening my graphic design business I quickly felt overwhelmed by all the resources out there. Don’t get me wrong. It’s great we have so much paperless information at our fingertips to find answers to the most unusual questions. At some point I had to just do it. Before I even changed me web site to green, I gently tried to direct my customers to recycled paper and non-toxic inks for their print jobs and it actually worked in a number of cases even though unfortunately it’s not necessarily always the budget-conscious choice.
Design Goes Green – The first of a series of articles by Green Printer on the cross-section between the environment, business and the creative communications industry.
1. Jill, you are an artist, designer and crafter. Tell us about what you do and what you create.
First and foremost I create detailed native nature drawings. With these, I create an eponymous line of paper goods and fabric accessories. I’ve been an “indie-craftpreneur” since 2001, selling my goods on my retail website and in boutiques worldwide. I also create murals, take on custom art commissions, and the occasional graphic design project for like-minded businesses. Read the rest of this entry »
Design Goes Green – The first of a series of articles by Green Printer on the cross-section between the environment, business and the creative communications industry.
You are an award-winning, environmentally friendly design firm. Tell us what your clients come to your company for and what makes Studio 7 Designs different from other ‘green’ design firms.
We started out about five years ago by providing non-profit groups with free consultation and web design. Originally, we focused on helping out local companies ─ it was our way of giving back to the community. After about two years of helping about 50 non-profit organizations, including many universities and UN chapters, we were getting offers for corporate branding through our contacts. At that time, Studio 7 Designs was run by me and some part-time designers, so it was a natural evolution to move towards being a full-time design and development company. Our roots are based in real ethics. Our site doesn’t have a green theme; we wanted to try to capture the beauty of the natural world and use artistic creativity to show who we are as a whole. Read the rest of this entry »
Design Goes Green – The popular series of articles by Green Printer on the cross-section between the environment, business and the creative communications industry in Green Printer’s Blog is back again. Wild, isn’t it?
In March 2008, Scott Ballum, a designer, began a quest to locate and meet the people responsible for some of the products in his life. For example, curious about the making of New Balance athletic footwear, Ballum traveled from his home base in Brooklyn, New York, to the New Balance shoe manufacturing plant in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Read the rest of this entry »
NOTE: Thank you to Lisa Campbell and Steven Campbell for the following correction. Green Smith was the public relations company contracted to collaborate on, not create, the plantatree™ campaign, and the product was actually developed by Lifford Wine Agency. More details about the wine product and it’s creation are at plantatreewine.com.
What does design have to do with my organization? It’s a question business owners, non-profit leaders and institutions often ask. And, the answer is: lots.
A senior colleague once told me, “Form is just as important as content, Olga and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
And yes, it’s been drilled into our heads: “you can have a great product, but if you don’t [insert verbs like ‘market’, ‘brand’, ‘package’ here], you won’t succeed, etc.”. And it true. But design is more than just a means to an end to sell more of your widgets. It also plays a role in the improvement and development of your offerings and sometimes, your organization. Read the rest of this entry »
Earth Hour is tonight, March 29th from 8 to 9 pm. The idea is to turn off the lights as a symbolic gesture that us citizens, business owners, uber-corporations (hello, Google’s black screen, hello McDonalds in Toronto saving 10 000 kilowatt hours) local governments and non-profit groups are taking climate change seriously.
When asked: how “green” are you, the brains behind accounting, IT and architectural firms who, kudos to them – both the closet greens or eco-warriors who proudly bear their eco-badge on their sleeve – jump up to say that they are helping their clients drive sustainability solutions.
