Written by Charlotte Falk and Jennifer Kowton, Illustration by Dara Humniski.
Design is a diverse discipline, and as designers we are constantly releasing a diversity of ideas, objects and information into our communities. These creative efforts earn their own labels, some of which are legitimate, and some of which are not. In the Spring 2009 issue of Display we explore one of these labels, responsible design, in order to examine how these labels can affect our views and our work.
The opposed label, depletist, is one that has been heard a lot lately. We, as designers, hope to never gain that label ourselves. During the production of our first issue of Display we realized the effects our publication could have on the environment: an 80-page glossy full-colour document could be far from eco-friendly. While online publication is an alternative option, we wanted to design a real and tactile object. When we learned we could work with a Forestry Stewardship Council-certified printer, and print on FSC- certified paper, the decision was an easy one.
It was options like the FSC’s, and the sustainability debate which surrounds them, which led us to investigate responsible design. Within this issue you’ll find a discussion of the benefits of environmental certification, with the president of Canada’s FSC, Antony Marcil; opinions regarding our ability to drive supply and demand; a look at Canadian clothing designers who are thinking sustainably; and a few articles whose responsibility lies more with your eyes and your sense of humour.
Design may be tempting to categorize, but designers must keep themselves from being constrained by these categories. We have to look past the framework of labels, to let projects determine themselves before we do, and to consider how our works affect the world around us, and in return reflect on how the world affects our work. Whether you view design as green or wasteful, pragmatic or creative, beautiful or ugly, we hope that you find the issues we present this season relevant to your own endeavours.
We also want to say just how happy we are that our own project continues to move forward–many independent magazines don’t make it past a first issue. We could not have made it this far without the support of our colleagues and readers. Canadian design does not attract as much attention as it deserves, but we think this is within the power of Canadian designers to change. So design responsibly, and design Canadian!
Letter from the Editors, DISPLAY magazine.
Spring 2009 // Vol.1 Issue 2
