Design Portfolio Sustainability Survey
Initial Publication Date: May 16, 2016
Summary
In this activity, students complete a sustainability survey on 5 pieces of work in their visual communications portfolio to determine if they comply with common sustainability practices in the design profession. One objective for this activity is that students answer the question:
"As a maker of content and artifacts, have I created sustainable design?"
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Learning Goals
Students will analyze their collection of 5 design solutions and rate the quality under a number of sustainability related criteria. The discipline related goal is to create a portfolio that reflects awareness of common sustainability themes in visual communications professional practice. "Big ideas" related to sustainability in this assignment are environmental stewardship, renewable and non-renewable resources, consumption and consumerism, and social justice.
Context for Use
This activity could serve as a component of an upper level undergraduate visual communications professional practice lecture class where considering ethical guidelines in conducting business, the analysis of work, and self-reflection are encouraged.
Description and Teaching Materials
The instructor and class would discuss current professional standards regarding sustainability in the visual communications profession. Topics covered would include ethical messaging, greenwashing, the recycling/reuse of an end product, paper selection, digital options, the necessity of using print for a communications project, and print waste.
The student would select and number 5 pieces from their design portfolios and evaluate them using the set of statements below and write a written explanation regarding each statement.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
This design solution and its underlying message benefit human beings and the environment.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
This design solution is what was needed and not more.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
If people are pictured: People represented in this piece reflect the population in terms of race, gender, age, class, and other groups.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
FOR PRINT PROJECTS:
This design uses less material and takes less energy to make than most solutions to this kind of print project.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
It is clear that this project can be reused or recycled.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
This work can be reproduced on 100%PCW uncoated paper.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
This piece was necessary and there were no effective digital alternatives.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
This work avoided environmentally hazardous materials like fluorescent, metallic, barium laden, and copper laden inks.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
The student would select and number 5 pieces from their design portfolios and evaluate them using the set of statements below and write a written explanation regarding each statement.
PORTFOLIO SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY
ETHICS:
This design concept represents the complete truth.Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
1.
2.
3.4.
5.
Reflect on this statement regarding your portfolio:
This design solution and its underlying message benefit human beings and the environment.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
1.
2.
3.4.
5.
Reflect on this statement regarding your portfolio:This design solution is what was needed and not more.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
1.
2.
3.4.
5.
Reflect on this statement regarding your portfolio:If people are pictured: People represented in this piece reflect the population in terms of race, gender, age, class, and other groups.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
1.
2.
3.4.
5.
Reflect on this statement regarding your portfolio:FOR PRINT PROJECTS:
This design uses less material and takes less energy to make than most solutions to this kind of print project.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
1.
2.
3.4.
5.
Reflect on this statement regarding your portfolio:It is clear that this project can be reused or recycled.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
1.
2.
3.4.
5.
Reflect on this statement regarding your portfolio:This work can be reproduced on 100%PCW uncoated paper.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
1.
2.
3.4.
5.
Reflect on this statement regarding your portfolio:This piece was necessary and there were no effective digital alternatives.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
1.
2.
3.4.
5.
Reflect on this statement regarding your portfolio:This work avoided environmentally hazardous materials like fluorescent, metallic, barium laden, and copper laden inks.
Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | N/A
1.
2.
3.4.
5.
Reflect on this statement regarding your portfolio:
Teaching Notes and Tips
This activity could be scaled down and used on a design project instead of a collection of projects in a portfolio.
Share your modifications and improvements to this activity through the Community Contribution Tool »
Assessment
Students will be evaluated on the completion of the survey and thoroughness of the written explanations for each item in the survey.
References and Resources
AIGA The Living Principles of Design
http://www.aiga.org/the-living-principles-for-design/
AIGA is the primary professional organization for American graphic designers. This site details the key principles promoted by the design profession.
Is Digital Media Worse for the Environment Than Print?
http://mediashift.org/2010/03/is-digital-media-worse-for-the-environment-than-print090
The common assumption is that replacing print with digital is good for the environment. This article discusses the consumption of power in the use of digital devices and other factors that may make that assertion less true.
Paperwork: Comparing Recycled to Virgin Paper
http://www.conservatree.org/learn/WhitePaper%20Why%20Recycled.pdf
This report outlines the benefits of using recycled paper instead of using virgin paper.
Green Washing Index
https://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/tag/greenwashing-index/
This site defines greenwashing, the Greenwashing Index, and how to recognize greenwashing.
Shedroff, Nathan. Design Is the Problem: The Future of Design Must Be Sustainable. 1st ed. Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfield Media, 2009. Print. Shedroff outlines how the design professions create unsustainable solutions and recommends strategies for creating more sustainable design.
Dougherty, Brian. Green Graphic Design. 1st. ed. New York, NY: Allworth Press, 2008. Print.
Celery Design Collaborative has won recognition for their sustainable designs. Brian Dougherty recommends changes that can be made by a designer to the design process to make their work more sustainable.
http://www.aiga.org/the-living-principles-for-design/
AIGA is the primary professional organization for American graphic designers. This site details the key principles promoted by the design profession.
Is Digital Media Worse for the Environment Than Print?
http://mediashift.org/2010/03/is-digital-media-worse-for-the-environment-than-print090
The common assumption is that replacing print with digital is good for the environment. This article discusses the consumption of power in the use of digital devices and other factors that may make that assertion less true.
Paperwork: Comparing Recycled to Virgin Paper
http://www.conservatree.org/learn/WhitePaper%20Why%20Recycled.pdf
This report outlines the benefits of using recycled paper instead of using virgin paper.
Green Washing Index
https://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/tag/greenwashing-index/
This site defines greenwashing, the Greenwashing Index, and how to recognize greenwashing.
Shedroff, Nathan. Design Is the Problem: The Future of Design Must Be Sustainable. 1st ed. Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfield Media, 2009. Print. Shedroff outlines how the design professions create unsustainable solutions and recommends strategies for creating more sustainable design.
Dougherty, Brian. Green Graphic Design. 1st. ed. New York, NY: Allworth Press, 2008. Print.
Celery Design Collaborative has won recognition for their sustainable designs. Brian Dougherty recommends changes that can be made by a designer to the design process to make their work more sustainable.