Creative designers think green
Graphic design can be a spectator sport. At AIGA's quarterly SHIFT event, designers present five-minute ideas to challenge and inspire one another. Even better? It's all about sustainable design to protect the Oregon we love.
OEC likes inventions. We like it when innovative ideas become real-world solutions with the help of practical, creative design. So it’s exciting that Portland’s designers and inventors are talking about our top priority: protecting what Oregonians love about Oregon.
Over beer and cupcakes on a Tuesday night, Portland’s creative professionals shared ten five-minute ideas about sustainable design. The event was SHIFT, a quarterly get-together hosted by AIGA professional association for design.
Should we aim for “so, so-oo green” product design with zero environmental impact, or “so-so” green, making incremental progress without compromising traditional aesthetics and convenience? Is it better to design sustainable systems from the get-go, or to apply sustainable concepts to existing systems? Where does cultural diversity fit in a sustainable future? How can the design community support environmental advocates? The room was buzzing with passion and brain-power.
Here’s another example: Creatives from Columbia Sportswear introduced the crowd to “A Box Life” in which e-commerce customers can opt for a used shipping box, re-use that box, and track where it travels!
The quarterly SHIFT event is a place for designers to inspire one another, but it’s also a great spectator event. At their best, these five-minute presentations by creative talents are like the graphic designer’s version of Project Runway or Top Chef. See some past presentations on Vimeo, and keep an eye out for the next SHIFT in Portland on November 18!
