Peter Claver Fine’s book provides a broad introduction to design history as well as sustainability, in an easy to read layout filled with case studies and important tid-bits of information. It exhibits to students of graphic design what must be designed in order to achieve sustainability.
It is intended for more advanced graphic design students who are partaking in more complex researched design projects that require a sustainable outcome.
It has a strong interest in the process of design as well as the fundamental design skills and forms needed in almost every brief. Claver Fine consistently covers the links to geo-political issues within graphic design. Stating the status quo in design has sexist, imperialist, and colonialist roots.
The book includes case studies on design pioneers such as Victor Papanek and Naomi Klein.
As for the design of the book I really appreciate the front cover, I think it’s minimalist enough to not immediately scream sustainability, but also bold enough to want you to read it. Although I was unable to get my hands on a physical copy of the book it is known to me that it is landscape, this works well given the contents of the book and it gives more room for the text and image to harmonise on the page.
It was interesting to see how the author approached the topic of sustainability. Claver Fine divided each contributor of waste into categories very early on in the book as to give impact to the reader of how you can use these to coincide with the case studies provided. He explains the current state of print and screen design, linking it to the past history and economic realities of mass production efficiency, and offers realistic solutions by asking the reader to ‘rewire’ their thinking of sustainability. In doing so he reminds the reader that mass consumption and marketing are two in the same, causing a massive sustainability issue by marketing products in such a way that makes consumers believe they NEED something rather than desiring something. I found this a very impactful theme in the book, it was very relevant to current world issues and to me as a graphic designer. It made me realise there is some fault in being a communicator, we are selling the problem for others to consume and therefore become environmentally unaware.
This book was of great use to me especially for the upcoming Greenpeace brief. I can take away the points about geo-political issues in marketing and branding to really make my Greenpeace campaign stand out and give it that extra oumph.
Yolanda Wafaquani’s Graphic Design Blog 