Through the Design Mind

Article Recap

The topic of climate change has been around since it was first introduced in the 90′s and is still a hot topic today. But have we gone past the point of no return? (I write, singing in my head like Phantom from Phantom of the Opera). All the News is Bad by Francis Gooding is a review of David Wallace-Wells’ book, The Uninhabitable Earth. Within his book, Wallace-Wells talks about the main effects of global warming putting a harsh reality into perspective. 

With temps rising, oceans dying, methane gas and carbon dioxide releasing into the atmosphere we are going to struggle to get global temps in check. It is estimated that by 2100 the global temperature could rise 4.5 degrees Celsius leading to an increase rate of melting in ice sheets causing methane gas to escape into the atmosphere. As melting in the Arctic releases methane so do cows from beef and dairy industries causing the numbers of the toxic gas to rise. When carbon is released from our daily lifestyles it also becomes trapped within the atmosphere. While trapped it retains heat only aiding in the ever-growing temperatures. 

However, these issues are not along in the rising of global temps, but we are as well. Current lifestyle has hindered needed actions causing the change in our environment harder to correct. Climate change was not taken seriously when it was first introduced causing actions that needed to be taken, overlooked. But Gooding states that Wallace-Wells provides a way to prevent it from getting worse. His actions include getting rid of “dirty energy,” a carbon tax, implementing “green energy,” new agricultural methods, and to change the diet of the world from commercial cattle farming and dairy. But the question now is will we be willing to give up aspects of our easy lifestyle to save our planet?

What can Designers Do?

Life has become pretty easy in comparison to the lives of people centuries and even decades ago. In the pursuit of this easy life we have made great advancements that aid us but that are detrimental to our earth. Imagine a world where our future grandchildren learn about rhinos, whale sharks, macaws, and tigers like we learned about dinosaurs. But how do you persuade someone to change the lifestyle they are so use to in order to help the environment? That almost seems like an impossible task!

You need a Designer

Designers are problem solvers they identify issues and design solutions for the users. Designers use concepts of layout hierarchy, metaphors, color, and the methodology of understand, design, and test to create informative designs that can be used to persuade people. Wallace-Wells stated that if we take the time to change and be uncomfortable then there is hope for the earth. This is easier said than done though. People are so used to being comfortable that making changes like eco-friendly packaging, reducing food waste, or shopping second-hand can be tough. But it isn’t impossible, many people often need a slight nudge in the right direction and to be shown that it isn’t as drastic of a change as they believe it to be. 

If the issue of climate change was handed to a designer, they would first begin at understanding the issue at hand. Understanding is the first step of the understand, design, test methodology. By beginning with this means lots and lots of research because if you don’t understand the issue and why it’s an issue then you can’t make effective decisions. In the case of global warming, global warming may not be the underlying issue but rather a side-effect of the issues from people who don’t make the necessary changes to reverse or slow global warming. 

Once we understand an issue the second step of the method is to generate and design ideas. These prototypes could be of an app, a poster, magazine spreads, or books. Once they are made the final step is to test out those designs on people. How do they react to them? Are they working like they should? Are they understandable? These questions then push the designs back to step one, understand, so that you can utilize the feedback to know where the designs went wrong. This methodology is a repetitive and iterative process allowing for the best solutions to be created. it’s like trying to explain an idea over and over again in different ways until it’s understandable. 

When Designing...

When designers are creating their ideas and designing them out, they use the elements and concepts of layout, hierarchy, metaphors, and color to make their designs compelling. These terms may sound unimpressive, but they have more impact than you may think. When these elements are used together, they can create eye catching designs that draw people in to see what they’re about. These elements are part of the reason we judge books by their covers or base our idea of something from the promotional ads we see. If we can create captivating designs for climate change people may be more willing to stop and be informed which can lead to the persuasion fo making changes in their lives.

Here are some graphic posters that utilizes metaphors and color for impactful meanings and to push a concept.

Less Paper! 

Designers can do a lot to help persuade people to do better in their day to day lives but how could designers do this? In the design field a lot of paper is used in prints, sketching, and prototyping and with deforestation having a big impact on global temperatures designers can do their part by eliminating paper where they can. Rather than sketching out ideas on paper designers can use drawing programs on tablets or use whiteboards to sketch out their ideas and “scan” them in with a photo capture. Though the acts seem small it is a simple change we can implement into our daily process and significantly eliminate our paper usage. 

Technology Helpin’ Out

Technology has been a big advantage in reducing paper for designers. While designers can now design and create on their computers we now, more than ever, are designing work for the computer. Being able to create content that stays digital allows for less printing. However, print isn’t dead, when designs need to be printed, we have the ability to pitch the idea of using recycled paper to our clients to help minimize the impact even more.

“You don’t gotta go to work, work, work...”

Many designers live in or near metropolitan areas allowing them to minimize their carbon footprint. When it’s time to get to work in the city, it’s easy to walk, carpool, or catch the bus. And now with digital connective-ness it is easier than ever to work from home and many designers do work remotely. And let’s be honest this is kind of the best. Rather than needing to leave your house you can just become a hermit and never leave your house, only needing to “travel” to the home office 20 feet away.