Eco-Friendly Graphic Design

Before computers, graphic design was hardly an environmentally friendly industry. Reams of paper and buckets of oil-based paints were consumed in graphic design studios around the country on a daily basis. But when personal PCs, CAD software, and digital photography came along, graphic designers could render new creations with a keyboard and mouse. Few would have believed that graphic design could become any more eco-friendly, but Dion Zuess of Arizona has taken her career and commitment to the next level.

An Environmentally Friendly Graphic Design Career

Zuess' graphic design studio, EcoLingo, is powered by wind and a host of other environmentally friendly energy sources. A pioneer in her field, she's helping to lead the graphic design industry towards greener business practices. What's so remarkable about her career is that she managed to innovate in a way that most graphic designers never would have considered. After all, graphic design is a uniquely creative career where ingenuity, outside-the-box thinking, and rule-breaking are fairly commonplace. But for the most part, the creativity is confined to the computer screen, not to the entire business model.

Setting an Example in Graphic Design School

As you work towards yourassociate, bachelor's, or master's degree in graphic design, it is unlikely you'll be able to convince your school to switch all of its power facilities over to renewable energy sources. However, you can request that your program use soy-based inks and recycled paper products instead of more traditional oil-based dyes and bleached paper.

Obviously, getting an excellent education should be your primary concern, but there is no reason why you can't start off your career with an environmentally friendly focus. If nothing else, doing so will help set you apart from the thousands of other graphic design artists who crop up on a regular basis. Your commitment to social and environmental responsibility will almost certainly attract more clients than it chases away.

Source
EcoLingo

About the Author
A freelance writer, Stanley Rubenti currently lives in Bangkok where he writes columns for a variety of publications. Stanley holds a B.A. in history.