designcanchange.org

I recently came across the blog ideasonideas [via subtraction.com] and learned about a new design and sustainability initiative called designcanchange.org. Vancouver-based designer, sustainability-activist, and blogger Eric Karjaluoto writes:

I believe design can change. I’m not good with numbers, but I find them interesting nevertheless. For example, you and I spend a lot of money. In fact, if you are a member of the AIGA, you take part in purchasing or specifying over $9 billion of printing and paper per year. At the risk of sounding obtuse, I have to say, “That’s a lot.”

Let me give you another number: 81 million tons. That’s the amount of paper waste you and I helped generate over the past year. How about this one? More than a million. That’s how many species are expected to be at risk of extinction by 2,050 as a result of global warming. Another? $11 billion. That’s the average cost of climate-related disasters in Europe during the 80s and 90s.

These numbers make me lay awake at night thinking about the future my seven month old son has to look forward to. I suspect they are just as worrisome to someone like you.

The site is gorgeous, with some of the best visual explanations of global climate crisis statistics I've ever seen. A lot of thought and effort went into this pro-bono initiative, and I highly recommend that you check it out. I love it when designers apply their talents to raise awareness of important issues and use their own nickel to do it. The very talented and thoughtful Karjaluto is part of the solution.