Customer Reviews

SustainAble: A Handbook of Materials and Applications for Graphic Designers and Their Clients (Design Field Guide)

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This book is a masterpiece in both design and content. It is timely and applicable to all designers, but especially those studying in a university and/or art school environment. Each spread is a gem as is the cover. All aspects of the book are visually intriguing and the book teaches visually about good design while the content combines the need for quality design to be integrated with environmental ethics. It is a must read for all designers, or those who hope to enlist in the field in the years ahead. I will be recommending it to all of my students.

As a graphic design student with an interest in promoting sustainability in other areas, this book made for a great introduction to how those sustainable practices could be communicated and implemented in design. I think that Sherin's book effectively introduces the reader to what amounts to the designer's "supply chain" by offering examples of sustainability from web design (a seemingly eco alternative to print media) to the "closed loop" recycled paper mills. This book demonstrates how much power we have to change the way we design towards an overall more efficient and socially conscious direction and is a great source of reference not only in the case studies from around the world, but also for anybody interested in sustainability from any discipline. Its an example of the fact that sustainability means considering better practices in all aspects of our lives and in an interdisciplinary way.

It's heartening to see a swathe of examples of designers for whom sustainable design is a default position. And where a physical product has to justify its existence to both designer and client at the outset of the design process.

On a personal basis, I've been able to sidestep this question since moving to largely designing for the web, but it doesn't stop me wondering how best to approach designing for physical media, whose manufacture and disposal will happen at arms length.

True to it's title, SustainAble emphasizes not just how necessary environmentally aware design is, but also how achievable it is within a thoughtful design process.

very important book on a crucial topic. while this is a very worthwhile contribution to any library, it is essential reading for anyone in the field of design or advertising.