Designing a Movement: Seven Principles for Sustainable Action

The sustainability conversation has evolved radically since I started the Designers Accord two and a half years ago. At that time, major magazines like Time and Vanity Fair were declaring "eco-wars," reveling in "eco-nakedness," and celebrating Indiana Jones-Athena hybrid "eco-pin-ups."

Industry conversations were punctuated with comments around recycling and material selection. Questions like "What's your end-of-life scenario?" became trendy corporate pick-up lines, provoking our clients...