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Just Design: Socially Conscious Design for Critical Causes
For many, doing good work that also does good in the world is part of the ethos of design practice. Just Design celebrates and explores this increasingly critical aspect of design by showcasing a diverse collection of inspiring projects, people and causes. What People Are Saying About Just Design
" Just Design is the first book to offer a thoughtful, comprehensive and inspiring look at what happens when designers use their knowledge, resources and ability to create work that is concerned with positive change over cashing a check. The sample projects, interviews and contributing stories provide a contagious energy, motivation, and optimism that is hard to find in any other design book."
—Armin Vit
Co-founder, UnderConsideration
"Christopher Simmons' brilliant new book showcases the worldwide, world-class work designers are doing to convey what is good and important for everyone, everywhere. Just Design is proof positive that design—and designers—can change the world, one design at a time."
—Debbie Millman President, Sterling Brands
Past President, AIGA
"Through deft curation and succinct, exacting project descriptions, Christopher Simmons and his guests provide a compelling set of work that confirms the critical and unique power of social design and its practitioners."
—Allan Chochinov
Partner, Core77
Chair, SVA MFA Products of Design
" Just Design is the kind of book that makes you proud to be a designer. And inspires you to be a better one."
—Valerie Casey
Founder, Designers Accord
" Just Design should be required reading for any designer or communications professional seeking to make a difference."
—Joel Makower
Chairman, GreenBiz Group,
Author, Strategies for the Green Economy
Adams Morioka • Adbusters • Albert Einstein • Altitude • Aufuldish & Warinner • Bob Dylan • Charles Darwin • Design Army • Firebelly Design • Frank Chimero • James Victore • Karlsonwilker • Lance Armstrong • Mende Design • MINE™ • Modern Dog • Office • Pentagram • Plato • Stefan • Sagmeister • Turnstyle • Vanderbyl Design • Volume Inc. • Winston Churchill • And more...
" Just Design is the first book to offer a thoughtful, comprehensive and inspiring look at what happens when designers use their knowledge, resources and ability to create work that is concerned with positive change over cashing a check. The sample projects, interviews and contributing stories provide a contagious energy, motivation, and optimism that is hard to find in any other design book."
—Armin Vit
Co-founder, UnderConsideration
"Christopher Simmons' brilliant new book showcases the worldwide, world-class work designers are doing to convey what is good and important for everyone, everywhere. Just Design is proof positive that design—and designers—can change the world, one design at a time."
—Debbie Millman President, Sterling Brands
Past President, AIGA
"Through deft curation and succinct, exacting project descriptions, Christopher Simmons and his guests provide a compelling set of work that confirms the critical and unique power of social design and its practitioners."
—Allan Chochinov
Partner, Core77
Chair, SVA MFA Products of Design
" Just Design is the kind of book that makes you proud to be a designer. And inspires you to be a better one."
—Valerie Casey
Founder, Designers Accord
" Just Design should be required reading for any designer or communications professional seeking to make a difference."
—Joel Makower
Chairman, GreenBiz Group,
Author, Strategies for the Green Economy
Adams Morioka • Adbusters • Albert Einstein • Altitude • Aufuldish & Warinner • Bob Dylan • Charles Darwin • Design Army • Firebelly Design • Frank Chimero • James Victore • Karlsonwilker • Lance Armstrong • Mende Design • MINE™ • Modern Dog • Office • Pentagram • Plato • Stefan • Sagmeister • Turnstyle • Vanderbyl Design • Volume Inc. • Winston Churchill • And more...
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
12 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 27, 2012
I wrote this book, so of course I'm going to give it five stars. If it were somebody else's book, I'd give it 4. I'm happy with writing and proud of the design. The projects are all interesting to me (that's why I picked them) and I think the stories behind them are both inspiring and informative. In retrospect, there are also a few things I may have done differently.
As a reader, one has to read between the lines somewhat to extract the specific relevance of each project/process to one's own situation and interests. I still wonder if it might have been better to summarize the 'takeaway' from each project into some sort of succinct action-item list. It would make the utility of the book more immediately apparent but it would also make it a more prescriptive book. I wanted it to be as much 'how' as 'why'.
For those who have read it, I'm interested in what you'd like to see handled differently in a sequel...
As a reader, one has to read between the lines somewhat to extract the specific relevance of each project/process to one's own situation and interests. I still wonder if it might have been better to summarize the 'takeaway' from each project into some sort of succinct action-item list. It would make the utility of the book more immediately apparent but it would also make it a more prescriptive book. I wanted it to be as much 'how' as 'why'.
For those who have read it, I'm interested in what you'd like to see handled differently in a sequel...
May 30, 2016
This book isn't without fault: a few typos-grammatical and design- can be found sprinkled throughout without making an effort to look for flaws and there's a strong amount of recognition given towards Christopher Simmons' nucleus of work (network, even?)--through MINE, CCA, AIGA--which begets the question, Why? Is there not a greater body of work that constitutes socially conscious design?
At the end of the day though, 1. it's his book 2. he 100% accomplished what he set out to do
For me, at least.
After I read it, I got to the back of the book and realized that I followed all four call to actions: I looked inside, dug deeper, gained new perspective(s!) and energized my creative spirit. Of the four, the last two being meaningful and rich takeaways.
So meaningful and rich that I read it in one go and closed the back cover brimming with new ideas and gumption. I feel grateful towards the book's existence and thankful that Christopher Simmons created this.
Whether or not you classify yourself as a creative, it's worth reading.
At the end of the day though, 1. it's his book 2. he 100% accomplished what he set out to do
For me, at least.
After I read it, I got to the back of the book and realized that I followed all four call to actions: I looked inside, dug deeper, gained new perspective(s!) and energized my creative spirit. Of the four, the last two being meaningful and rich takeaways.
So meaningful and rich that I read it in one go and closed the back cover brimming with new ideas and gumption. I feel grateful towards the book's existence and thankful that Christopher Simmons created this.
Whether or not you classify yourself as a creative, it's worth reading.
April 9, 2012
Really excellent case studies and profiles.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews