Although sustainable practice is quite familiar in the design industry, especially fashion and interior, most people may be unfamiliar with the terms and practices of sustainable graphic design. It is a concern because of the increasing awareness of safety and environmental friendliness. Therefore, many users of graphic design products encourage graphic designers to produce products of that quality. Let’s find out more about the concept.
Definition of Sustainable Graphic Design
Practicing sustainability in graphic design has similarities with sustainability practices in other design fields. However, if it has to be defined it can be interpreted as an approach to creating visual communications that considers the environmental, social, and economic impacts. In other words, it aims to minimize negative impact while maximizing positive impact on the environment and society.
Why Sustainable Graphic Design Matters
Various reasons can be put forward for why sustainable design practices is important, especially in the long term. Nevertheless, since the environmental, social, and economic aspects have the most share and contribution, they are the big reasons it matters.
Environmental Impact
Providing a green look is not the only practice any designer can do to support sustainability in graphic design. Using recycled, renewable materials and reducing the strain on finite resources is also part of the sustainability practices. They help conserve natural resources by minimizing waste during the design and production process.
As a result, this practice can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and oceans. Additionally, sustainable designs focus on energy efficiency. Hence, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. Although not directly, these efforts help preserve whatever can be preserved for future generations.
Even in digital products, sustainability is applicable to reduce global carbon footprints. The Web Sustainability Calculator estimates that the average website produces 0.8 grams COâ‚‚ per pageview. It means 102 kg COâ‚‚ per year for a website with 10,000 monthly pageviews. Designers can reduce this by optimizing website performance, reducing file sizes, and using efficient hosting services.
Economic Benefits
Speaking of economic benefits, practicing sustainable graphic design is very beneficial. Moreover, from a business perspective, it can reduce production costs and bring in higher profits. Efficient use of materials and energy can lead to significant cost savings over time.
Apart from financial benefits, this practice can boost a business’s marketing and brand value. Moreover, more consumers are aware of environmental concerns. They will prefer brands that implement the concept of sustainability in their business. Embracing sustainability drives innovation, leading to the development of new technologies and processes that can enhance a company’s competitiveness.
Social Responsibility
As a society, we have responsibilities to carry out to other humans. But, how does sustainable graphic design contribute to the process? Sustainable design promotes ethical practices. Ensuring fair labor conditions and supporting communities is the proper sustainable practice. Moreover, producing graphic design into something tangible using non-toxic, eco-friendly materials can improve the health and well-being of both workers and consumers.
Sustainable Graphic Design Benefits for Business
Migrating from regular graphic design products to sustainable ones does require a process and consideration. However, in a society where environmental awareness is increasing, utilizing sustainable design products will bring many benefits to businesses.
Enhanced Brand Reputation: Consumers increasingly prefer eco-friendly brands. Adopting the practices can build trust and loyalty, improving a company’s brand reputation. This differentiation helps businesses stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Cost Saving: Every business will love the cost-saving method that brings more profits. They are reducing waste and using recycled materials to lower production expenses. Moreover, digital formats cut printing costs, improving the bottom line.
Market Differentiation and Competitive Advantage: Providing a competitive edge to win against other businesses in the same field. Since eco-conscious consumers prefer sustainable brands, it broadens the customer base.
Innovation and Creativity: Creating sustainable graphic design is a challenge. So, it can encourage innovation and creativity. Thinking outside the box to develop new techniques and materials is what designers must do. It leads to unique, compelling designs that capture interest eventually.
Regulatory Compliance and Risk Mitigation: Regulations around environmental practices have increased. Proactively adopting eco-friendly practices avoids fines and legal issues. This approach helps businesses adapt to evolving regulations and market demands, ensuring regulatory compliance.
What to Do to Create Sustainable Graphic Design
Regardless of whether the graphic design product will ultimately be physical or digital, it involves making thoughtful choices. These choices aim to minimize environmental impact while still achieving effective visual communication. The following are several things that you can maximize to produce sustainable designs.
Color Choices
The choice of colors for sustainable designs is quite limited, considering ink consumption. The colors commonly used are those that have natural, earthy, and soothing qualities. These colors typically evoke a sense of environmental consciousness and responsibility, such as green, brown, blue, or other warm earth tones. Pastel colors can be an option if you want the design to be more colorful and lively or not too earthy.
Typography
Related to reducing ink use, it is preferable to select fonts that are legible in smaller sizes. Sans-serif fonts are often more readable at smaller sizes and require less ink. Avoid heavy and bold fonts as they consume more ink; use lighter weights whenever possible. Use geometric fonts, minimalist fonts, or slab-serif fonts as other options.
Layout and Space Utilization
Space efficiency is a good way to reduce the amount of material needed. Pay more attention to design layouts for maximal use. Use grids and modular design principles to make the most of the available space. Also, keep in mind that design with double-sided printing can halve paper usage.
Imagery and Graphics
Regarding imagery and graphics usage, it is better to use vector graphics instead of raster images. They are preferable for their scalability and reduced file size, which also means less ink usage. When using images, opt for high-quality, royalty-free stock photos that can be used multiple times across different projects to reduce resource consumption.
Closing
Sustainable graphic design is a forward-thinking approach that benefits businesses, society, and the environment. By adopting eco-friendly graphic design practices, companies can enhance their brand reputation and save costs. They can also comply with regulations while fostering innovation and social responsibility. Embracing sustainability today ensures a better future for generations to come.
