Sustainability is gaining popularity among every industry, and the graphic design community is no exception.

When I was writing my thesis on sustainable and socially-conscious graphic design just a few years ago in college, good resources on the subject were hard to come by. Now it seems that discussion sustainability in design is cropping up everywhere, and design organizations and studios are jumping on the green bandwagon. All I can say is, it's about time!

So, why should designers and communications professionals be concerned about sustainability? First of all, because everyone should. Second, designers are responsible for a hell of a lot of paper and resource use, as many designers create printed materials every day. Third, designers are in a unique position: we are communicators, capable of informing, educating, persuading, enlightening, facilitating, and of course, selling. We have the ability to incite action, change minds, and open eyes. I couldn't think of a better group for leading the green revolution than the design community.

As designers have become more aware of environmental issues and sustainability, some great resources on green design have been developed. Sustainability is not only a popular buzzword, but a marketable selling point in a competitive marketplace. This makes a sustainable mindset even more important for designers to develop. I have gathered a few of my favorite resources on sustainable graphic design and the greening of the design industry. This is just the tip of the iceberg though, so please feel free to add your favorite green design resources!

• Renourish: this beautifully designed resource for the design community, aimed at fostering discussion of green design and educating designers. "It exists to provide the graphic designer and their clients a host of resources to practice more sustainably in their craft. It helps you understand the importance of sustainability and how practical and invigorating it can be for the creative process and, in turn, our lives." The site contains a Sustainability Toolkit, a basic introduction to sustainability and why it's important, and many case studies about sustainable design projects and green design firms.
• AIGA Center for Sustainable Design: the AIGA is one of the largest design organizations in the United States. If they're concerened about sustainability, it must be a big deal to the design industry. The new Center for Sustainable Design includes resources and discussion on design issues surrounding sustainability, as well as information on what AIGA is doing to green their organization (like installing a green roof, going carbon-neutral and conserving energy, water, and paper). The site is still growing, and so is the community discussing sustainability on it.
• Design Can Change: this site is just awesome. Chock-full of beautifully presented information on climate change, its effects, and what designer can do about it, Design Can Change strives to get designers thinking about sustainability and then acting on it. Sign the Design Can Change Pledge to get started in greening your design practice, or if you need a designer, find one who has signed the pledge and made a commitment to sustainability.
• Institute for Sustainable Communication: the ISC focuses on sustainability in communication and provides tools for designers, media professionals, and communicators. Their goal is to promote "awareness and widespread adoption of economically, socially, and environmentally sound sustainable development practices in the use of communication media." Check out their Responsible Enterprise Print program and Design for Sustainability tool.
• GreenBlue: this non-profit institute aims to transform the design of human industry, making economics sustainable and incorporating sustainable thinking into how our world is designed. It began as a nexus of projects at McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), the private sustainable product and process design consultancy co-founded by William McDonough and Michael Braungart in 1995, who wrote Cradle to Cradle (a highly recommended read). GreenBlue is a little broader than graphic design, but the bigger picture thinking they exemplify is beneficial for anyone.
• Design By Nature: this is a resource forum for environmentally sustainable design, based in Australia. The site includes a thorough guide on green design practices, many examples of eco-friendly projects, and a community of designers concerned with sustainability.
• Celery's Ecological Guide to Paper: Celery, a green design firm based in Berkeley, offers sage advice on choosing sustainable paper. This guide offers definitions on paper and printing terms, a look at different green paper options, and specs on various green papers.
• The Centre for Sustainable Design: this UK-based group facilitates discussion and research on eco-design and broader sustainability considerations in product and service development.
• The Metropolitan Group's Tips on Sustainable Graphic Design: this list of sustainable design tips and questions to ask is offered by the Metropolitan Group's design studio.

There are many more resources where these came from, but if I listed them all, this post would end up being a novel (if it isn't already). So, please add to this list by sharing your favorite sustainable design resources!