Design 127: Environmental Consciousness

http://consumer.simplegreen.com/index.php

Named the “Original Green Cleaner”, Simple Green is an all-purpose cleaner invented by a father and son for the purpose of keeping their family safe from harmful chemical products. Simple Green is a concentrated, non-toxic, biodegradable, non-abrasive, non-flammable, and economical consumer product. The cleaner/degreaser is environmentally sensitive and can be used on any washable surface from floors and walls to laundry and vehicles. Because it is a concentrate, Simple Green can be custome diluted to clean just about anything dirty. It replaces most cleaners, detergents, degreasers, and laundry pre-soaks. Simple Green removes tough stains such as dirt, grease, oil, pet stains, coffe, juices, lipstick, blood, and adhesives. Simple Green is a versatile product without harmful bleach that keeps the family and environment safe.

During spring cleaning, I find it tough on myself to use all the abrasive products made separately for different rooms of the house. I have so many products used to cover different surfaces that I can’t keep them straight. I also have to deal with my sneezing and skin iritation from the chemicals. Plus, my dogs don’t react well with the chemicals either considering that they usually sneeze and run to the other side of the room. Simple Green sounds like a very useful product making it easier on me and my family when it comes to cleaning. I won’t have to worry about the sneezing or the dozens of different products. I can save money because I’ll only need one cleaner. All at the same time, I’ll be keeping my environment safe, too. I feel like a better citizen already!

(Homework assignments count for 20% of your grade)

1–Make a minimum of 5 sketches of ideas for project #2; you may combine the materials or use them separately. Explore the use of more than one material in your sketches.

2–Find one “green product” on the web and write a paragraph about it: describe it and why you like it. Post it on Alan Wells’ del.icio.us bookmark sharing/tagging site after you receive his e-mail giving directions about it. We will keep adding to this all quarter. The list can be viewed at: http://del.icio.us/des127

3– read “Learning Deficiency” in Reader pp. 111-112 and write the answers to the following questions: .
a–The author asserts that design schools haven’t incorporated sustainable design into their curriculum. In his opinion, what are the reasons that hamper the teaching of sustainability at the college level?
b–the author asserts that sustainability as “best design practice” is broadly applicable across design disciplines, and that integrating this model into design education is not especially hard. What are the specific changes he suggests?
c—in the middle column of p. 112 , the author says that “design must play a leading role” in changing the way we think about the world–how can design do that?
d- -the author lists a number of requirements for design programs to incorporate sustainability into the curriculum; what are they, and what is the educational challenge of doing this?

4–Read pp. 132-136 in Reader (plastic bag re-use)

5–Buy the Reader at Navins Copy Shop, and Cradle to Cradle and Kontakt Kleber glue (MU Art Dept.)
BRING READER TO EVERY CLASS!

6–How many of you carry a re-usable plastic water bottle? If you do, bring it to class Mon. (but don’t buy one)