The Globus Design Associates Blog

Tips to reduce paper in the office

We pulled the plug on the fax machine years ago.  We found we were buying and using paper to receive unsolicited menus, mostly. We operate a "paperless" office but are always looking for ways to increase sustainable practices. Reducing the amount of paper in the workplace benefits all businesses, not just libraries.  Here are a couple of quick tips:

Photo: Suzan Globus

1. If your in-box looks like this stack which represents a fraction of the deluge of catalogues and junk mail we used to receive, my favorite way to make it stop is to register at Catalogue Choice.  The free registration lets you select the unsolicited mail you don't want to receive.  Let the sender do the recycling.

Photo: Suzan Globus

2. Accidentally printing on a check left in the printer is only one small reason to bank on line.  When you consider the resources needed to purchase and store checks and receipts and print and mail them, it's difficult to justify paper checks.

Sustainability Scenarios Have Implications for Libraries

Steelcase invited me to participate in a strategic planning session about the future of sustainability in their New York showroom this week.  We designers were asked to create scenarios.  Scenarios are developed from identifying trends and uncertainties. Sustainability uncertainties include who will hold the influence to drive sustainability and what will be the intensity of interest in the future.

Trends

After we identified trends, I found these especially relevant to libraries:

• the rise of individualism
• pervasive information and ease of access to it
• increasing interest in well being
• sourcing products and services locally 
• the pressure for businesses to innovate to distinguish themselves in the marketplace

Communities of Interest

I reaffirmed my conviction to encourage my firm's public library clients to form communities of interest in sustainability among their library customers.  Public libraries have a wonderful opportunity to provide information resources and educational programming about sustainability and expand their brand of being a valuable resource to their communities.

Library Takes Practical Approach to Sustainability

Image from www.chicagonow.com

As a long time advocate about the opportunity for public libraries to become a resource for the sustainability community, I am happy to see  Sayreville Public Library's creative approach to building a community of interest around sustainability.  With the support of the N J State Library, Sayreville will be lending Kill A Watt, a device to monitor the electricity used by an appliance.  The plug-in device monitors the appliance's kilowatt-hours to help in assessing if the air conditioner, for example, is operating efficiently and worth keeping.  The library plans to display the devices in see through hanger bags like the ones used for children's media. 

One library trustee jokingly wondered if the devices may trigger disputes among household members about their room temperature.  Perhaps the library could loan mediators, too.

Holiday Outing Sparks Design Inspiration

We decided to keep it local for the GDA annual holiday outing this year and selected the Hunterdon Art Museum as our destination.  Located in a 19th century stone mill, the building is listed on the National Trust of Historic Sites.  The museum is situated in a quaint setting
in historic Clinton, NJ.  Some of us were as equally interested in the views to the outside as of the exhibit.

Val and Alden taking it in. Photo: Suzan Globus

Photo: Suzan Globus

The paper exhibit showcased the work of Pamela Becker who used paper for her constructions.

Linen and paper coiled bowls by Pamela Becker.  Photo: Suzan Globus

Wall hanging representing the four seasons by Pamela Becker. Photo: Suzan Globus

Artists using fire, smoke or explosion to create art exhibited their works on the second floor.

I'm still wondering how this artist controlled the smoke to acheive these circles.  Photo: Suzan Globus

The work of some of the museum members was exhibited on the third floor.

This nearly photographic quality portrait was executed in charcoal.  Photo: Suzan Globus

Afterwards, we walked up the street to The Garden Gourmet where Chef Briellen is cooking some memorable hearty, local fresh fare in an unassuming storefront.  We had a waterfront table in the cozy upstairs and rolled down afterwards to select some exceptional baked goods from her first floor bakery.

Design Lessons Learned:

1. Use familiar materials in new ways.

2. Experiment with unconventional substances, like smoke,  to create unknown effects.

3. Good design is always around if you can train yourself to recognize it.

4. Good local food, well prepared is always inspirational.

Happy Design Holidays

It's that time of year when many of us feel like

Photo: Suzan Globus

Thanks to sustainable designer  Emily Piloton's recent post, University of San Francisco's Gleeson Library  may have set the bar for libraries with their  green tree made from reference books.

If you do find some time to put your feet up to reflect upon the year and plan for the year ahead, these industry leaders in a  BusinessWeek story make a strong case about the value of design to your business regardless of what your business is.  Here's to implementing the lessons learned in the new year.

 

Greenliness is next to Godliness

One of the stops on my Aunt's "must-see" list, during her visit last week - after Christmas window decorations, of course -

was the New York City Public Library.

and its restored third floor.

Certain interior design elements, such as this casework

and these ceilings reminded me of a church.  That triggered a thought of my recent visit to a friend's church where I noticed a pamphlet in the lobby promoting green living as one aspect of leading a spiritual life.

One document offered an outline of steps to take ranging from questioning consumption and product packaging to cleaning supplies in order to lead a greener life.

Although I am not promoting a specific religion, I feel libraries in their role as community centers and places of information exchange can take a cue from the Presbyterian Church, in this case, and prominently place resources encouraging an interest in sustainability.  There is an opportunity for libraries to be leaders in disseminating information about sustainability which feels like a valuable void to fill.

Green Resources Invite Exploration

Making decisions about sustainable products and practices involves hours of research.  When the information is dry and presented in a boring format, the hunt can become tedious.   Several green websites are well designed and engaging. Afterall, isn't good design, regardless of the medium, always engaging?  Here's a short list of appealing sites to investigate:

Treehugger This comprehensive site weighs in on topics ranging from design to transportation with plenty of "how to" guides.

Environmental Working Group covers health, farming, natural resources and energy with a special focus on protecting children from environmental toxins.

Good Guide focuses on personal and cleaning products and is helpful for learning about the implications of some common chemicals used in these products.

Green Money Journal provides accessible information about socially responsible investing.

LOHAS a B2B site that tracks the market segment they name the "Cultural Creatives" and define as those seeking a lifestyle of health and sustainability to provide a forum to exchnage best business practices.

Enjoy the exploration.

 

Green Goes Main Stream in Crafts and Art

Using found objects to create art is nothing new.  "Objet Trouve" translating to "found object", is the French term for the practice that is commonly attributed to the DaDa movement.  It seems to be enjoying a resurgence perhaps due to the focus on sustainability.   These three examples popped up in my immediate area:

Quilt

Photo: Suzan Globus

"Paper Bag Quilt" by Lynn Liebenow was made using only recycled materials.  It was one featured at a quilt show at Monmouth University.

Card

Photo: Valerie Mangan

This award winning greeting card is the artful work of Valerie Mangan - yes, THE Globus Design Associates Valerie Mangan, which she made from an old photo sleeve.

Art

Art From Found Objects is a juried exhibit hosted by the Monmouth Museum through the end of the month.  This juried exhibition in the Museum's Main Gallery features artwork created from discarded, reusable or found objects. Forty-eight artworks from artists working in NY, NJ and PA and as far away as Missouri and Arkansas are featured. 

It is great to see sustainability seeping into all aspects of our culture.

Green Art Museum Anchors LoDo

Before leaving Denver, I visited MCA Denver, the museum of contemporary art, located on a remediated brownfield site two blocks from Union Station in LoDo.  This non-collecting museum -they take sustainability seriously in their mission- is housed in a 27,000 square foot LEED Gold certified building. The design of the building, "supports rather than defines the museum's mission" to quote the museum's literature.  This less-is-more approach to architecture in a field of iconic examples of contemporary museum architecture seems to suit this organization well. 

Image from www.mcadenver.org 

Additional features of the building interiors were noteworthy:

Natural light floods transitional spaces.

Children's learning spaces are segregated from exhibit spaces and easily maintained.

An open shelf library encourages exploration.

The green roof garden uses native plants.

 

I was also impressed with the message conveyed by the museum's admissions policy during  the Energy Effects exhibit, exploring the relationship between energy and aesthetics.  If a person walked, took public transportation or rode their bike to the museum, they were given a reduced admission fee. What a simple, smart way to remind us that each of us can take small actions to contribute to a healthy environment.

Green City Initiatives - Lessons from Denver

During a quick trip to Denver, CO, I was impressed by some simple sustainability programs that make the city more accessible and enjoyable.

Leaving the Newark terminals behind. Photo: Suzan Globus

Landing in Denver. Photo: Suzan Globus

Although Denver is home to some progressive interior design like the multi-use lobby of The Jet Hotel

The Jet Hotel lobby.  Photo: Suzan Globus

which transforms into the Jet Bar at night when the draperies get fastened to the columns,

The Jet Bar.  Photo: Suzan Globus

I was more interested in city planning than facilities.  Here is what makes green Denver work well:

1. A pedestrian mall that transverses a mile long retail district.  Free service on hybrid, accessible buses that run frequently 20 hours a day. Photo: Suzan Globus

2. Public art installations, adequate lighting and lush landscaping make the mall a pleasant place to be.  Photo: Suzan Globus

3. Street performers. I didn't get a chance to ask this musician if his performance was subsidized by the city. Photo: Suzan Globus

  4. Ample, well located bike racks.  Photo: Suzan Globus

5. Bikes available to rent and return to various spots around the city including the train station.  Rates range from a dollar an hour to five dollars a day.  Photo: Suzan Globus

6. Public buses with front mounted bike racks to accommodate cyclists. Photo: Suzan Globus