Ethics and Sustainability

How does it relate?

*Ethics proceeds sustainability. Sustainability stems from ethics, inner debates questions, appropriations.

*Sustainability ia more functionality, it depends on the project.

*Explore the factors of the project

*Develop rules and Ideas

*Changes for different clients

*Considerations.

What does Ethics mean?

*Moral principles that govern a person's behaviour or the conducting of an activity.

* The branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles.

"Within Philosophy, ethic is the branch of knowledge concerned with moral principles. This is not primarily in order to develop strategies by which to judge one another. It is about the pursuit of truth- questioning whether there is such a thing as the property of 'goodness' and testing the resultant ideas against various models." (Robert, 2007)

"Electronic communication has now almost destroyed distance and time, so that we have little excuse for not being aware of the world's ills. Practically every decision we make as designers has an ethical dimension, requiring us all to "balance the forces" in out own small way as responsible individuals." (Robert, 2006)

Steven Heller (2003):

"Good design is good citizenship"- quoting Milton Glaser

"A designer must be professionally, culturally, and socially responsible for the impact his or her design has on the citizenry."

"An elegant logo can legitimise the illegitimate; a beautiful package can spike up the sales of an inferior product; an appealing trade character can convince kids that something dangerous is essential. The graphic designer is as accountable as the marketing an publicity departments for the propagation of a message or idea."

Katherine McCoy (in Heller, 2003)

On current practise: 'Remove our freedom of speech and graphic designers might never notice. We have trained a profession that feels political or social concerns are either extraneous to our work, or inappropriate.'

'..what I have in mind is nurturing a crop of active citizens-informed, concerned participants in society who happen to be graphic designers. We must help them to clarify their personal values and to give them the tools to recognise when it is appropriate to act to them.'

"Even if you don't personally agree with your client's message, if the message is a legitimate one, do you take a stand based on your own personal morality or do you act as a professional and continue to provide a service? Professional interests and obligations are perfectly legitimate, and the value of free speech and the value of alternative points of view are so great that it must surely be up to individuals to decide what moral stance they take. It is a matter of personal conscience and degree. But all that said, it remains the case that if something were really such a serious matter for you  ethically, then, even if it meant financial loss or other problems, the answer is very, very simple. If it really is a moral make or break issue for you, you don't do things that you don't agree with."


Themes:

*Being a good citizen
*who to work for
*Influence and persuasion
*Aesthetics and ethics
*Value and purpose

Sustainability

*Social Sustainability (people and societies)
*Economic sustainability (capital and growth)
*Environmental sustainability (the planet)

How does sustainability relate to ethics?

Erin Benson (in Sherin, 2008)

*Best practices to design sustainably:

In the beginning: Is this the best method to communicate the message?

What is the impact of making this piece?

Hw can we lessen the impact if we print the piece?

Initial Discussion:

*Respect and care for community

*Improve the quality of life

*Conserve earth's vitality and diversity

*Minimise the depletion of nonrenewable resources

*Change personal attitudes and practices to keep with the planet's carrying capacity.

Conscious design decisions:

*Design for re-use/longevity

*Design cyclically, not linearly

*Choose recycled/nontoxic materials

*Minimise waste

*Minimise ink coverage

*Choose vendors the use renewable energy and employ socially equitable and environmentally friendly business practices

*Educate consumers about the life cycle issues through messaging/ marketing

*Encourage others to design sustainability.