Resources for Sustainable Design

Eco-Design Directory

Find expert eco-design solutions provided by o2 members’ firms and consultancies in our Eco-Design Directory.

Reading List

Expand your awareness of sustainable design with recommended books, including works by o2 members.

Suggested Links

The 5Rs of Great Design -- You've heard of Reduce-Reuse-Recycle, But that's only part of the story. Shifting from a world where we try to just do "less bad" to one where we are actually creating MORE GOOD -- is the thought process behind a Restorative Economy. To that end, designers in the o2-Global Green Design Network are starting to toss around ideas to see how to expand a bit on the old 3Rs we all know and love, to create a more inclusive and useful tool.
Read more > http://www.o2umw.org/5Rs-GreatDesign.html

http://www.cfsd.org.uk
The Centre for Sustainable Design is a UK-based non-profit organization that specializes in promoting environmentally-sensitive product design. The site advertises their events (workshops, conferences), as well as features an online Journal of Sustainable Product Design.

http://www.biothinking.com
Greener By Design has a great Eco-Design books section, information about materials for designers, and some interesting sustainable product case studies.

http://designgreen.org
Design:Green serves the needs of designers and others involved in new product development, business, marketing, strategy, and sustainability.

http://www.ecodesign.fr
o2-France put together this introduction to eco-design.

http://www.ecodesign.at
The Austrian Eco Design Information point is a well-organized list of links, on topics such as life-cycle assessment, eco-labeling, and software tools for eco-designers.

http://www.greenbiz.com
Green Biz is an excellent, regularly updated source of eco-news and resources for corporations. Be sure to subscribe to their email newsletter, and check out their - business toolbox - for information about the implications of sustainability for business and industry.

http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com
Greenleaf Publishing features a number of books on their site addressing eco-design.

http://www.greenmap.org/modern/resources.html
Compiled by the Green Map Project, this list of links, includes some great resources for solar energy.

http://www.greenmarketing.com
J. Ottman’s Green Marketing site includes Eco-Design and Marketing resources, including lists of newsletters, books, and articles.

http://www.icisfoundation.org
The International Center for Creativity, Innovation and Sustainability holds Eco-Design master classes (in Europe), and has some good lists of links on their site.

http://www.idealist.org
An international index of non-profit organizations.

http://www.indes.net/eco-ref
Compiled by the Independent Designers Network, this is an extensive list for print and packaging designers including: material selection links, marketing and labeling laws, environmental impact, and wastestream links.

http://online.mcad.edu
Minneapolis College of Art and Design / Distance Learning Program
A great opportunity to explore new levers for innovation and get an edge in an ever more competitive global economy. MCAD's Sustainable Design Workshop Series (and Certificate Tracks) seeks to unite divers sectors of the design and planning communities to promote learning and understanding of a wide range of personal, professional, and business issues. Courses are offered in partnership with the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance and o2-USA/Upper Midwest.

http://www.naturalstep.org
The Natural Step is a non-profit that advises corporations on sustainable development. In addition to having some big clients, such as Nike, McDonalds, and Home Depot, they regularly hold workshops, and conferences.

http://o2-usa.org/bayarea/links3.html
Compiled by o2-Bay Area, this partially-annotated list of links covers a wide variety of topics, including environmental publications, corporate case studies, and materials and life-cycle, among others.

http://www.o2umw.org
Compiled by o2-USA/Upper Midwest, their LINKS, READING, and CO-OP partner sections provide a wealth of eco-design and eco-business reference lists, links, books, articles, newsgroups, and e-newsletters. Plus their ACTION section has listings for classes, and degree programs.

http://www.watershedmedia.org
Watershed Media produces action-oriented, visually dynamic, communication projects to influence the transition to a green society.