Planet-hogs Anonymous Newbie

I found this fantastically informative interactive piece online, a green calculator/finger-wager, if you will.

After a short series of entertainingly animated questions, I found out that though my ecological footprint may be lighter than the average American, (pause here for dramatic effect) it would take 3 planets to support a world in which each person lives the way I do. And, I recycle/compost everything; carpool/bus to my workplace which is only 2.3 miles; seldom buy new books, clothing, furniture—blahblahblah.

I guess the bottom line is: You can always be greener. And also: Design can change the world. Yeah, I said it. 

Find your score and more info at Global Footprint Network.

ReMaking the Way We Shop

Need a new bag, but feel guilty about the over-consumption of our natural resources? San Francisco-based ReMade USA will gladly make you an original out of an old leather jacket. And, they don’t look like some of that artsy-fartsy stuff made from garbage—they are actually well-designed. Not cheap (>$200), but no leather bag is, and the cost of buying unsustainably is far more expensive, no?

Let me ride

Well I got an email today from one of my triathlon buddies, informing me about bamboo bikes! It seems that bamboo is strong enough to make road bike frames and even mountain bike frames.



You will notice that these bikes are not entirely constructed from bamboo and require- additional carbon or aluminum parts, but I still love the idea of substituting artificial man made parts with one of nature’s strongest plant. I think these bikes are really beautiful on an aesthetic level, but am really sold on the fact that they work as well—if not better than carbon bikes!




After doing some research I stumbled across the website of Brano Meres, a very skilled mechanical engineer, photographer and freelance industrial designer (you can see why he might find it difficult to find enough time in the day for all his projects). The images shown here are his creations and you will want to read his website, which not only discusses how he makes them but also gives updates to the condition of the bike as he rode it over a period of 5 years. I have a lot of respect for those who can merge beauty and functionality together so well.


The story that started my search of bamboo bikes here and one other blog story here.

"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.”

- Emo Philips

Perpendicular Dreams

Thought y'all would be interested in French illustrator Julien Pacaud's handiwork. He does a fine job of putting old magazine's (and his computer) to work. Have a look-see:

Helios House

I was driving through LA recently and happened upon this shocker of a gas station (on the corner of Olympic and Robertson). It's a British Petroleum venture to enhance the gasoline consumer experience and to showcase some overall functional and structural sustainability. The design strategically selected materials, lighting and plumbing methods to limit environmental impact. Helios House exceeds current environmental standards for on-site water collection and uses 16 percent less electricity than traditional stations, says BP.

Coined a “living laboratory,” this spot also serves as an educational center, in which specially trained employees actually distribute to the unsuspecting driver guides to greener living. Not a bad way to spread the word!

Looking Good while Being Good

For LA's Fashion Week, soy bean enthusiast SoyJoy and Gen Arts gave four emerging fashion designers a platform in sustainable fashion show Fashionably Natural, presented yesterday. The Battalion, Brigid Catiis, Popomomo, Velvet Leaf offer eco-garment alternatives using sustainable materials, organic, raw textiles and recycled vintage fabrics. Pretty cool.

Another notable SoyJoy project is its Art of Optimism Tour, where they promote fine art across North America as a means of lending hope.

Creative Reuse: Good Design for Do-Gooders

These handmade products are the harvest of an earnest set of environmental ethics combined with aesthetic sensibilities and a nomadic lifestyle. Skinwalker (one-man production line, Bryan Kwee) takes his craft as seriously as his eco-friendly lifestyle, gathering scrap materials from the places he roams and meticulously transforming them into these fine creations. With a good deal of imagination and elbow grease, he turns one person's waste into another person's bounty—proving that less is definitely more.


Wallet made from salvaged sushi boxes, bicycle inner tubes, transparent packaging material, and keyboard circuit boards.

Wallet made from keyboard circuit boards, aluminum foil, frosted white binders, bicycle inner tubes, & a trade show exhibitor badge.




Check out Skinwalker's complete portfolio and etsy shop.