Eccola Ecology:Greening Design Symposium
A report on our latest symposium

by Ellen Lee

It is the aim of AWID [Association of Women Industrial Designers] to demonstrate the interconnectedness of the work of these people in bringing the best green design solutions to the consuming public." So, who are these people?--Speakers for the Eccola Ecology: Greening Design Symposium hosted at Parsons School of Design on March 7, 1996.

Wendy Brawer, Principal, Modern World Design, began the presentations discussing her international travels and work in raising awareness of the environment. Her past itineraries include the Earth Summit 1992 in Europe, ICSID (International Congress of Societies of Industrial Designers) in Asia last year, and multiple trips abroad doing workshops and grant work. She is the originator of the Green Apple Maps, publications that focus on a particular city outlining Green Apple Design Tours. These publications provide locales of interest and resources relating to the Green Movement. The maps have been created by interested parties all over the world. Ms. Brawer's recent projects include working the Maps through the internet and providing a "do-it-yourself" guide to creating a similar publication in your particular city.  Kristen Childs, Director of Interior Design, Croxton Collaborative, focused her discussion on the importance of sustainable design and environmental design. Various slides outlining statistics were eye opening in terms of the current status of recycled materials. Understanding the cycles that materials follow was a key point in her presentation. The life/death cycle of materials was outlined as follows: sources - raw materials, recycled materials - to manufacturing, transportation, distribution, use, reuse or disposal. Understanding the cycle is important in arriving at real solutions for the future. Ms. Childs also discussed the work that she did for New York City's Audubon Building, a thoroughly Green building. It is a model for all present and future architecture in its reuse of construction materials, recycling of wastes, energy efficiency, air quality, and natural light.

To round out the Symposium, Paul Novak, Partner, Environmental Construction Outfitters discussed entrepreneurial aspects of the Green Movement. Mr. Novak's company aims to be a "one stop shopping" vendor of green products for designers, architects, and builders. How do these materials effect the public? His concern for addressing the issue of chemically sensitive people was a point well taken. As our daily environments increase in toxicity levels, more and more people are becoming sensitive to particular chemicals. There are many people, for example, who are allergic to chemicals that are used in construction and interior design materials. Mr. Novak emphasized that designers should always consider each client's needs carefully.

"Clients are exactly the people who will make the Green Movement accepted into the mainstream," stated Stefan Doering,. President & CEO of Earth General retail stores. Mr. Doering boldly put the raw truth to the audience. Money is the bottom line. However, he uses this philosophy much to the Green movement's advantage. He has created stores called Earth General located in both Manhattan and Park Slope, Brooklyn. The goal: to be a general store exclusively selling consumer products that are environmentally sound. His market, the masses! These stores provide opportunities for new designs in ecologically sound materials. One example was the Deja shoe, made of hemp, recycled rubber and wet suits. Sounds hideous? But, any New Yorker would not hesitate to buy a pair. You have to see them to believe it. These stores provide a platform for promoting eco-safe materials to both designers and the public. He encouraged designers to "provide [him] with more products!"

Thanks to Erika Doering for organizing and moderating the symposium and for displaying her collection of recycled materials.