AIGA Chicago Incite/Insight: Addressing the significance of green design

Thursday, November 20, 2008
6:00 PM Reception
6:30-9:00 PM Presentation

This year, Melanie Wiesenthal and Peter Fine will address the significance of green design and the role that it plays in our society. The two are cowriting/designing a book on sustainable graphic design and packaging that is due out in 2010. Both speakers are grounded in the practice of eco-graphics and working hard to make it the norm rather than just another option. Eric Benson, a member of the AIGA Center for Sustainable Design Task Force and an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is the moderator for this event. Learn how and why to incorporate green design into your design process. Visit aigachicago.org to register.

Melanie Wiesenthal
As art director for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia located in New York City, Melanie Wiesenthal leads a team of designers who focus on all elements of the design process from packaging and branding to in-store graphics and national advertising. Melanie was first turned on to eco-graphic design at Aveda prior to her position at Martha Stewart. She is a strong advocate of eco-graphics and spreads the word through public presentations and her teachings at the Parsons School of Design, where she has been an adjunct professor since 2002. Melanie's work has been featured in places including Graphis, the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, and Print magazine.

Peter Fine
Peter Fine is an assistant professor of Graphic Design at New Mexico State University. As a teacher, designer, artist and writer, he explores the role of the designers past, present and future, seeking ways to integrate design history, theory and criticism with practice. He is currently making efforts to enrich the graphic design curriculum at NMSU by exploring ways to make environmental concerns a vital component. Fine received his MFA from the University of Arizona, and has previously taught at Florida Atlantic University.

Eric Benson
Eric Benson, our moderator, has focused his professional work towards creating digital experiences on the web and environmentally friendly print and packaging material. He has lectured internationally on the topic of sustainable design and his work has appeared in various galleries and publications such as How Magazine, Creative Review, and Communication Arts.