DESIGN WITH A CONSCIENCE

I wanted to blog about design with a social conscience and how as designers we can make a difference in people's lives. This is something I have been trying to figure out on my own and what as I designer that I can do. I participated in the "Haiti Poster Project" and designed a poster to help raise money to rebuild Haiti, but my feeling is that this is just the tip of the ice burg in what I could be doing in between my freelance business and selling my designs on merchandise. Anyway I came across a few websites that promote design to do good and I wanted to share. I am sure there are many more out there and I just have to find them... If you find more please share and let me know...

DESIGN IS LOVE is a movement where your participation & support help to shape a community around the idea of “do good”. It's a heartful place where you're encouraged to develop real relationships with other members through three active areas: Helping Hand, the Design Fund and inwords. Design is love wants to provide stimulating opportunities for our members to explore their creativity through funded projects and engaging communication, along with a match-making system that brings creatives and non-profit organizations together—taking the positive energy promoted here and sharing it with the world at-large. As stewards of our profession, you can count on DESIGN IS LOVE to lead by example and uphold standards in work practice that are beneficial to both creatives and their clients.

A BETTER WORLD THROUGH CREATIVITY - Since 1995, DESIGN INDABA has been committed to a vision that is built on the belief that creativity will fuel an economic revolution in South Africa. As such, Design Indaba is a celebration of design in a country iconic of the triumph of the human spirit. Proof that even the most intractable problem can be neutralised by the will of the people, resurgent South Africa is a beacon to the world. Design Indaba typifies this can-do spirit through its belief in design and how it can help solve the problems faced by an emerging economy. With the right support, a better future can be designed. By attracting the world’s brightest talent, Design Indaba has become a respected institution on the creative landscape and one of the few global events that celebrates all the creative sectors - graphic design, advertising, film, music, fashion design, industrial design, architecture, craft, visual art, new media, publishing, broadcasting and performing arts sector. Besides the flagship conference and expo,Design Indaba has grown into a multitiered experience that incorporates an extensive range of elements such as events, publications, education, training, business, development and community initiatives.

THE WORKING PROOF seeks to promote art and social responsibility. Prints by artists are paired with a charity of the artist's choice, to which they donate 15% of the sale of each print - creating what they believe to be a product with not just aesthetic, but social value. Besides showcasing emerging artists and great artwork, the intent of the Working Proof is to promote a variety of charities and to expose them to new supporters through the appreciation of art and creativity. THE WORKING PROOF releases a new print once a week, on Tuesdays at 1:30 pm, EST. seek to give our artists full creative control of their work by having them produce and sign the work themselves. Most of the artists create, print (by whatever method they choose - screenprint, letterpress, linocut, giclee, to name a few), sign and number a limited-edition print run that is exclusive to the Working Proof. 

SOCIAL DESIGN SITE 

Is a non-profit organisation that aims to foster a discourse on social design through our international online platform and the organization of and participation in projects, exhibitions, conferences, lectures, etc.