OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Product Range Distribution - Cast Iron Design

Cast Iron Design. This studio based in Colorado specialises in eco-friendly and ethical practice. Though their work is really well informed and nice put together. 

Often with 'ethical' design there is a tendency for the work to appear boring or dry but this is really not the case, especially with a studio like Cast Iron Design.

They works always has a continuousness of the ethical, social and economic impacts, using recycled materials is just the start when it comes to Cast Iron Design. 

As explained in their 'Environmental Responsibility' section of the website they not only promote ethical design though their work but also try and tech others through 'written articles, lectures, and physical goods'.

The Eco Pocket sizes notebook is an example of a an environmental piece of design that really fits the purpose, looks great but has sustainability at the forefront. The design has been informed by the production and their is a clarity within the work about the materials used. 

Sustainability is a theme that is ever present within the work of Cast Iron Designs. Not only are the materials listed by why these are better for the environment gives the viewer/user a clarity about what they are buying. Each project they have undertaken features a sustainability section explaining the reasoning behind it. 

In this section they explain a project and the production in relation to sustainability, uncoated paper seems to be a ever present within their work, this is something to consider as before I didn't know it had less impact environmentally. They explain that the book is printed within 2 hours of the publishers headquarters- another way to cut down the environmental impact. With print and editorial design the publishers play a large part in how ethically continuous a design can be, a knowledge of the limitations of this is important.