Freegans

 

Freegans are an anti consumist group that practise in waste reclamation and waste minimalization. They force these into action by dumpster diving and urban foraging, where they recover usable items that have been needlessly discarded. They also hold events where you can swap goods, such as food, and presents. They promote websites such as freecycle where the public can advertise anything for free, with no purchase.

Back To Basics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi0iph59UfY

The documentary speaks about the consumerism problem that faces the people of Moscow and how people can't stop buying materialistic items, people spending a whole wage on a pair of shoes. It also speaks about an anti-consumerism group that recycle  and how the group is trying to change other opinions on consumerism and create a better lifestyle without waste and giving things away, which usually they throw away and give them to strangers for free.

Cultural Influence

Graphic designers have such a great influence today on current cultures that ethical design with packaging especially are being considered such as using safe plastics and recycled cardboard.

Graphic design serves as a filter through which much of our communication is disseminated. Graphic designers find themselves in the unique position of being gatekeepers of information as well as providing a mirror that reflects contemporary culture. The influence that graphic designers have on how communication is delivered may not always be apparent to them. Often they are embroiled in the details of a project and don’t even realize the impact their work has had or will have until some time has passed and the work is seen in retrospect. Other times they are faced with a decision where the implications are apparent and they may be torn about whether or not they should create propaganda for a party whose politics they don’t believe in. They also know that if they don’t take the job and benefit financially from it, someone else will.

Consumerism & Anti-consumerism in Popular Culture

A song exposing the effects of consumerism in contemporary society focusing on the Nike corporation & their range of footwear. 

In this video singer and rapper, Macklemore talks about the importance of consumerist brands, specifically Nike, to a child's feelings of acceptance & worthiness.  Macklemore talks about how his friends couldn't afford a pair of shoes like his Nike Air Max's (one of the best brands) so they wore Adidas trainers (a brand not regarded with the same status as Nike.) He describes how, although he wasn't the best at basketball, compared to all of his friends he had the best and most professional trainers.

Macklemore presents the incredible negativity and violence caused by consumerism in the lyric "my friend Carlos' brother got murdered for his fours" referring to Nike Air Jordan IV's and how this boy was murdered by people who wanted these shoes but could not afford them, therefore resorting to assault and theft. Consumerism emphasises class consciousness and segregates people into a class system hierarchy. You can afford to wear Nike trainers, therefore you are worth something. You cannot afford Nike trainers, therefore you are not worth anything. Although it is not always as black and white as just described, this is ultimately what Macklemore is trying to emphasise. 

Through his final words "consumption is in the veins, and now I see it's just another pair of shoes." Macklemore comes to the realisation that consumerism has become a part of everyday life and has enabled people value the worth of others through what they wear, and ultimately what they can afford to buy. The lyrics in the song "I bought these dreams, that all fall down" emphasise that having material items isn't always going to make you happy, sometimes it actually causes you more difficulty and struggle.

Although he makes a very good point through his lyrics, the music video completely contradicts the song, throughout showing young boys wearing a range of Nike shoes, and also groups of people sat in front of a shop with the Nike slogan "Just Do It." Although this is not necessarily presenting the brand in a positive light, it is still featured in a pop song which has been watched by nearly 50million viewers.

The story of bottled water

A video made discussing the difference between tap and bottled water, the ethical differences, and why people tend to purchase bottled water instead of using tap via the use of advertising.

Company social responsibility

Creating a community of designers across the globe, informing them at the "Big Thing" interview as stated below helped designers of the new age come to the see how their designs are coming to light in the environmentally conscious world. Talks and interviews like these make huge impacts on a global scale to help the world become a better and more cleaner place for us to live in.

During a “Big Think” interview with designer Milton Glaser says that the ultimate challenge for designers is to create beautiful, not just sustainable, design. Glaser believes that we respond to beauty as a species; beauty is the means by which we move towards the attentiveness that protects our species as a survival mechanism. Glaser thinks that ultimately it’s the responsibility of the graphic designer to inform and delight by creating beautiful designs. Social responsibility in graphic design has advocates in both the private sector and the public sector, in large organizations and small, and on an individual basis. Since 1942 the Ad Council has been addressing critical social issues. Campaigns like “Rosie the Riveter,” “Smokey the Bear,” and “Crash Test Dummies” have delivered critical messages to the American public. A private, non-profit organization, the Ad Council uses volunteer talent from the advertising and communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the resources of the business and non-profit communities. Graphic designers like Tibor Kalman prodded fellow designers to take responsibility for their work as designer-citizens. Throughout his career he urged designers to question the effects of their work and refuse to accept any client’s product at face value. Kalman inspired graphic designers to use their work to increase public awareness of a variety of social issues. Across the globe as well as on an individual level, graphic designers are being challenged to create work that’s socially responsible. Read about “Water for India,” an example of teaching social responsibility.

Buy Nothing Day

It's time to lock up your wallets and purses, cut up your credit cards and dump the love of your life - shopping. 

Saturday November 29th 2014 is Buy Nothing Day (UK). It's a day where you challenge yourself, your family and friends to switch off from shopping and tune into life. The rules are simple, for 24 hours you will detox from shopping and anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending! 

Everything we buy has an impact on the environment, Buy Nothing Day highlights the environmental and ethical consequences of consumerism. The developed countries - only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth's natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage, and an unfair distribution of wealth.

One day a year is dedicated to stop purchasing goods and focus on reality, changing your lifestyle for just one day. The day makes you question what you buy and to challenge the companies who produce them. Consuming less is for the better and by taking part in this day is a great way to start it.