Nice article Matthew. Totally agree that good causes need great design. I’m a brand identity designer that got interested in cause based businesses while working on a project for a non-profit. There are so many non-profits out there, most of them with little to no design appreciation. It’s a shame because good design gives you such an opportunity for differentiation.
As a result of that project, I started a blog called Giving Brands (http://www.givingbrands.com) that covers brands similar to TOMS that give back to the community in some way. Back to the roots is one of the brands featured. The goal is to turn people on to these great brands and to help inspire other entrepreneurs to start their own cause based business. One of the criteria for inclusion on the blog is that the product and brand be well designed.
There are no bad causes, but good design can make all the difference.
Hey Ian - thanks for the support! We just noticed that you’re hosting a back to the school section on your site. We’d love to work with you to get the word out about our new facebook campaign for which each picture someone posts on our facebook page of their fully-grown mushroom kit, we donate a kit & sustainability curriculum to an elementary school classroom of their choice! Thanks!
Thanks for championing the cause of great design for good causes. I find myself explaining the importance of this kind of thing to my clients every day. I’m going to link this article on my site (http://www.jaywall.com)
COMMENTS
BY Ian Vadas
ON August 2, 2011 03:40 PM
Nice article Matthew. Totally agree that good causes need great design. I’m a brand identity designer that got interested in cause based businesses while working on a project for a non-profit. There are so many non-profits out there, most of them with little to no design appreciation. It’s a shame because good design gives you such an opportunity for differentiation.
As a result of that project, I started a blog called Giving Brands (http://www.givingbrands.com) that covers brands similar to TOMS that give back to the community in some way. Back to the roots is one of the brands featured. The goal is to turn people on to these great brands and to help inspire other entrepreneurs to start their own cause based business. One of the criteria for inclusion on the blog is that the product and brand be well designed.
There are no bad causes, but good design can make all the difference.
BY Matthew Scharpnick
ON August 4, 2011 09:39 AM
Hey Ian, thanks for sharing your thoughts, and thanks for putting this resource together. It’s a great idea. I definitely will follow what you cover.
Matt
BY Nikhil
ON August 23, 2011 09:35 PM
Hey Ian - thanks for the support! We just noticed that you’re hosting a back to the school section on your site. We’d love to work with you to get the word out about our new facebook campaign for which each picture someone posts on our facebook page of their fully-grown mushroom kit, we donate a kit & sustainability curriculum to an elementary school classroom of their choice! Thanks!
BY Jaywall
ON March 12, 2012 06:24 PM
Matt & Nikhil,
I came across this article via: http://www.designingforgood.ca
Thanks for championing the cause of great design for good causes. I find myself explaining the importance of this kind of thing to my clients every day. I’m going to link this article on my site (http://www.jaywall.com)
Keep up the great work.