This exceptional video story has been online for several months, but it takes on new meaning in light of the current financial distress here in North America. Ms. Leonard has a particularly clear take on the system of consumption that is gobbling up our resources at an astounding rate. This has broad implications for our society, and especially for the field of design.

So much of design is about finding compromises. Sometimes it’s simple trade offs such as strength vs. weight. With systems thinking like this, the questions become more challenging: how to design so that we consume less? How can design lower our negative impacts on the environment? Can our designs be produced sustainably?

With increasing awareness and emphasis on green design, I’m making this the first of a new category here on this blog. Stay tuned for more!

The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard.