We were briefed on the possible routes we could take, and I selected the path of creating a more visually engaging version of a climate document. We were encouraged, via the brief, to take a look at not just legislation from governments, but also from organisations and higher education institutes, such as UAL.
Expecting to find an innovative and creative plan to address climate change, we were disappointed to find out that the climate action plan had little to no substance, and the substance that was in the document, was buried deep within.
The UAL Climate Action Plan unfortunately was a greenwashed document. It was filled up with stories that were seemingly unrelated to climate change, projects that didn’t reduce carbon, and overall had no sense of urgency or desire to act on hard-hitting measures that could mitigate CO2 expulsion.
Instead of pivoting to a more positive document, we decided to be the proverbial change we wanted to seek with the UAL climate action plan. We thought that if we could raise awareness of what’s going on within this action plan, we could put pressure on the powers that be to enact a change.
The zine “UAL: CLIMATE (RE)ACTION PLAN” is the result.
By isolating key phrases and words we emphasised how empty the language used in this document can be.
We included scraps from the swap shop and GCD’s scrap pile and created 6 unique versions of the zine, emphasising sustainability and evidencing re-usage and re-imagination of trash. We printed on scrap paper from CSM’s publications workshop and in black and white, again emphasising that design can be made interesting when considered in a low-carbon way.