LJB Studio | Design Giving Magazine

posted by Amber Weaver June 20, 2018

We’re excited to present Manchester-based designer Laura Jane Boast who’s set to launch a new print magazine this summer, dedicated to designers and makers who are making a difference. We’ve all heard about ethical or ‘green’ design, but this designer wants to create a powerful platform and movement in order to encourage design that will improve people’s lives and generally be kinder to the planet.

‘Design Giving’, the annual publication will celebrate well-crafted products that inspire creativity, featuring both established and emerging designers, makers and manufacturers from various creative disciplines, including guest contributor and design icon, Lance Wyman.

As consumers, we are becoming more conscious of where products are made and what they are made from. As designers we are increasingly wanting to do our bit for the environment, but are often unaware of the possibilities and the changes we can make to our own process.

I always make a conscious decision to design things that have more meaning and become keepsakes rather than throwaway; using high-quality materials, designing for multi-use, producing less but better; being able to have a more social and environmental positive impact is really important to me, and my practice.

I want to celebrate independent designers and makers who create high-quality products that are the antithesis of throwaway, that carefully design to ensure less waste, support their local charities, and use materials with a lower environmental impact – with the aim to inspire a new generation of responsible design. It’s about sharing a passion for materials that make the world a better place to live, work and play.

Following a Kickstarter campaign, available July 2018, five percent of the proceeds from the first issue will go to Manchester Mind – an independent local charity dedicated to mental health.

Each volume of Design Giving magazine consists of four feature sections: ‘Design’ investigates designers’ meaningful rationales; ‘Thinking’ interviews designers and celebrates their working processes; ‘Thoughtful’ shares stories from a designer’s perspective and ‘Giving’ recommends useful material resources. Issue 1 of Design Giving magazine is perfect bound and has been produced using high-quality materials including FSC, recycled, acid-free and embossed paper stocks from G.F Smith. The cover has been hot stamped with gold foil.

You can review their campaign HERE.

Design Giving is sponsored by G.F Smith, WithPrint, Lost Heritage, FoilCo, Arrest All Mimics, Diginate, Streamtime, Bidbi, Lyme Bay Press, Tile Desire and Real Junk Food Manchester. To find out more about Design Giving, visit www.designgiving.co.uk