do good design
by David Berman, with foreword by Erik Spiekermann, Pearson/Peachpit
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How does design help choose presidents?
How has design thinking positioned the world’s most valuable companies?
Why does the U.S. economy struggle to compete?
Why do we really have an environmental crisis?
Design matters. Like never before.
Disarming the weapons of mass deception.
Design creates so much of what we see, what we use, and what we experience. In a time of unprecedented environmental, social, and economic crises, designers must choose what their young profession will be about: inventing deceptions that encourage more consumption – or helping repair the world.
Do Good Design is a call to action:
This book alerts us to the role design plays in persuading global audiences to fulfill invented needs.
The book then outlines a sustainable approach to both the practice and the consumption of design. All professionals will be inspired by the message of how we can feel better and do better while holding onto our principles.
In a time where anything has become possible, design thinking offers a way forward for us all.
Today, everyone is a designer.
And the future of civilization is our common design project. What will you do?
This site is about the book, the pledge that professionals can make, and stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in their professional lives to create good.
Paper vs. electronic: There are 4 ways to enjoy the book:. 1. Paper 2. Accessible PDF 3. View online at Safari.peachpit.com
Instructors and media: Request an instructor or media review copy Press release (Word .doc) [Join our classroom guide wiki]
To publish an excerpt or interview David, contact publicist Laura Pexton (+1-510-558-4166).
Latest New Language
Buy the Spanish edition of Do Good Design
Contact us to buy the editions in other languages.
Book News
October 1, 2018
Third edition of the English book is released (ISBN 9780988121553), printed in Djakarta (read why in the new edition)! Available on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, from our store at davidberman.com/store … or wholesale from us as well!
October 19, 2016
Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and David Berman swap Do Good ideas!
June 13, 2013
Ethics in Graphic Design blog: “Take the Pledge” or download the blog 
[998 kb]
April 22, 2013
Design Edge Canada news about 2013 Edition Earth Day launch: New ‘Do Good Design’ edition sports eco-friendly pages or download the interview [148 kb]
April 22, 2013
Interview on Felt & Wire blog: David Berman wants to help you “Do Good Design” or download the interview [2,365 kb]
April 22, 2013
Press Release: Mohawk Paper Featured in Re-Release of Do Good Design
April 15, 2013
Do Good Design 2013 English edition Earth Day press release
January 05, 2011
Indonesian and Korean editions of Do Good book launched.
December 07, 2010
Chinese edition of Do Good book launched.
April 18, 2010
Praise from Vint Cerf, Vice President, Google: “I found great resonance with your ideas.”
December 15, 2009
Do Good Design reviewed by influential Designboom blog
August 12, 2009
July 17, 2009
July 2009
Do Good Design reviewed in Eye Magazine #72 (online extract)
July 2009
Review in Communications Arts Magazine
June 2009
Do Good Design reviewed in Print Magazine, by Ellen Shapiro
March 23, 2009
Berman interviewed on CBC’s All In A Day (9 meg MP3 | 9 min, 40 sec)
March 22, 2009
Robert L. Peters reviews Do Good Design
March 18, 2009
March 6, 2009
Do Good Design excerpted at graphics.com
February 28, 2009
Do Good Design gets thumbs up from Noah Scalin at ALR
Febuary 3, 2009
Do Good Design gets rave review at Design Taxi
January 31, 2009
David podcast interview on Author Talk
January 11, 2009
Do Good Design in UK book stores
January 10, 2009
Do Good Design at Otto Architecture+Design
January 10, 2009
Do Good Design and Colalife: things go better…
January 8, 2009
Do Good Design on anamorphosis
January 8, 2009
Do Good Design Facebook group opens
January 8, 2009
Do Good Design headlines Icograda’s 1st enews of 2009
January 7, 2009
Ken Garland takes the Do Good Pledge
January 2, 2009
Peachpit’s official press release (Word .doc)
January 1, 2009
Do Good Design full review at IndustrialBrand.com
December 23, 2008
Do Good Design in Industry News on RGD Ontario Web site
December 18, 2008
Do Good Design pre-ships in the USA
December 16, 2008
Design Edge Web site features Do Good Design
December 14, 2008
CreativePro.com names Do Good Design the CreativePro Book of the Week
Bookstores (including higher education)
We supply bookstores directly. Send your purchase order, on 30-day terms (or credit card) via email to bookstores@davidberman.com .
Paperback ISBN (13-digit): 9780988121553 Price: US$29.99. (FYI, the 2013 edition ISBN number 9780321573209, published by Pearson, is now “Out of print”, as it has been replaced by the 2019 edition published by David Berman Communications.)
Ebook ISBN (13-digit): 978-0-9881215-6-0 Price: US$19.99 (sold either via “access cards” that we ship to you that ready for retail display … or we can work with your electronic delivery system)
Bookstore discount: 25% for 1 or more books.
Returns: Up to 3 months, store pays shipping, 0% restocking fee unless over 75% of the order returned.
Returns to: 340 Selby Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario Canada K2A 3X6.
Shipping: Provide us your Fedex account number if you would like us to ship to you via Fedex. Specify “air” versus “ground” shipping.
Libraries: Interested in finding a copy of Do Good Design at a local library? Search our listing at worldcat.org to locate a copy near you.
[…] I’ve learnt of the importance of doing design for good, not just good design after reading Do Good Design by David Berman. […]
[…] Do Good Design is structured in a way that questions creative directors, art directors, graphics designers, photographers and other creative pros on where they stand in an industry that is currently on an unsustainable path. Berman covers where we were fifty years ago in the world of branding, advertising and design, and where we are now. His comparisons show that while time and technology have rapidly changed our innovation and accountability, in some cases, has not kept up. Berman praises those who are trailblazers in sustainability and strategic design, and provides readers with questions that should be taken into consideration when deciding whether you will be part of the problem or become a viable solution. […]