Designer activist celebrates five years in business
Environmental campaigner and brand designer
Mark Epton is celebrating five years of running Advocate, a branding and graphic
design consultancy, working with high profile ethical organisations.
Mark says:
‘Whilst studying graphic design at
university I became interested in environmental issues. A typical student thing to do perhaps, but
unlike most students who sell out on their first day in the real world, I’m still fighting
the good fight, using design as my weapon.
The formative event for me and 1,000’s of
others was the Newbury road protest in 1996. Having taken direct action to end road
building madness, I couldn’t leave university and apply my design skills for consumerist and
materialistic ends. There is a world to save – so why should I waste my time helping to
sell crap which no one really wants?
Since ’96, Newbury and leaving uni, I’ve
work for organisations who add something to the common good. I’ve worked in-house as
a graphic designer for the Centre for Alternative Technology, Wildfowl &
Wetlands Trust and Gaia Books before joining a small design agency working for arts
organisations such as Rambert Dance Company and the Barbican art gallery.
I set up Advocate five years ago to allow
me to work for organisations I’m excited about. My high profile ethical clients enjoy the
greater knowledge, insight and commitment I bring to their projects and I enjoy ‘doing
my bit’. I’ve continued to take non-violent direct
action to stop environmental crimes.
I believe there is a consist thread underpinning my
life and work – from chaining myself to a crane to stop the import of illegally logged
hardwood to rebranding a renewable electricity supplier – that ensures that
I’m passionate about my clients success.
How many designers can honestly say that?’
January 16th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Thanks for this great review! This gives me additional inspiration for my vegan waffle party website. I wonder if we’ll be able to get Booja Booja vegan ice cream in the U.S. anytime soon! We currently make something like this at home, based upon Jeff Rogers’ “Vice Cream” recipes.
-Dave Wheitner, Life Coach/Consultant