As part of its Design Field Guide series, Rockport Publishers just released SustainAble: A Handbook of Materials and Applications for Graphic Designers and Their Clients. We first heard about SustainAble from the folks at Mohawk Fine Papers. Mohawk Options 100% postconsumer waste paper was chosen for the book. And get this, the makeready sheets were used as covers (that’s what we call sustainable!) so no two are alike. Sounds like a collector’s item too.

There’s real praise for author Aaris Sherin who as a designer, writer and educator seems to have gotten to the heart of the issue of sustainability in the areas of paper, printing, formats, materials, inks and execution in a way that people find helpful. She is currently assistant professor of graphic design at St. John’s University in Queens, New York, where she teaches both history and studio classes.

Bottom line: SustainAble demystifies the processes and methodology needed to achieve sustainable design solutions and is a practical resource for future-thinking graphic designers.