Sustainability, a buzz-word in current planning, has vague or conflicting definitions because it shines light upon the crux of the ongoing philosophical debate humans have about their relationship with, reliance upon, and stewardship for the natural environment. This book focuses on extending our definitions and philosophical understanding of a comprehensive sustainable community through the creation of a highly visual, hand drawn, educational guide and workbook.

 

The book focuses on core concepts of resiliency and flexibility, as well as other inherent qualities of a sustainable community, as a reflection of the natural world’s ever-changing systems. The book's concepts and definitions are created based on extensive research of sustainability tools, theories, interviews, frameworks, indicator sets, and my own knowledge and intuition. 

 

Most of the sustainability tools currently available address only one or two facets of a sustainable community. I have created an educational tool that strives to comprehensively define the qualities that a sustainable community may encompass. The book combines infrastructural indicators and goals with suggestions for behavioral change and policy and governmental action. Due to the cyclical, “chicken or the egg” nature of behavioral and collective consciousness growth, infrastructure changes, and policy and plan updates, each are viewed as equally important in this tool; they work simultaneously within a community to expedite the evolution of continuing to define our healthy relationship with the "natural" world.

 

The book will be published and may include multiple editions including a toolkit, workbook series, and customized posters. The content will serve as an educational tool for planners, citizens, or anyone who would like to learn more about sustainability in their community. 

 

Book created with:

Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Microsoft Office (as well as hand-drawings).