Ken Wilson

The Mohawk Group posed the question, “What does green mean?” on April 26, at its CEU credit seminar “Green Matters: From Precedent to Practice.” Ken Wilson, leading “green” designer and founder of Envision in Washington D.C., spoke regarding the how and why of sustainable design, while Leatrice Eisman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, informed attendees of the history and evolution of the color green.

“Sustainability is the new standard for good design,” Wilson said. “Long-term value rather than initial cost should be a main consideration.”

He noted the best approach to pitching green projects is to be straightforward— educate and be honest. Another piece of advice Wilson gave to take steps in becoming green is to start with products. “If you don’t want to eat Ben & Jerry’s every night, don’t keep it in the freezer. The same is true with ordering, stocking and using strictly green products.”