The One Off: Sustainable Design

Our Promise
Launching TOO Green is the start of a journey working to re-engineer they way we do things internally and delivering sustainable design solutions for our clients.

We are not advocating we are perfect, but working together we can become more responsible at having a positive impact on our environment by trying to do the right thing, Read more about sustainable design.

The way we work
We strive to do business in a more enlightened way, where we take responsibility for the impact our business has on society and the environment.

As part of delivering effective sustainable design solutions, we aim to consider either recycled, recyclable or sustainable materials.

Partners & Suppliers
We also look to work with partners and suppliers who share our commitment to making social and environmental improvements.

Working in collaboration with Loughborough University we are developing a unique eco tool bespoke for 2D design solutions.

The tool will allow us to evaluate environmental decisions throughout every stage of the product life cycle to inform intelligent decisions. Placing everything into a sustainable context, enabling us to design with a clean green conscience and ultimately help you to be greener. "Working with TOO is really refreshing and has been the start of an insightful journey

developing a powerful eco-tool for the 2D design process. It's good to work with an agency that shares such a clear vision and wants to change the way we work for the better" Dr Lofthouse, Loughborough
University, Design School.

Hapé Eco-toys
In collaboration with Hapé International we have launched a new global range of environmentally friendly FSC certified toys to communicate the brands care for education, children and the environment. The tagline on the packaging reflects this commitment "Forming the Future".

The range includes designing the product, packaging, literature and website. The aim being to expand on Hapé’s current bamboo collection and create a stand-alone area within the Hapé offer, and raise awareness of preserving the world around us.

To acknowledge of this great project in 2009, The One Off were shortlisted in the Annual Green Awards, Best Green Packaging category for this outstanding project.

Hapé Eco-toys: Product Design
The team has designed and developed over 50 toys across three defined categories; creative play, classic games and babies toys.

All the products have been designed with the environment in mind using sustainable raw materials such as Bamboo and FSC – certified wood. Applying water-soluble pickles and lacquers wherever possible.

Glued connections are free of formaldehyde, which corresponds to the E1 standard and surface finishes with beeswax base.

Hapé Eco-toys: Packaging Design
The aim of the packaging was to create a suite of boxes that had a branded consistent feel across a range of different shapes and sizes. The inlays inside were specifically designed to reduce wasted space and ensure that the minimum amount of board was used.

The final range included over 50 boxes translated into 7 languages with product literature and instruction leaflets included.

Hapé Eco-toys: Photography
A series of one day shoots were commissioned for the packaging using a mix of children from 5 months to 7 years. The simple set allowed the toys to come to life through the children’s expressions.

The packaging is currently in production, and will be sold within the French retailer chain Carrefour who have taken the product range and will launch this autumn.

The London Orchard Project
This is a London based charity promoting orchards and fruit trees aimed as encouraging the pleasures of home grown fruit.

We were asked to define the
eco-friendly strategic direction, design and print for all promotional communications.

All brochures were printed on recycled paper and printed using vegetable based inks and sustainable coatings.

Argos
We were asked to design a reusable bag for Argos in order to help them reduce the amount of plastic bags
used by consumers and to promote environmental awareness throughout their business. We developed a wide range of concepts that could be used on different grades of recyclable and reusable materials.

Best Buy Hello Tomorrow
Working with global retailer Best Buy, launching their first UK store, we designed one of the customer experience areas “Green Technology”. This area actively promotes environmentally friendly behaviour, and the design aimed to be as socially responsible
as possible.

Materials were either sustainable, recycled or recyclable. The flooring was made from existing concrete slabs which were sealed, and cleaned. Material sheet sizes were defined to minimise waste and off cuts either re-used or recycled.

The manufacturing process was simplified so that nothing was bonded. Mechanical fixings were kept to a minimum and made from environmental grade wood.

Kathmandu
A flexible and impactful retail environment created using a minimum number of multi-purpose components. Designing items with dual functionality and with minimal processing and manufacturing, our goal: to minimalise the environmental impact.

Sustainable materials such as cork, rubber and indigenous FSC certified timbers, were sourced and procured locally, as well as energy efficient lighting. All merchandising systems were designed and constructed using untreated softwood, oak, and mild steel with a minimal lacquered finish.

Design features included; moveable plinths with interchangeable tops in cork and rubber, seating carved from locally rescued treetrunks, plywood floors with topographical lines, fitting rooms with eco wallpaper and printed materials on FSC paper with vegetable ink.

Kathmandu
A relaxed and approachable store full of personality for first time backpackers or hardcore travellers alike. The simple but flexible retail system has been pared right down to the bare essentials and provides a practical and easily navigated solution.

The mix of industrial and eco materials in an eclectic range of finishes creates a mood that sits perfectly with the technical knowledge and travelling expertise that is the Kathmandu brand.

By designing with efficiency, duality and functionality in mind, and by mixing natural materials with recycled and rescued pieces,TOO have created a unique store that proves a little can go a long way.

Design Council
We produced a direct mail piece to inspire, promote and support the Design Councils 'design fact finder' online tool. The piece displays facts taken from the tool, on how design can help businesses grow, as the pages are turned the die-cut
tree matures.

It was produced using recycled board with a minimum of 80%
de-inked post consumer waste, and printed on using waterless offset printers with vegetable oil
based inks.

Natural power
Natural Power are successful renewable energy consultants based in the UK but struggled to have the presence of a major player in the global arena.

We worked with Natural Power to reposition them as a global leader within the green energy market and prepare them for a series of acquisitions over the coming year.

Finding a partner that shared their green ethics was critical to our
relationship as Natural Power pride themselves on selecting partners that
are as passionate about the environment as they are.

Natural power
Celebrating the passion of their team and their refreshingly honest approach and style of the business was the focus for the brand refresh.

A new position, strapline, values set, tone of voice and identity principles were adopted and implemented throughout the business.