Many Nike displays, be they at retail or otherwise, take a substantial amount of materials to create. The lifetime of these displays can be relatively short— ranging from a few hours to, at best, several months. At the end of the exhibit’s lifespan, most of the materials used to construct it are recycled where possible, but a lot can still end up in the trash.
Nike is all about taking on innovative challenges. So, our Department of Nike Archives (DNA), a team responsible for exhibits at our World Headquarters (WHQ) near Beaverton, Ore., stepped up and worked to create a more sustainable solution with a new installation.
This past January (2008), the team installed its newest exhibit, Nike Training in WHQ’s Prefontaine Hall. “We wanted to see if we could reduce material use and ensure that the materials we did use were easily recyclable,” said Chuck Eichten, DNA Design Director. And they did.
There were three central components to the exhibit’s promotional pieces and live installation that the DNA team looked at to reduce their carbon footprint: recycling, cardboard and design. The first, and simplest, step in the process: reuse any previous DNA exhibit showcases already developed with this function in mind.
Secondly, virtually the entire exhibit (other than secure cases used to display archival materials) was created using standard cardboard materials. Cardboard is an inexpensive material composed of recycled paper and can be sourced locally. All graphics were printed directly onto the cardboard substrate using UV inks. By printing the graphics directly to the cardboard, the DNA team eliminated the process of laminating or adhering a printed substrate onto a more substantial or stiffer backer material. Lamination typically renders most materials unrecyclable. After the exhibit is over, these printed cardboard pieces can be recycled. The UV inks used to print the graphics have an advantage over more common solvent-based inks. They do not involve hazardous chemicals in their production.
Finally, the cardboard graphics were designed in such a way that they could be used to construct the displays themselves. In most cases, no additional construction materials beyond a small amount of tape or glue were needed. All of the DNA Training exhibits in the building display cases around the WHQ campus were also designed this way. They were literally pieced together, picked up and placed into the case. Puzzle solved.
“All goes to show what can happen if we, as designers, accept the challenge to consider alternatives to conventional ways of thinking. It won't be the last sustainable effort from DNA,” said Eichten. “Interesting, that as we look back and reflect on where we've been—a key part of our job in DNA—we can look at how we can change and evolve to meet the challenges, even global life-altering challenges, of the future.”