In 2007 Worldstudio designed a logo for the new Times Square Alliance’s event taking place a few days before the start of the new year. Each year Good Riddance Day has grown in popularity as people worldwide embrace the notion of documenting then destroying bad memories or artifacts from the previous year and looking forward to the future. As quoted on CNN.com Lori Raimondo, Vice President of Marketing for the Times Square Alliance, hopes that Good Riddance Day will one day become a national holiday. Watch a short video from the event on BBC News.

With the first in a series of planned executions of The Urban Forest Project recently launching in Albuquerque, Fast Company explores the history, genesis and future of the initiative. Focusing on Worldstudio’s expertise in creating and implementing socially-responsible projects and programs for corporations and non-profits, the article uses The Urban Forest Project as a case study to follow Worldstudio’s process in helping their clients connect to key constituencies in lasting and meaningful ways. The article, written by Alissa Walker, was published as part of The Designers Accord case study series.

To learn more about how Worldstudio can engage with your organization to concept and execute grassroots programs unique to your CSR platform, and/or upcoming opportunities to sponsor The Urban Forest Project in Toledo, OH, San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC, contact Andréa Pellegrino or Mark Randall.

Once the banners come down, they will be recycled into unique tote bags designed exclusively for the project and sold at local Whole Foods Markets. Sales from the bags will benefit Tree New Mexico to support their tree planting efforts in Albuquerque and their mission to “keep New Mexico clean, beautiful and healthy.” The project would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors including: Lithexcel, Mesa Del Sol, PNM, Wells Fargo and Whole Foods Market.

Worldstudio has been working in collaboration with the City of Albuquerque, Tree New Mexico, Open Space Visitor Center and the Albuquerque Biological Park to get the project off the ground. Albuquerque is the first in a series of planned executions, with projects being planned in San Francisco, Toledo and Washington, DC next year.

The Urban Forest Project, conceived by Worldstudio and developed in conjunction with AIGA NY and Times Square Alliance, was first executed in New York’s Times Square in the fall of 2006. To learn more about the project, please visit the global site or contact Andréa Pellegrino.

Core77, has tapped into a diverse group of contributors to publish Hack2Work, a collection of essential advice and tips for design professionals. With articles on topics ranging from process to staffing to client relationships, Hack2Work offers something for everyone – including a piece outlining tips for funding social change projects from Worldstudio’s Andréa Pellegrino.

The article presents several case studies of projects implemented by designers that set precedent for creating a sustainable market for socially responsible design including John Bielenberg’s Project M, INDEX and AIGA’s Designing Water’s Future and Worldstudio’s Design Ignites Change and Create! Don’t Hate.

The article also gives tips on what you can do right now. Here is a summary of Mark’s steps to launching your own project to ignite change:

1. Find your passion

2. Start local

3. Go beyond the obvious

4. Find partners, build a coalition

5. Be realistic

6. Raise some cash

7. Execute

8. Measure success

9. Spread the word

Reprinted with permission by Communication Arts, ©2009 Coyne & Blanchard, Inc. All rights reserved. www.commarts.com

Current pride flag and new flag designs by Nina Mettler (middle) and Tom Koken (right).

The rainbow flag was designed in 1978 for a gay parade in San Francisco and over the last 30 years it has become the global symbol for gay pride. If the flag were designed in 2009, how would it look? Kurt Andersen of Studio 360 invited Worldstudio (as well as listeners) to come up with a 21st-century pride flag.

Studio 360 recorded the entire design process from a brainstorming session to interviewing people on the street to the final design presentation for their weekly radio show. Click below to listen to Kurt Andersen interview Mark Randall as they discuss the project and new flag designs, from modifications on the existing rainbow to DIY concepts.

See a slideshow of Worldstudio’s flag concepts or download the full PDF presentation. Over 3,000 people voted online for their favorite new pride flag design. The white flag with gradient rainbow ring was the clear winner. Isaac Mizrahi chose the winning listener submission, an American flag with only six stars representing the states that currently allow gay marriage.

The flag redesign project was written about on The Daily Heller, Core77 and in Design Week magazine. While there has been some criticism about trying to replace a historic symbol of the gay community, almost all recognize the exercise as valuable and relevant to reflect on culture and the progress of the gay movement.

For more information on this project and Worldstudio, contact Andréa Pellegrino.

The full results of the flag project will be aired nationwide this weekend on Studio360.

Flickr: Moktoipas

We’re all for gay pride… but rainbows are so…1978. Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen is asking Worldstudio (as well as listeners) to redesign the gay flag for the 21st century. Tune in the weekend of June 27th to learn about our design process and hear us present the new flag concepts. Check local listings for airtimes. Listen to the show’s promo here.