Max Erdenberger's poster: yours for a minimum $25 donation.
Just when you thought the world might be suffering from disaster fatigue after a number of successive catastrophes, along comes a disaster of such immense proportions that we are compelled to dig even deeper into our pockets. The earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis that hit Japan has been the catalyst for individuals, NGOs, charitable organizations and companies to raise money and move supplies to Japanese relief agencies — everything from crates of instant ramen to tents, toothbrushes, blankets, batteries, water purification tables and full-body radiation suits. Even for the world’s third-wealthiest nation, one that prides itself on self-sufficiency and has extraordinary disaster-response capabilities, assistance is needed (although the Japanese were at first typically reluctant to ask for it).
The easiest way to give is to donate directly to major organizations including:
—American Red Cross
—UNICEF
—Habitat for Humanity
—Architecture for Humanity aims to raise $200,000 for reconstruction phase projects to carry out small-scale building efforts for local organizations.
Or if you want to get involved in a more creative way, the design community is pitching in with a truckload of inspired items for sale with proceeds going to relief aid. Think posters, T-shirts and even perfume. Retailers are raising money, too, by allotting a percentage of sales to relief agencies.
Here is a roundup of various campaigns, but there are many more out there. And please keep us informed about projects so we can update the list.
Handmade for Japan, an online auction of objects donated by artists and galleries, will be held March 24–27 through eBay. All proceeds will be donated to GlobalGiving for its relief efforts in Japan.
Heath Ceramics, in Sausalito, California, is donating 25 percent of all online sales to Architecture for Humanity’s relief program for Japan.
Lifestyle apparel company Nada has launched a fundraising campaign with T-shirts and similar items.
Parisian perfumer Libertin Louison has created a limited-edition lavender-based cologne dedicated to the Japanese village of Minami Sanriku that disappeared in the tsunami.
20x200 is selling the photograph Imperial Palace Gardens with Wall, Tokyo by Emily Shur with all proceeds donated to the Japan Society’s relief fund. Or just visit the Japan Society in New York, where 50 percent of all ticket and admission sales go to the organization’s Earthquake Relief Fund. The Society will also host a Concert for Japan on April 9th.
A beautiful screen-printed poster (a bold white cross inside the red circle of the Japanese flag) by Max Erdenberger, a designer at Wieden + Kennedy in Portland, is available for a minimum $25 donation.
This poster is also available, for a donation, from the graphic artists Astrid Stavro and Richard Sarson.
As is this one, from Paul Vickers in France.
And this one from David Vogin in Maryland.
Hide & Seek Clothing’s dramatic relief tee features a map of Japan with fractured rising sun symbol.
On March 26th the Shop for Japan campaign is open for business with participating retailers donating a percentage of their sales to recommended disaster relief charities in Japan.
The Behance Network, a creative professional platform, is continually expanding its gallery of work related to the disaster, some of which is for sale to help relief organizations.
The Society of Typographic Aficionados is organizing a project to raise funds to expedite relief efforts.
