Professionals who are involved in the design process should not feel overwhelmed by the scope and complexity of environmental issues. Rather, we should be asking how we can contribute to the process of sustainability. This booklet is intended to serve as a primer for a new discourse: a fundamental guide for assessing design and comunication. The booklet is being used in several design studio courses at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and is the basis of an academic course in environmental sustainability offered to all majors.