RISD grad named Rising Star Innovator

Design Awareness founder and Ecolect's co-founder, Matt Grigsby, makes sustainable design achievable

So in 2005, when both were graduating from RISD, [Ecolect co-founder Joe] Gebbia with a double major bachelor’s degree in graphic design and industrial design and Grigsby with a bachelor’s degree in industrial design, they began working on an online clearinghouse for sustainable materials.

They decided to make it a free Web site that users, namely anyone in the design community, including designers, architects, developers, contractors and students, could register on and contribute new materials, write reviews and blog.

It is a unique concept, Grigsby said. The only similar option they could find is a company called Material ConneXion, which charges a $200 annual fee to use its online database.

Grigsby and Gebbia have been privately funding the project, but they are looking for sponsors.

Full Story: Making it easier to pick sustainable materials Source: Providence Business News, October 1st, 2007