Scott Ballum

Scott Ballum is an entrepreneur and sustainable business advocate, founder of the graphic design studio Sheepless Co., and the magazine website Sheepless.org.

Scott is recognized for writing on the intersection of creativity and social responsibility as it applies to design, consumerism, and entrepreneurship. He is a contributing writer to The Huffington Post and PSFK, and his editorial work has recently been featured in Objects-Journal of Applied Arts (Germany), LINO Magazine (Australia), Resurgence (UK), and ChangeThis.com.

Previously, Scott created ConsumeRevolution, a self-published magazine exposing a growing complacency with globalization and consumerism and offering viable alternatives to a “mass-produced” lifestyle—which later prompted the ConsumeReconnection Project, a year-long online journal about his efforts to meet the laborers and craftsmen who made everything he bought, with a focus on traceability, buying local, and conscious consumption. These endeavors have been featured in GOOD Magazine, Adbusters, Resurgence (UK), Step Inside Design, and All Things Considered on NPR, among others.

Recent design projects include work for the Art Directors Club, School of Visual Arts, Parrish Art Museum, MIX Film Festival, and the Brooklyn Food Coalition. Scott was previously a Senior Designer at C&G Partners–creating identity projects for Signature Theatre Company and Alhurra Television Network, among others–and Design Director for Housing Works, Inc. Scott has received design awards from the Art Directors Club, GD USA, and the School of Visual Arts.

He is a proud and active alumnus of SVA, and member of the Freelancers Union and the Common Spaces cooperative work space. Scott splits his time between Brooklyn, NY, and San Diego, CA.

 
Recent Contributions
Short
March 9, 2010
Emily Green moved to Lima, Peru in August 2008 to start a business, without a real idea of what it was going to be or how it was all going to work out.
Short
March 1, 2010
Story contributed by Eric Bos.Last July, in a neighborhood far away from any cultural institution, a coalition of 14 young artists created Open Space, a gallery and performance space aiming to...
Feature
February 12, 2010
It was quite remarkable to get a personal shout-out from the President of the United States last week. Amidst the ovations--some bi-partisan and some quite partisan--I heard a President say that it...
Short
February 3, 2010
A Special Announcement from the American Independent Buisiness Alliance: Locally-owned independent businesses outperform average retailer sales during 2009 holidays. Those with active Buy Local...
Feature
January 14, 2010
The Linkery in San Diego’s North Park is one of the hottest, if not the most recommended, farm-to-table, high caliber restaurant around. But if owner Jay Porter were in the same position now as he...
Short
January 10, 2010
Sometimes it feels like you just lucked out and cold-called the right guy. I just came back from lunch with Nate Benedetto, the founder and publisher of San Diego's Urbanist Guide, and I can't...
Feature
January 4, 2010
I am excited and humbled by the extent to which Sheepless.org continues to grow, thanks to a wonderful team of contributors. I'm inspired to double my own efforts in 2010, and invite all of our...
Short
December 21, 2009
Every startup, one way or another, is born when someone with a vision sees an opportunity for innovation and economic sustainability where others haven’t. What makes the founders of Madécasse unique...
Short
December 14, 2009
Story contributed by Krissie NagyWhile now might be a bad time for real estate agents, Brooklyn-based Realty Collective seems to be doing just fine, thank you. In fact, they're doing so well that...
Short
December 11, 2009
Story contributed by Nicole BorawskiIn less than 2 years since inception, Holstee is acquiring fans and recognition for its eco-friendly, socially driven apparel line. What began as a pet project in...
Feature
December 10, 2009
Giorgio Armani tried to kill Fabrice Penot. At least, it seems his business almost did. A perfume designer, Fabrice worked for years on the House of Armani brand. But even though he was brought in to...
Short
December 9, 2009
Although Electric Literature has been on my to-do list for a few months now, I admit that the vague notion I had of what they were about was extremely naive and limited. We've all see literary...
Feature
November 17, 2009
My partner and I have an ongoing debate about identity, and the possibility of being aware enough of how we’ve constructed our own identity to be able to change it. This gets particularly messy when...
Short
November 13, 2009
Brook Sarson claims to not be a business person. Nor a plumber, or a landscape architect, for that matter. She's just someone who cares deeply about the lack of smart water resources in San Diego...
Short
November 11, 2009
This past Saturday night, I was lucky enough to be a part of an amazing community event in the South Park neighborhood of San Diego. Though their businesses approach social and environmental issues...
Short
November 4, 2009
We've been following, and wearing, the work of David Rau and Josh Bertrand, two artists in Tampa, Florida, for many years, and have been intrigued by these guys who seem to make art, trouble, and...
Feature
November 3, 2009
Chefs in St. Louis like him because they can serve fresh Mahi-Mahi just 24 hours out of the water. A single-boat fisherman in the Bering Sea likes him because he now has a national market and...
Short
October 30, 2009
I first encountered Counter, the East Village organic vegetarian bar and bistro, while tracing back my food habits and options during my year of consuming conciously.  One of my favorite vendors...
Short
October 23, 2009
To a certain subsect of its residence, Taliah Lempert's bicycle paintings and prints are as close to a symbol of Brooklyn as there is. Bold, handcrafted, and diverse, with a slightly imperfect charm...
Feature
October 19, 2009
It is surprising to find myself as a graphic designer in the seemingly irreconcilable position of having more interest in discussing socially and politically relevant work than the relevancy of...