The Urban Forest Project began in New York as an AIGA sponsored banner display in Manhattan. The Banners were purposed to create dialog around both design and sustainability. Portland adopted the idea of The Urban Forest Project and soon the streets of Portland were adorned with Urban Forest banners voicing Portland’s own message of sustainability. This design uses common cultural landmarks of Portland’s built environment, and at the center of Portland’s soul, and the design, is an intrinsic harmony with our natural environment.

In the spirit of sustainability, the numerous banners were repurposed and crafted into courier bags. Queen Bee Designs in Portland did an incredible job crafting the bags. The bags were then sold, with proceeds benefiting Portland’s Friend’s of Trees. The idea became such a hit, the City of Portland decided to explore the idea of repurposing all the city’s banners.