We sat down with Aaron Moore, principal and creative director of Orange Element to talk about the Baltimore based Design Firm’s banner. We took a few minutes to ask him about design, the community, and the future of Baltimore, and for the first time ever, we’ve revealed the banner here! You can see Orange Element’s banner up starting April 11, 2008 and you can pre-order this banner as a bag, a poster, or a t-shirt!

Don’t forget:

April 11 - June 27, 2008

Today’s Prize: A free UFP t-shirt

Oh, I almost forgot! Last Thursday we participated in Focus the Nation at Johns Hopkins and Maryland Institute College of Art . Focus the Nation is an educational initiative that promotes civic engagement. On January 31, thousands of colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, places of worship, civic organizations and businesses took part in this amazing event to raise awareness about global warming solutions.

The Tilt team split into two groups. Denise and Mike went to Johns Hopkins and gave a powerpoint presentation on TreeBaltimore and how their initiative of increasing the tree canopy will help our local environment. Danny, Jess and Hayley went to MICA to talk with students about the Urban Forest Project and how they can take part in our volunteer opportunities with the UFP.

I want to send out a special thank you to Jenn Tucker for volunteering her time in this event! We had a great response and are more excited as each day passes because our UFP team is ever expanding!

Check out these videos about Focus the Nation here! This and other initives like it are popping up all over the country and its so great to be a part of it! We want you to be a part of it too.

Holy Man! Jess here! I cannot believe all the amazing submissions that we had for banners. Danny has been mailing everyone in our office sneak peaks of all the designs. I must say… I think I need to buy a bag! I know. I know. I am already a bag lady but these are one of a kind pieces of art that relate to an amazing cause and the designs are just so cool.

I also need to thank all the wonderful teachers out there that took the challenge to bring the Urban Forest Project into their classrooms. We received a whooping 240 banner designs from K-12 students! You all Rock!

Ethan Pronovost from Park School created this awesome tree for his banner! Look for these banners on display throughout the exhibition in Druid Hill Park!

Hey everyone, Denise here! We’re just so psyched about Baltimore’s enthusiasm for the Urban Forest Project . Your energy pours forth everyday with so many people calling, emailing, dropping in – they want to know how they can help the UFP be an awesome experience. The answer is simple – and very cool too. Be a UFP sponsor!!!

Check this out. The UFP tells the story of trees – and why we need more of them. During the UFP, you will see “trees” throughout Baltimore that are created from banners on poles. Now imagine a real tree in it’s place. How easy it is to see the difference made by one single tree! The real difference is of course what it does for our environment, but wow, to be surrounded by them is truly visually inspiring.

Be a sponsor. You help us “plant” the UFP trees by sponsoring the banners that are hung on the poles. Each banner displays the banner sponsor’s name on the bottom (see below)! How amazing it will feel to see YOUR NAME there!!! And you know all your friends will want to check it out. Your contribution pays for the banner to be printed and then, when the UFP ends, all proceeds are donated to TreeBaltimore - which plants REAL trees throughout the city!

Sponsor a banner now! Save a tree and make your contribution online. You’ll see all the other ways you can help too. One of the best ways, always, is to tell your friends and employers to help too. Be sure to ask your neighborhood businesses for their support!

This movement towards growing greener is happening everyday because you truly care. And so do we. Thank you for sponsoring the UFP and creating change!