The UC Davis Design Museum announced a year of eco-exhibitions, with themes associated with environmental stewardship and social issues. Also, exhibit construction, installation and museum operations will incorporate green design, and sustainable practices and design research, according to a news release.

The first eco-exhibition on the calendar is Peace Begins Here, described as "powerful design reactions to simple but profound acts of hope."

Peace Begins Here is based on the book Peace: 100 Ideas, from Chen Design Associates of San Francisco. The book, according to a Chen Design Web site, www.peace100ideas.com, "explores simple ways to promote peace through a combination of text and original artwork." The Web site further states: "Conceptually layered, the book challenges readers to rethink previous perceptions and re-examine their roles as members of an extended community."

For the UC Davis exhibit, 11 pages from the book have been reproduced in large format. Organizers said designs also will be exhibited on T-shirts and messenger bags, and all 100 designs will be displayed on a looping video. The exhibit is set to open Sept. 27 and run through Nov. 25. An artist talk is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 7 in Everson Hall, followed by a reception at the museum. The talk and reception are free and open to the public.

As planned, the exhibit will not be confined to the museum. The goal is to spread the message of peace throughout the Davis community, reaching even those people who may not normally travel to the museum, said John Fulton, exhibition coordinator for the museum. "The message is so current that it was obvious to us to have the exhibition in more then one place," he said.

So, if you are downtown at night, look for about 80 of the designs as they are projected on an outside wall of the Varsity Theatre (616 Second St.). Also look for 40 of the designs in poster form inside Unitrans buses. Davis Community Television plans to show slides of all 100 designs during the community bulletin hour.

Fulton said large-format reproductions also may be put on display in Davis businesses.

The year's other eco-exhibitions:

• GreenStop -- Visionary designs for a self-sustainable rest stop, highlights from an international competition to select a design for a self-sustainable and "off-the-grid" rest stop along Highway 99 in Tulare County, in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Jan. 3-March 9. Information: www.greenstopdesign.com.
• Design by Design -- Juried student exhibition. This annual installation, timed to coincide with Picnic Day, is described as a lively survey of student talent and creativity that reflects the multidisciplinary breadth of the Design Program's coursework. April 7-19.
• Fashion Conscious -- "Designs that will change the world one garment at a time." This exhibition will explore sustainability and how it relates to the clothes we buy, from the ecological impact of eco-friendly textiles to the re-evaluation of industrial manufacturing.May 15-July 13.

More information: (530) 752-6223 or designmuseum.ucdavis.edu.