The Viridian Movement, emerging from the Viridian Manifesto in 1998, championed a new paradigm for ecological design. Unlike traditional 'green' approaches often associated with pre-industrial aesthetics, Viridian advocated for a 'futuristic' and 'high-tech' environmentalism. It fostered innovation by proposing that sustainable design could be both stylish and technologically advanced, aiming to make eco-friendly products and solutions desirable rather than ascetic.

The movement was a direct response to climate change and the perceived limitations of existing environmental design. Its 'scenius' lay in bringing together the principles of cyberculture and environmentalism, leveraging the internet (via viridiandesign.org) to disseminate its vision and challenge designers to integrate smart design, clean energy, and advanced materials into a commercially appealing and ecologically responsible future.