Episode 3 – Deep Dive series
This episode references Climify’s Episode 10 – We Need to Break the Wheel with Ruth McElroy Amundsen & Alden Cleanthes
In this episode, we talk about design thinking and, more broadly, design systems. We’ve found that design thinking is far removed from what we do at our day jobs at an agency and freelancing, since our jobs move so quickly. We wonder if there’s a way to speed up design thinking to bring it into an agency lifestyle, so that we can start building products and services that are truly impactful for both the people and planet. But we don’t just limit the conversation to design thinking. We also touch on design systems: what a design system is, how a design system can effectively create change, and what educators can do to translate design thinking and design systems for their students. Educators can use real businesses in their communities as examples, asking students to contribute to a business’s sustainability model while maintaining profits and ensuring all parties – the consumers, the business, and the planet – can benefit.
Resources
Design Thinking and Sustainability - How to Develop Innovations for Our Common Future
re-nourish.org/systems-thinking
Listen to this episode on: Spotify, Apple, Google and other places you get your podcasts
Special thanks to Noun Project for help with our episode artwork; Solar by MadexMade, Cycle by Alessandro Curci, Ruler by DinosoftLab
Deep Dive is a Climify miniseries that explores opportunities for climate education through the eyes of recent design students. As new grads now working the 9-to-5, we’ll discuss themes centering around climate design and what educators can do to approach these topics. The classroom needs to see more intersectionality between design and climate, and we’re here to advocate for that.
About our hosts
Rachel Cifarelli
Rachel is a freelance graphic designer and researcher using her skills to support and uplift those who are making the world a more sustainable place.
She received her B.A. in communication design from Elon University, where she realized she was actually good at designing content more extensive than birthday cards. Rachel also always knew she was an environmentalist, but it took her a long time to figure out how to blend these two passions of design and sustainability together. It wasn't until she discovered Climate Designers that she saw a whole new career path unfold in front of her, one where she could make a living doing something she loves. Today Rachel works with environmentally-minded organizations and businesses on projects like branding, fact sheets, promotional materials, and digital assets. Some of her clients include Sierra Club, Bedford 2030, and Brooklyn Organic Kitchen.
Rachel is also a researcher working on New Wave, a joint project with Climate Designers. What originally started as a class project during undergrad has grown into a sponsored research project that has garnered lots of support and participation. The goal of this research is to inform design educators how student designers understand sustainability in the design field and how they might like to see sustainability incorporated into their design curriculum. She wants to be part of establishing the climate design education in undergraduate universities that she never got from her own.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys reading, taking walks around her neighborhood, and visiting the best local eateries and breweries in her town.
linkedin.com/in/rachelcifarelli
Grace Turcich
Grace is a Chicago-based graphic designer working at a marketing agency. She earned her BFA from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Graphic Design. Since Grace’s transition from a full-time student to a full-time employee, she wants to know what else she can do for the climate. As a new climate designer, she is constantly learning how design and climate are intersectional. Grace hopes to discover new ways of learning, how to challenge the status quo, and become part of the solution within the fight for climate action.
In her freetime, when she is not fighting for the planet, Grace is painting nail art, hiking, and baking a new recipe.
Follow Grace’s climate design blog on instagram @unearthclimatedesign and her website grace-turcich.com.
instagram.com/unearthclimatedesign
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