Hello, long time no talk. It has been a while that I have been trying to find ways to share with my colleagues and students my concerns about the impact designers have on the planet. And here I am talking about the direct environmental trace we are leaving behind us, yes, even us digital designers. In the wake of Greta Thunberg's revolution, it looks like the subject is finally getting some global traction out there. Yesterday I was at the IXDD (FITC) event to listen to keynote speaker Gabriel White (Small Surfaces) followed by a rich panel of experts. Still I find that designers focus too much on the products and services they design (whether for social good or environmental advocacy) but I am still troubled by the fact that there's no conversation about the impact of the process of design and the production of waste (real or digital). Energy consumption, e-waste and massive storage facilities, what if we started to do like the clothing firm Patagonia, and ensure the entire supply chain shares our values? I am urging my fellow designers out there to think very seriously about the impact they have when designing and the trace they are leaving behind them. We all have to do our part in making this world a better, liveable and sustainable one. Starting right now.
Our responsibility as designers
Updated: Sep 26, 2019