Design Research

Develpment Project

Juliana Schneider, Alumna MA 2022, Trends & Identity, Ecology & Sustainability Design

The project, "Climate-Centered Design – A guided journal for taking action," stems from the master project "Designing for More than Human Futures," recognizing design's role in the climate crisis. It aims to create a practical tool to inspire action and agency among aspiring designers.

The project recognizes that design contributes to the challenges in the climate crisis. Climate change can be overwhelming, with doomsday scenarios creating a sense of individual powerlessness. Being a socially and environmentally responsible designer is difficult nowadays, as they face the paradox of challenging the status quo while economically sustaining themselves. However, concrete steps for action are often lacking.

The project aims to translate theoretical research into a practical tool for design students, motivating them to take action and fostering a sense of agency. In the form of a "guided journal," a first prototype is being developed to establish a guide for taking action.