Everything exists within systems, and anything we extract from the earth must ultimately return to it. As our world faces unprecedented challenges - from climate change and limited resources to economic instability and social inequality - our need for sustainable approaches is urgent. How can designers and artists create and engage with objects, materials, and systems in ways that are socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable? We begin to address this question through creative practice and scientific inquiry, shifting ‘sustainability’ from an abstract idea to a way of thinking, making, and doing. Using the framework of systems thinking, Sustainable Systems cultivates awareness of the interconnectedness between the many elements of the global environmental crisis. It highlights the crucial role of design in addressing sustainability and resilience. The course aims to create an emotional, empathetic and intellectual connection with the life forms and environments that bear the burden of our choices.

Everything exists within systems, and anything we extract from the earth must ultimately return to it. As our world faces unprecedented challenges - from climate change and limited resources to economic instability and social inequality - our need for sustainable approaches is urgent. How can designers and artists create and engage with objects, materials, and systems in ways that are socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable? We begin to address this question through creative practice and scientific inquiry, shifting ‘sustainability’ from an abstract idea to a way of thinking, making, and doing. Using the framework of systems thinking, Sustainable Systems cultivates awareness of the interconnectedness between the many elements of the global environmental crisis. It highlights the crucial role of design in addressing sustainability and resilience. The course aims to create an emotional, empathetic and intellectual connection with the life forms and environments that bear the burden of our choices.

Everything exists within systems, and anything we extract from the earth must ultimately return to it. As our world faces unprecedented challenges - from climate change and limited resources to economic instability and social inequality - our need for sustainable approaches is urgent. How can designers and artists create and engage with objects, materials, and systems in ways that are socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable? We begin to address this question through creative practice and scientific inquiry, shifting ‘sustainability’ from an abstract idea to a way of thinking, making, and doing. Using the framework of systems thinking, Sustainable Systems cultivates awareness of the interconnectedness between the many elements of the global environmental crisis. It highlights the crucial role of design in addressing sustainability and resilience. The course aims to create an emotional, empathetic and intellectual connection with the life forms and environments that bear the burden of our choices.

Sustainable Systems Anything we extract from the earth must ultimately go back into it. This course aims to create an emotional and intellectual connection with the life forms and environments which bear the burden of our choices. How can designers, artists and strategic thinkers create products, systems and services that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable? Sustainable Systems is structured around four major themes: Climate Change, Materials, Energy, and Water. We explore these environmental issues as complex and interrelated topics. Understanding them can help us address current social and justice issues in new ways. In this course you will study real conditions that are both local and global. Class activities will combine field trips, lectures, discussion, studio-based workshops, experiments and seminars. Fieldwork and applied research methods will be developed into creative works that address diversity, adaptability and resilience in the face of ever changing conditions.

Sustainable Systems Anything we extract from the earth must ultimately go back into it. This course aims to create an emotional and intellectual connection with the life forms and environments which bear the burden of our choices. How can designers, artists and strategic thinkers create products, systems and services that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable? Sustainable Systems is structured around four major themes: Climate Change, Materials, Energy, and Water. We explore these environmental issues as complex and interrelated topics. Understanding them can help us address current social and justice issues in new ways. In this course you will study real conditions that are both local and global. Class activities will combine field trips, lectures, discussion, studio-based workshops, experiments and seminars. Fieldwork and applied research methods will be developed into creative works that address diversity, adaptability and resilience in the face of ever changing conditions.