SuiteCauses
Climate
Designers: A Force for Good STORY BY LISA J. BAXTER
G
lobal warming, endangered animals, and the increase of natural disasters are just some effects of the climate crisis.
These dangers have triggered a worldwide call to action. It has mobilized communities of environmentalists, educators, scientists, and activists to drive climate consciousness in hopes of mitigating future damage. These communities have birthed collectives of climate designers whose work infuses purpose, innovation, and advocacy. According to climatedesigners.org, these changemakers are creative professionals who focus their talents on solving our climate crisis. They collaborate with others to build out, launch and promote new climate approaches. You can nd them in disciplines like fashion, architecture, advertising, lmmaking, and technology. The magic of their work unfolds through intentional thinking, design, and approach. Will this help everyone? Is this good for the earth? Is this efcient? It’s a formula that aims to shift climate-related issues into positive long-term results for people and the planet. Margaret To, a co-founder of Studio SAKA, shares, “Being a climate designer means using my creative skills as a force for good. Whether it be educating my client on sustainable alternatives in the production process (e.g., print design) or avoiding working with clients in climate-harming industries, I always consider the impact the project would have on the environment.” An ethos of activism is also prevalent, and you can see it showcased in many forms. For example, the Ron Finley Project focuses its work on gardening education to change South Central Los Angeles from a food desert to a food forest. Leah Thomas’ efforts as eco-communicator and founder of Intersectional Environmentalist (IE) centers BIPOC and historically under-amplied voices in the environmental space. To’s Studio SAKA sheds light on climate solutions in an engaging way—through lm, design, and immersive experiences; and climate clubs, like Adapt, marry various elements to communicate societal issues and build community. So how does climate design apply in history and in real-time? While it has taken on several iterations, its current state has given way to meaningful action. In The Breakdown by Earthrise Studios, the series explores climate change through the lens of history. It highlights how colonialism created slavery and gave colonizers access to fossil fuels (ex. natural gas, oil, coal). The money made during slavery nanced the Industrial Revolution, which ultimately contributed to the climate crisis. Though an abridged version of its development, it’s clear why activism is embedded in climate design work. A safe and equitable world is possible, but we must continue to ght for it. Climate designers prove that positive change and a brighter future will always be one design away. And that is a force for good. +
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SPRING 2022 | SUITELIFESOCAL.COM
