“Join free, online workshops and panel discussions from some of the world’s most inspiring voices and talent in design and sustainability” [Design Council]
“Sustainable development demands good design.” [John Gummer, former environment secretary]
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Last year, the Design Council held its ‘Design for Planet’ festival – and was addressed by a former environment secretary and top climate adviser to the UK government:
Designers might have had a hand in causing climate change but they are also key to solving it, according to the chair of the UK Climate Change Committee, who addressed the Design Council‘s sustainability conference as it kicked off alongside COP27. “In the past, we have created great wealth through remarkable design, from Newcomen’s steam engine to the very latest in nuclear technology,” John Gummer, also known as Lord Deben, said at the Design for Planet Festival. “The trouble is we didn’t recognise that what we were designing actually had within it the ability to destroy.”
“Sustainable development demands good design,” he said. “We won’t win the battle against climate change unless we design the solutions. It is good design, which will enable us to use the smallest amount of our resources as is possible, that will enable us to reuse, that will enable us to extend, that will enable us to be flexible, that will enable us increasingly to grow – but to grow in a way that is not at the expense of others and the planet.”
Bad design “at the heart of our destruction” says UK’s top climate adviser
The Design Council is already looking forward to the 2023 Design for Planet festival to be held later in the year:
Design for Planet Festival
Let’s put our planet at the centre of everything we design.
We’re heading to the University of East Anglia in Norwich this 17–18 October to host the third edition of our award-winning festival that aims to mobilise the UK’s powerful design community to unite efforts in addressing the climate crisis.
This year’s theme COLLABORATE will bring together over 60 experts from a range of disciplines including fashion, built environment, energy, inclusivity, policy and more to empower an important cross-industry dialogue.
Join free, online workshops and panel discussions from some of the world’s most inspiring voices and talent in design and sustainability including contributions from Patagonia, TOAST, Peers for the Planet and Fairphone.
Festival partner
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Meet the speakers
Stay tuned as we announce the full lineup of speakers in the coming months.
Bas Van Abel
Founder of Fairphone (repairable smart phone producers), will discuss how to build a deeper understanding between people and their products.
Dr Dori Tunstall
Dean of the Faculty of Design at Ontario College of Art & Design University will explore how to decolonise design practices and how collaboration can fuel innovation.
Kwajo Tweneboa
Housing Campaigner & Television Presenter will be joined by Pooja Agrawal to discuss inequitable living conditions and the need for a just and regenerative future.
Stefanie Posavec and Asher Minns
Artist & Author and Designer of Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book Stefanie Posavec will speak with Asher Minns, Science Communicator at Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
Tiffanie Darke
Director of Story Futures at Story Studios will be diving into preloved fashion on demand with a conversation exploring the rise of circular platforms as a reaction to fast-fashion.
Our curatorial board
Amplifying the importance of collaboration, we invited an inspiring group of cross-sectorial experts to help us curate this year’s festival programming.
Alice Fisher
Journalist, The Guardian
Cat Drew
Chief Design Officer, Design Council
Professor Fiona Lettice
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), University of East Anglia
Image of Natasha Trotman removed by Design Council
Natasha Trotman
Design Council Expert, Inclusion
Shawn Adams
Co-Founder, POor Collective
Branding Design for Planet
Discover the story behind our new logo (that is actually quite an old logo!).
From archive diving to climate conscious colour choices, we’ve been on a journey to put our best, planet-centred design foot forward.
Catch up on previous festivals
Design for Planet Festival, GOV Design Awards Gold Winner – Design Council
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