Sustainability

national sustainability commitee

 

The complex and urgent nature of the global challenges we face require meaningful engagement, collaboration and innovation.

Designers in all fields can bring intention and meaning into their work and have the opportunity to contribute to addressing the challenges of poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.

Sustainable design embraces social, cultural, economic and environmental values throughout the strategy, design process and production phases of a project. It’s not a checklist; it’s a mindset we can all bring to our work to make a positive impact on the world.

Tell us how DesCan can help you with your sustainability journey and making a positive impact: fill out our 3-minute survey

Designers can support the well-being of everyone in societySocial

Designers can support the well-being of everyone in society and influence social equity by designing for inclusion, dignity, and equality. 

Designing with the social pillar in mind can positively affect all aspects of society, including health care, education, human rights, poverty, Indigenous rights, and discrimination.

Championing respectful, compassionate valuesCultural

Designers can positively influence culture by championing respectful, compassionate values that support Canada’s various communities. Designing with the cultural pillar in mind can shape how communities reflect identity, nurture traditions, and cultivate belief systems and common values.

Designers can create increased value and opportunitiesEconomic

Designers can create increased value and opportunities for people, businesses, and organizations while challenging the detrimental paradigm of economic growth based on increased consumption and a widening wealth gap. 

Designing with the economic pillar in mind can guide how organizations and people fulfill their basic needs, evolve, and redefine economic prosperity and growth

The ability to provide long- term value and reduce damage to our environmentEnvironmental

Designers have the ability to provide long- term value and reduce damage to our environment through many avenues: considering the full life cycle and ecological footprint of products and services, using non-toxic materials, and minimizing waste and energy use.

Designing with the environmental pillar in mind can positively shape natural systems, increase conservation, promote climate action, reduce carbon emissions, and help the restoration of natural resources.

Magnify positive change

We are an entity of designers, thinkers and creative professionals that fall under the Design Professionals of Canada umbrella and speak on behalf of the organization.

We inspire members and creative professionals to step up and use their skills and influence to magnify positive change while reducing negative impacts. Our goal is to have Canadian designers embrace and implement the many dimensions of sustainability into their design processes, actions and activities, and not think of sustainability as an afterthought.

Practicing sustainable design since 2006

The philosophy and principles of sustainable design has been integral to the Design Professionals of Canada since 2006, when the National Sustainability Committee created the first formal definition for sustainable communication design worldwide. The current National Sustainability Members are always looking connect with passionate designers.

Have a question about Sustainability? Looking to join our committee? Contact us at: sustainability@descan.ca

 

Insights and inspiration

For further information, read some of our articles and case studies in Design Currency

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