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Call to Action Podcast

This all started as an effort to find a way to make the practice of sustainable design feel more real and relevant to my undergrad students. It has often felt to me that we, sustainable designers, spend a lot of time speaking in ways that feel abstract or theoretical. It usually feels very relevant to us, but to beginners, it feels a lot tougher. I wanted to supplement the theory with “guest visits” from the people putting these ideas into action, through an audio format.

As it turns out, podcasting is a lot of fun. So I kept it going! Below you’ll find all the episodes of Call to Action, and I’ll be adding more as I record them. Enjoy!

Circular Economies with Shanna Ruyle

This week I interview Shanna Ruyle, a faculty member at OSU’s Design and Innovation Management program. Shanna has a love sharing what she learns in any way she can, and it comes through here as she helps us understand what the real benefit of implementing circularity really is. Hint: It’s more than recycling.

Biomimicry with Asheen Phansey

An interview with Asheen Phansey, CEO and Co-Founder of Eleven Radius, a circular fashion consultancy. Asheen is also an adjunct faculty member in the Minneapolis College of Art and Design’s Sustainable Design MA program, is on the board of Net Impact, and is a recognized leader in biomimicry.

Creative Leadership with Dawn Keene

In this episode, I talk with Dawn Keene about how designers can contribute to a more sustainable future by stepping outside of design. Dawn is a graphic designer, and educator at MCAD and Atlanta Technical College, and a sustainability strategist with Studio Change.

Branding with Sustainability with Bianca Skelton

For this episode I had the pleasure of interviewing a former grad student of mine, Bianca Skelton. Bianca is a creative designer at GM, which is undergoing a rapid and massive shift as they transition from gas-powered vehicles to EVs. We discuss how graphic design expresses itself in the design of the vehicles, and how a focus on a more sustainable future led her into the automotive industry.