What do you do if you want to pursue a career in sustainable design as a Commercial Design professional?

1 Define your niche

Sustainable design is a broad term that can apply to different fields and disciplines within the commercial design sector. You might be interested in green architecture, biophilic design, circular economy, or social impact design, to name a few examples. Each of these areas has its own challenges, opportunities, and best practices. To pursue a career in sustainable design, you need to define your niche and focus on developing your expertise and portfolio in that specific domain.

3 Network and collaborate

Sustainable design is a collaborative and interdisciplinary field, where you will need to work with other professionals, stakeholders, and communities to achieve your goals. Networking and collaborating with others who share your passion and vision can help you find new opportunities, learn from different perspectives, and create more impactful solutions. You can network and collaborate with other sustainable designers by joining professional associations, attending events and conferences, participating in online forums and groups, or engaging in co-design and co-creation processes.

4 Showcase your work

To pursue a career in sustainable design, you need to showcase your work and demonstrate your value to potential clients and employers. You can do this by creating a portfolio that highlights your sustainable design projects, achievements, and impact. Your portfolio should showcase not only your design skills, but also your problem-solving, research, and communication skills. You should also include testimonials, awards, or recognition that can attest to your credibility and reputation as a sustainable designer.

5 Keep learning and innovating

Sustainable design is a dynamic and evolving field, where new trends, technologies, and challenges emerge constantly. To pursue a career in sustainable design, you need to keep learning and innovating, and stay on top of the latest developments and best practices in your niche. You can do this by reading books, articles, and blogs, taking online courses or workshops, attending webinars or podcasts, or joining innovation challenges or competitions. You should also seek feedback and evaluation from your clients, peers, and mentors, and use it to improve your skills and performance.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?