You’re interested in sustainable design but have no experience. How can you get started?

Sustainable is a big word that hits a lot of topics. It’s hard to know where to start exactly. A good exercise is the sustainable Venn diagram. Answer these three questions and your focus is at the intersection of: 1. What are you good at? 2. What interests you? 3. What is the work that needs doing? Answer those three and it may help with an actionable starting point.

Start by integrating in your process some high-level circular design principles and understand where your interest lays: if you are more oriented towards CMF design, include in your process advanced tool for circular colors, materials and finishes selection, like a material matrix and material hierarchy checklist. The exciting part of circular CMF design is the numbers, you will be able to assess the full environmental impact of a color, for instance, and rationalize it in your process. Colors influences the recycling rate of a component and can also contain hazardous material, which influences the results on human toxicity and ecotoxity in an LCA assessment.

Start by learning basics like passive design techniques, energy-efficient technologies, and how to choose sustainable materials. Deepen your understanding by taking online courses, attending workshops, and following sustainable design leaders on platforms like LinkedIn. This will keep you updated with the latest trends and insights. Once you're familiar with the concepts, try applying them to small projects. For example, you might redesign a small area using biophilic design principles or create packaging using various formats to learn about sustainable materials and their lifecycle. Volunteering with local sustainability organisations can give you practical experience and the chance to learn from experienced professionals.

To start in sustainable design with no experience, begin by learning. Read books and take free online courses. Understand basics like saving energy and using renewable materials. Try DIY projects at home and volunteer with local eco-friendly groups. Network by attending events and joining online forums. Learn design software. Keep up with blogs and podcasts on green design. If you're really into it, consider studying sustainability in college. This mix of learning, hands-on practice, and connecting with others will help you build skills in sustainable design.

Getting started with sustainable design can be both exciting and challenging, especially if you’re new to the field. First Identify the Problem: Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to understand the specific problem you’re aiming to address. Sustainable design is all about creating solutions that meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Research and Observation: Look into current environmental issues, such as waste management, energy consumption, or resource depletion. Stakeholder Engagement: Talk to people affected by the problem, including community members, industry experts, and environmentalists. Define the Scope: Clearly outline the problem’s scope.

Once I have an idea what I want to focus on I start learning about that topic and some of the general issues plaguing progress. I start familiarizing myself with the major players both positive and negative while also investigating initiatives that I may be able to assist by raising awareness or even more active solutions like amplifying attention through marketing, communications, and maybe even activism.

Networking is all about creating strong, supportive connections—it’s not just about what you can gain for yourself but also about how you can help others make a positive impact. Always be generous with your time. I focus on sharing insights on sustainable practices, offering advice, and mentoring new designers and technologists. By being open with your knowledge and working together, you build trust and become a valuable part of a network committed to driving meaningful change.

Networking events are a great place to meet like-minded people. I approach events in three different buckets: Collaborators, Collective, Community. Collaborative events are those that are Creative Community-based, think AIGA or Climate Designers Collective would be climate related events, maybe not creative per se, but everyone is leaning toward taking climate action Last are community events, these are broad expo that maybe are business-based. They don’t have any main focus on sustainability. Each one of these events presents a different crowd of people to work, learn, educate, and hopefully help run a more regenerative business and life. Networking is key. There is power in numbers.

Connect with those already in this field. Attend conferences, seminars, exhibitions. Strive for knowledge first and work will come automatically. Be open and reach out to influencing people in the field, ask question’s ! And yes ! Read up as much as you can. Keep researching, stay updated.

Design ideas need to be validated; to do so one of the most valuable things to do is looking for feedback from peers and experts in the field. Embracing comments and different points of view will help to design the right way. It’s important to keep in mind that design is made for people, so it’s crucial to have the people’s interest and opinion in mind al, the time while designing anything.

Visit relevant trade shows will give you new perspectives. I enjoy talking to suppliers who are invested into the latest innovations. Most of them enjoy talking about their process and how they see challenges and opportunities. Great learning experiences.

Education and Advocacy: Educating yourself and others more about the importance of sustainable design and advocating for broader adoption can amplify your impact: Workshops and Seminars: Organize or participate in events to share knowledge and best practices. Collaboration: Partner with other designers, businesses, and organizations to promote sustainable practices. Public Awareness: Use social media and other platforms to raise awareness about the benefits of sustainable design.