What do you do if you want to contribute to sustainable design projects but don't know where to start?

It is very important to understand users need and understanding of sustainability. Then use your skills to fullfill the requirements. Sometimes you may have to educate users and make them aware about their choices and your recommendations.

My best advice is to just start! The hardest step is the first. Learning on the go, trying until it works, and be open to learning, growing, evolving. Sustainability is about creating something that works without harming others. Just think of that with every single decision or choice you make. You won't be perfect, but small steps in the right direction will add up, and that ripple effect is what we are after!

In today's market, it's crucial to align personal values with professional endeavours. Starting with clear goals, learning from industry pioneers, and adopting a sustainable framework are key steps. Applying skills, seeking feedback, and continuously learning to ensure adaptability in this ever-evolving field. It's about staying authentic, rejecting shortcuts, and prioritising real impact over greenwashing trends.

Feeling the urge to jump into sustainable design but unsure where to dive in? The first step is to tap into your strengths! Consider your interests and skills – how can they contribute to a more sustainable future? In the next step, explore the diverse landscape of sustainable design principles. Research different areas and identify specific ideas that resonate with you, whether it's curbing carbon emissions or promoting gender neutral ideas in design practices. Once you've found your niche, set clear goals for your involvement. By starting these baby steps will allow you to make a meaningful impact right from the start.

Additionally, setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) can provide a structured framework for goal-setting, ensuring that objectives are clear and actionable. Furthermore, conducting thorough research and gathering data about the target audience, market trends, and potential challenges can inform goal-setting and strategy development, enhancing the likelihood of project success.

The fastest way to learn is through attending workshops, webinars or networking events to gain insights and knowledge from experienced individuals. By learning from other's experiences and expertise, you can gather valuable information and inspiration to kickstart your journey in sustainable design.

Engage with experts, practitioners, and communities involved in sustainable design to gain insights and inspiration. Attend workshops, seminars, and conferences to broaden your understanding of regenerative principles and best practices. Seek out mentors who can offer guidance and support as you navigate your journey into sustainable design.

Explore different frameworks and methodologies for approaching sustainable design, such as cradle-to-cradle, biomimicry, permaculture, or the circular economy. Explore what's happening with ecovillages and intentional communities. Explore whats happening in the BCorp movement. Evaluate each framework based on its compatibility with your goals, values, and areas of expertise. Choose a framework that resonates with you and provides a structured approach to integrating regenerative principles into your design practice.

While it is important to learn from certification systems, don’t forget the value of local knowledge. Study traditional architectural techniques in your region, as these designs often incorporate bioclimatic principles that have evolved to suit local conditions.

Identify areas where your abilities can make a meaningful impact, whether it's in research, design, technology or project management. Look for opportunities to collaborate with organizations or teams working on sustainability initiatives and offer your skills to support their efforts.

Be open to receiving feedback from peers, mentors, and stakeholders as you begin to engage with sustainable design projects. Solicit input on your ideas, designs, and proposals, and use feedback to refine your approach and improve the effectiveness of your contributions. Embrace constructive criticism as an opportunity for growth and learning, recognizing that collaboration and iteration are essential aspects of regenerative design.

Everyone is in the learning stages of sustainability development and design related projects. You come across new ideas and concepts everyday where you read and discuss. Discussion leads to new learning and the same experience can be used during the design stage. The comments and recommendations play a very important role while implementing sustainable strategies.

Being open to new perspectives and worldviews is huge in the learning process. Especially when it comes to sustainability. Cause often great answers have already existed for some time and just need amplification, particularly within Indigenous communities. Applying a two-eyed seeing approach can help you connect to a deeper understanding of the problems. You'd be surprised on how often you can learn from people and places you may have never expected.

The industry is morally and financially bankrupt. Reject violet cost planning and programming if your client wants a green building. Avoid business as usual. Cheap and fast do not contribute to environmental or healthy solutions, usually adding more chemistry and unhealthiness. If you design specify and build, without substitution, healthy, environmental, resourceful, appropriate, competent, effective buildings then you are probably doing it sustainably. No compromises because of bad cost or time planning. Pay constructors at thirty days maximum, don’t sign up then pay lip service to mental health campaigns. Do it right. Don’t use the latest green jargon phrases unless you are doing them for real.

Embrace a growth mindset and a willingness to experiment, innovate, and adapt as you navigate your journey into sustainable design. Stay curious, remain open to new ideas and perspectives, and cultivate a sense of resilience in the face of uncertainty and complexity. Remember that every small step you take towards contributing to sustainable design projects has the potential to make a meaningful difference in creating a more regenerative and equitable future.