Reading about the
Great Pacific Garbage Patch has gotten me excited about designing for social change. It makes me think about where I want to be in 20 years. It makes me think about what kind of designer I want to be and who I want to influence. I don't think I will ever be content with myself if I am not working for social change. I believe that everything we are doing today will directly influence what the world looks like in 100 years -- just a moment in time. I believe that as a designer, I have a responsibility to help make society aware that the choices they make, however small they may be, directly effect their neighbors on all corners of the planet.
The
Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of suspended plastic and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the
North Pacific Gyre. It takes 5 years for a piece of plastic to leave the shore and reach the Garbage Patch.
I met
Timm Kekeritz (Interaction Designer at IDEO in San Francisco), at the AIGA LA Student Portfolio Review this past April where he gave a lecture titled "Design Should Matter." The presentation asked designers to aim their design at influencing society to reduce consumption.
At the end of his presentation I asked him this question: Isn't there a conflict when you design for clients who promote consumption, like CocaCola for example, and in turn telling consumers not to buy CocaCola? CocaCola won't be happy that you're influencing their consumers not to buy their product.
He told me he had thought that question would come up. His response was slow, but honorable. Timm told us that as designers, we should influence our clients to change their business practices and their products.
Design has power, and I believe that strong design can be an effective source for social change.
