#designforchange

Design is not just what it looks like — it’s how it works. Today, we celebrate the power of creativity, aesthetics, and functionality that shape the world around us. From branding to UX, every great idea starts with great design. 💡

Part 2 of my Plymouth trip!

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During my MA, my first project explored seagrass—a vital yet often overlooked marine ecosystem. 🌊 Back in 2023, there was significant attention on seagrass decline, but community action and awareness were still limited.

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🌱 Seagrass meadows combat climate change by absorbing and storing vast amounts of carbon—up to 35 times more efficiently than rainforests of the same size. Despite covering only 0.2% of the ocean floor, seagrasses store 10% of the ocean’s carbon. (Source: Ocean Conservation Trust)

One project that influenced my research was Rosie Sherwood’s “The Seagrass Walk” (slide 3), exhibited in Plymouth. I couldn’t visit at the time, so experiencing it now has brought my own project full circle. It was also fascinating to see the seagrass labs at Plymouth aquarium to, the delicate process of growing such a plant for conservation efforts highlighted the need to conserve these biodiverse areas in situ, such as corals, chalk streams and marsh land. Before they disappear altogether.

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The key research point for my project was inspired by a Cornish research study on the impact of chain moorings on seagrass, specifically how chain width affects seagrass scars. This visual impact led me to explore mark making as a medium.

I began by using secondhand chains to mimic the physical damage to seagrass beds. From there, I incorporated natural materials collected along the coastal path—twigs, seaweed, dried flowers, and grasses—to create custom tools for mark making, connecting the local environment back to the process.

To expand the idea, I developed a workshop prototype, inviting participants to make their own tools and experiment with ink. 🖌️ The hands-on experience fostered creativity and a tangible connection to the issue.

WEEK 3: REFLECTIVE WRITING

Designers should connect their work to society because design can have a meaningful impact on the world. By addressing social issues, designers create work that not only resonates with people but also contributes to positive change and supports important causes. This approach goes beyond aesthetics and profit, focusing on raising awareness and tackling bigger issues like fairness and environmental sustainability.

For example, brands like Ben & Jerry's demonstrate how businesses can integrate social values into their practices, such as using fair trade ingredients and promoting sustainability.

Ben & Jerry's leads in ESG practices by prioritising fairness in sourcing. They use fair trade to buy key ingredients like cocoa, sugar, and bananas from small farms in developing countries, supporting 200,000 farmers annually. Their packaging reflects Vermont’s natural beauty and features a fair trade certification.

In our class, we were tasked with creating a documentary about a social issue. We decided to focus on the high cost of living in Singapore. In our video, an agency shows students a small, messy room with an outrageously high rent. The students, after checking their wallets, find only a handful of coins.

While working on this project, I realised that as designers, we should engage with societal issues like this more often. If designers express such problems through their work, it could help raise awareness and ultimately contribute to changing the world for the better.

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