Mission Statement
Sustainability is my passion. Using design methods to shape sustainable transition at all levels (policy, sector, business, services, products and materials). Circular Economy. Ecodesign.
Biography
I’m a Senior Research Officer at PDR, the International Centre for Design and Research at Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. I started my life as a physical chemist, but via a circuitous route including textile and colour science, I’ve ended up specialising in sustainable and circular design. Because I don’t have a traditional design background, I can’t tell you how to make a widget – but I can tell you what you need to consider when you’re making it, and what the impact of the decisions you make are. I work at multiple scales, from regional interventions and city strategies to car parts, and I’ve worked across a range of sectors from medical and automotive to sports, leisure and consumer goods.
Questionnaire
Where do you want to foster change and why?
In our global approach to a sustainable future. Because if not now, when? And if not designers, who?
What or who influenced you during your professional design career?
So many people! Victor Papanek onwards. But probably the person who has had the most influence is a very talented silversmith called David Bromilow. He dragged me from physical sciences into the design fold and I couldn’t be more grateful.
We all have those significant moments/situations (success or failure); which one was yours, and what did you learn from it?
Wow – that’s a hard question! It was probably the first public lecture I gave on the designer’s responsibility in sustainability – which went down like the proverbial lead balloon. It taught me that not everyone shares the same vision and values, even if they might profess to – and that it’s worth knowing that right at the beginning of your relationships!