Combating Consumerism with Design
Episode 4 – Deep Dive series
This episode references Climify’s Episode 1 – Sweatshops, Social Injustices, and Systemic Impacts of Fast Fashion with Jasmine Sanders
In this episode, we discuss consumerism, the impact of consumerism with a sustainability lens, and how design contributes to, or combats, consumerism. We’ve discovered that the impact of fast fashion goes beyond just the types of fabric in use, but also affects social injustices like ethical labor and systemic privilege. We talk about consumerism tactics like greenwashing within marketing and branding, and how greenwashing leads to consumer distrust and consumer manipulation. We think about ways we can combat consumerism as designers through prioritizing our own ethics as Climate Designers. We discuss details of our ethics courses in college and how we would like to see them improved. And lastly, we consider how educators can better support students so we don’t fall into the deception of consumerism. How can students avoid feeling like baby birds being shoved out of their nest? How can our educational institutions create better connections within the sustainability world? We have some suggestions that include job fairs, teaching about and identifying greenwashing, and sharing resources for post-graduation.
Resources
Medium.com - The Role of Design in Slowing the Pace of Consumerism
Medium.com - Graphic Designs effect on Consumerism
Katie Patrick TedTalk - Why Optimism and Creativity (Not Doom) Will Save the Planet
The Value-Action Gap: Why People Don’t Act in Accordance with Their Beliefs
Deep Dive is a Climify miniseries that explores opportunities for climate education through the eyes of recent design students. As new grads now working the 9-to-5, we’ll discuss themes centering around climate design and what educators can do to approach these topics. The classroom needs to see more intersectionality between design and climate, and we’re here to advocate for that.
About our hosts
Rachel Cifarelli
Rachel is a freelance graphic designer and researcher using her skills to support and uplift those who are making the world a more sustainable place.
She received her B.A. in communication design from Elon University, where she realized she was actually good at designing content more extensive than birthday cards. Rachel also always knew she was an environmentalist, but it took her a long time to figure out how to blend these two passions of design and sustainability together. It wasn't until she discovered Climate Designers that she saw a whole new career path unfold in front of her, one where she could make a living doing something she loves. Today Rachel works with environmentally-minded organizations and businesses on projects like branding, fact sheets, promotional materials, and digital assets. Some of her clients include Sierra Club, Bedford 2030, and Brooklyn Organic Kitchen.
Rachel is also a researcher working on New Wave, a joint project with Climate Designers. What originally started as a class project during undergrad has grown into a sponsored research project that has garnered lots of support and participation. The goal of this research is to inform design educators how student designers understand sustainability in the design field and how they might like to see sustainability incorporated into their design curriculum. She wants to be part of establishing the climate design education in undergraduate universities that she never got from her own.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys reading, taking walks around her neighborhood, and visiting the best local eateries and breweries in her town.
linkedin.com/in/rachelcifarelli
Grace Turcich
Grace is a Chicago-based graphic designer working at a marketing agency. She earned her BFA from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Graphic Design. Since Grace’s transition from a full-time student to a full-time employee, she wants to know what else she can do for the climate. As a new climate designer, she is constantly learning how design and climate are intersectional. Grace hopes to discover new ways of learning, how to challenge the status quo, and become part of the solution within the fight for climate action.
In her freetime, when she is not fighting for the planet, Grace is painting nail art, hiking, and baking a new recipe.
Follow Grace’s climate design blog on instagram @unearthclimatedesign and her website grace-turcich.com.
