Design for Good

As the focus for Cycle 2 of the Design for Good program is SDG 4: Quality Education, the DfG team are observing Global Media and Information Literacy Week which runs annually from 24th to 31st October. The focus this year “highlights the importance of equipping people with critical thinking skills in today’s digital ecosystem. Digital platforms have revolutionized how information is created, consumed, and shared, posing new challenges in discerning reliable content.” Some of the DfG design teams have already begun working on the challenge of creating an appealing online experience that engages and empowers young people to distinguish real from fake information and make sound choices. With the rapidly expanding use of AI that can be used to spread false information, now more than ever we require measures to equip individuals to correctly assess the validity of the information they are accessing. Find out more about Global Media and Information Literacy Week on the United Nations website: https://lnkd.in/gBsYGcHP #GlobalMILWeek #DfG #DesignforGood #DfGAlliance #QualityEducation #SDG4

It is very exciting to be able to announce that the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town has joined the Design for Good alliance as the second academic partner next to the Royal College of Art. The d-school will bring an important Global South lens and voice to the invaluable work that Design for Good is doing. Good luck to all our d-school mentors that are working on a number of the projects.

A huge welcome to the d-school Afrika. we are thrilled you've joined the RCA in this amazing endeavour.

We're thrilled to announce our latest partnership with Design for Good... read more below about our new partnership.

Design for Good are pleased to announce our latest partnership with Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town! 🎉 The d-school Afrika has joined the Design for Good alliance as the second academic partner next to Royal College of Art. This partnership is poignant as both The d-school Afrika and Design for Good share a commitment to utilising design thinking as a powerful tool for addressing pressing global challenges, aiming to empower individuals and communities by cultivating life-centred solutions that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. On the new partnership, Founding Director of The d-School Afrika Richard Perez commented, “It’s essential to include a Global South perspective in the design thinking conversation, which has been dominated by the Global North. Our partnership with Design for Good empowers African thought leaders to address real-world challenges and enhances the global dialogue on human-centered solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Now more than ever, we need to evolve our traditional approaches. Design For Good connects development organisations, communities, and design expertise to create impactful solutions for complex challenges.” Welcome, d-school Afrika! #DfG #DesignforGood #DfGAlliance #SDG4 #QualityEducation

🌏 After mountains of coffees, conversations, winding roads, dead-ends, and wobbly bridges – I am very pleased to update that we have a new implementation partner for the WaterStarters initiative ✌🏽✌🏽 More on that later....🌊 For now, a big thanks to Helen Robertson at Design for Good for charging us forward, and special thanks to Nathan Bell and The Carrot Collective, Rob C., Scott Walker, and Soula Chronopoulos for their attention, time, wisdom, and helpful direction along the way. 💙 #waterstarters #designforgood #sustainbledevelopmentgoals #sdg6

A big thank you to Design for Good and the Life-Centered Design School for their generosity in providing us with 3 tickets, allowing members of our community to join the Non-Human Persona Workshop in Regent's Park! 🌿 This workshop was a fantastic opportunity for our participants to network with designers while learning about life-centered design and how to give nature a voice through non-human personas. Our participants left with an enriched perspective on how to design with empathy for the broader ecosystem. They had a wonderful time, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this incredible day in the park! 😍

Along with our new focus on SDG 4: Quality Education, Design for Good is delighted to welcome a new addition to our Design for Good Board of Trustees: Chief of Education for Latin America and the Caribbean at UNESCO, Valtencir M. Mendes! As Chief of Education, Val designs, coordinates and monitors the implementation of programmes and activities under the framework of SDG4; contributing to the United Nations Country Team and United Nations Regional Collaborative Platform, collaborating with all UN entities working on development for the 2030 Agenda. His wealth of experience and knowledge on SDG 4 will be paramount as the Design for Good journey ventures into designing and creating impact for Quality Education. On his new role within Design for Good, Val comments: “Education is the foundation upon which all other Sustainable Development Goals rest, playing a critical role in breaking the cycle of poverty, reducing inequality, and empowering individuals to live sustainably in a more peaceful world. DfG’s mission of improving life through design and innovation is essential to advancing SDG 4, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. This non-profit alliance plays a pivotal role in uplifting individuals and actively contributing to the goal of ensuring that no one is left behind. Their work goes beyond a simple contribution—it’s about transforming lives and making quality education a reality for everyone, everywhere." We look forward to his guidance and wealth of experience as we co-create for Cycle 2. Welcome, Val! #DfG #DesignforGood #DfGAlliance #SDG4 #UNESCO

"On this warm October day sponsored by global warming", as Jeroen Spoelstra put it, I enjoyed creating non-human personas with Life-Centered Design School and Design for Good. Working on these personas was an eye-opening experience, emphasising the importance of considering the broader ecosystem in our designs. Our team was focused on developing a persona for a willow tree. Key takeaways: ✅ Understanding Non-Human Needs: To design holistic solutions, it's crucial to grasp the needs and perspectives of non-human actants, whether it's a lake, a tree, or a ladybug. ✅ Long-Term Thinking: Non-human entities often have lifespans that differ significantly from ours. We must understand these timelines and think several steps ahead to create sustainable solutions. ✅ Smarter Experiences: Imagine a scenario where instead of just seeing "This hotel is full," you see "This region is full." This approach ensures that both locals and tourists can enjoy their time, promoting a balanced and enjoyable experience for everyone. It was a pleasure to team up with Matt Rogers for this task. Thank you Leticia Galdón for this opportunity!

Yesterday, in collaboration with Design for Good, Life-Centered Design School hosted a fabulous non-human persona workshop at Regent's Park in London. It is always a pleasure to work with Cecilia Brenner and her team. Twenty design enthusiasts joined us in the park and gave voice to the mycelium, a willow tree, the air, and the soil. These days are a gift for me because the workshop is more than just making personas. It is about people connecting with nature and with each other. It is astonishing to see what people come up with in 1,5 hours of working together. It was great to meet Eirik Helgesen and Paola Miani in person after only meeting them online over the last few years. In which city can we host the next Non-Human Persona in the Park workshop? #lifecentereddesign #nonhumanpersona #london