Guy Van Wijmeersch’s Post

3 problems with our design and business that may contribute to climate and social issues... and 5 life-centred design super-powers to start fixing them!

"How the World is Connected to Designing": "As we navigate our daily lives, we often overlook the intricate web of connections between design and the world around us. From the curves of a smartphone to the layout of our cities, design shapes our experiences and interactions. - Good design can bridge cultural divides and create inclusive communities. - Sustainable design can combat climate change and protect our planet. - User-centered design can improve healthcare outcomes and enhance our well-being. Let's celebrate the power of design to transform lives and create a better world! Share with me in the comments: How has design impacted your life or community? #DesignMatters #GlobalConnections #Sustainability #Innovation"

How the World Tackled COVID-19 with Design! During the pandemic, flexible and adaptable spaces were created to manage hospital floors and patients, ensuring social distancing. Machines were repurposed swiftly, embodying frugal innovation—also known as jugaad. These rapid adaptations had a profound impact, helping millions of people. COVID-19 spurred a wave of innovation that made a significant difference, and all of this could come in with design. What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments! In frame: In conversations with Sreya Ahuja, a Designer at Microsoft #impact #innovation #covid19 #pandemic #frugalinnovation #design #humancentereddesign #socialimpact

While human-centred design has made some really wonderful differences for many humans, it was always meant to be sustainably-minded and fully inclusive. But it got hijacked by unrestrained capitalism which created a destructive business-focused way of living that now dominates the world. 🤔 3 ways your everyday design and business actions may be contributing to the climate crisis and social injustice: 1. Designing solely for human needs and profit, without considering the broader environmental and social impacts throughout a project's ecosystem and product lifecycles 2. Designing exclusively for a narrow segment of the human population, without comprehensive integration of inclusivity and accessibility considerations, perpetuating biases, marginalisation, and environmental and social injustices throughout business and product lifecycles, exacerbating global inequality and perpetuating systemic discrimination. 3. Designing solely for profit and economic growth overlooks the holistic well-being of societies, environments, and interrelationships, perpetuating a disconnect between economic success and the health of communities and the planet. 🌏 5 ways modern design can transform from being a contributor to problems to becoming a force for positive change: 1. Ecosystem mapping—Zooming in and out during design and business activities to map and respect the greater ecosystem your activities belong to and impact 2. Circular, sustainable, and inclusive design—optimise the circularity, sustainability, and inclusivity of your activities and products to take less from the world and to reduce waste, pollution, and exclusion 3. Non-human and non-user personas—Create personas for the environments, animals, and people impacted by your activities to give them a voice in your projects 4. Global initiatives—align with global initiatives to connect more deeply with the greatest ecosystem we are all part of, Planet Earth 5. Monitoring—stay with your innovations by setting measurable metrics enabling continuous improvement and innovation The Life-centred Design Foundations Online Course teaches you these 5 solutions in just 6 weeks! 📅 Save the Dates: Tue 30th April—Enrolments Open and Free Course Tour Webinar Tue 14th May—Course Starts! 📣 And subscribe now to receive exclusive updates and secure your spot in this transformative journey. Stay tuned for more exciting details! Subscribe for updates: https://lnkd.in/gRazbYpz #lifecentreddesign #sustainabledesign #inclusivedesign #circulareconomy #circulardesign #regenerativedesign #humancentreddesign #designthinking #designer #onlinecourse #onlinecoursecreators #futuredesign #futures #lcdhub #nature #sdgs

I was able to attend some amazing workshops this year, led by some incredible designers. I am super grateful to be a part of a generous community that truly models the sparks, ideas, insights and unique learning that happen best through well-designed collaboration. I had the good fortune to attend a particularly impactful session on "Designing for Sustainability: Reimagining Service Experiences Using Service Origami" led by Shreya Dhawan and James Morelli from Harmonic Design at the Global Service Design Conference. The workshop was a masterclass in a service design method, Service Origami, a powerful visualization technique for mapping complex service ecosystems and evaluating experiences and opportunities through multiple strategic lenses, in this case, sustainability. Our deep dive into business travel revealed the nuanced challenges and opportunities for sustainable design and innovation. Sustainability is no longer a peripheral consideration but a core strategic imperative in our rapidly evolving landscape with increasingly apparent global climate impacts. Organizations now have a need to reimagine their products and services through circular, environmental and social impact lenses. Big thanks to the amazing folks at Harmonic Design for generously leading us through such a thought-provoking and generative learning experience. Reach out @Climate Innovation Project if you'd like to learn more about upskilling your teams and reimagining your products and services through sustainable innovation strategies. #ServiceDesign #SustainabilityStrategy #SustainableInnovation #DesignThinking #SocialImpact #CollaborativeDesign #Design #ServiceDesignNetwork

Creativity is often misunderstood, much like design. People think of both as pathways to creating beautiful art or products. But in reality, they are about anticipating the future and shaping the world we want to live in. At its core, creativity is simply problem-solving. Design, however, carries a lot more weight. Approximately 80% of the world's climate-related challenges stem from the design phase. This reality underscores the urgent need for designers to better comprehend their work's impact on the future. Design is not just a tool for meeting human needs; it is a platform for considering the broader implications of those needs. What do people do with the things we create? Single-use plastic is a poignant example of how human-centred design, in its pursuit of convenience, has inadvertently created one of the greatest inconveniences of our time. Human-centred design is not a static concept. It, too, needs to evolve. It should transcend the products we create for people and account for the impact of human behaviours on the places we exist, the communities we live in, and the ongoing challenges of the climate we continue to shift. Designing for humanity (rather than humans) feels more important to me. As Steve Jobs said, we can't connect the dots looking forward, only looking back. But looking back gives us a good insight and a better understanding of how we can re-design the future.🌍✨ #SustainableDesign #FutureFocused #ImpactDesign #design #humanity #climate #future #inhabitus #creativity #designthinking #humancentreddesign #hcd #impact

Creativity is often misunderstood, much like design. People think of both as pathways to creating beautiful art or products. But in reality, they are about anticipating the future and shaping the world we want to live in. At its core, creativity is simply problem-solving. Design, however, carries a lot more weight. Approximately 80% of the world's climate-related challenges stem from the design phase. This reality underscores the urgent need for designers to better comprehend their work's impact on the future. Design is not just a tool for meeting human needs; it is a platform for considering the broader implications of those needs. What do people do with the things we create? Single-use plastic is a poignant example of how human-centred design, in its pursuit of convenience, has inadvertently created one of the greatest inconveniences of our time. Human-centred design is not a static concept. It, too, needs to evolve. It should transcend the products we create for people and account for the impact of human behaviours on the places we exist, the communities we live in, and the ongoing challenges of the climate we continue to shift. Designing for humanity (rather than humans) feels more important to me. As Steve Jobs said, we can't connect the dots looking forward, only looking back. But looking back gives us a good insight and a better understanding of how we can re-design the future.🌍✨ #SustainableDesign #FutureFocused #ImpactDesign #design #humanity #climate #future #inhabitus #creativity #designthinking #humancentreddesign #hcd #impact

New on IncluSphere.blog, Dive into 'Navigating with Confidence Through Inclusive Design' and discover how thoughtful design can create more inclusive environments. Learn about the power of wayfinding and accessibility in transforming lives. Read now and be inspired. https://lnkd.in/eCi4_6Qm #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveDesign #Wayfinding #IncluSphere

As we head into 2025, the creative industry is experiencing rapid transformation. The era of Purpose-Driven Design is here, emphasizing the importance of creating impactful work that aligns with our values. From sustainable practices to social responsibility, our focus is not just on aesthetics but on building a better future. Let's embrace this shift towards designing experiences that make a lasting impact on both society and the environment. #Creativity #Innovation #PurposeDrivenDesign #Sustainability

This week on the blog, we're reflecting about our time at #NeoCon and four design trends to watch for the future! From innovative sustainability practices to creating flexible, human-centered spaces, this year's top trends are transforming the way we approach design. Whether you're looking for inspiration for your next project or trying to stay ahead of trends, these #insights are a must-read. Curious about what’s shaping tomorrow’s work environments? Check out the full article here: https://loom.ly/Y7AkTkQ Insights by: Christa Christian, NCIDQ, Kimberly Frencho, and Jenna Saul