Why I’m a Green Designer
Someone recently asked me, “why design?”
“What do you mean?” I replied.
“Why choose to be a designer, when you could have helped the earth as a biologist, or an academic, or a project manager?” they said.
The answer flowed into me all at once.
For me, art and design is the single greatest way I can make a difference in this world. My power lies in my ability to catalyze positive action through creativity. Sure, sometimes I wish I was David Attenborough studying puffins and making impassioned speeches at summits (he is my inspiration!) And I know it’s not too late for me to try these things one day. I’m no super successful amazing artist, either, though I’m working toward that dream too. But even if my business is smaller, and my client projects more one on one, I’d like to think that I’m helping the earth in my work.
In the past, I tried activism in a more tangible way by planting 2,000 trees at my schools across my city and in another country. And it worked out really well, actually. But my favorite part was getting to use art to communicate the benefits of trees to students. I brought a whiteboard and a marker to every event and went to town, drawing out diagrams and plant species and little environmental superheroes. The kids seemed to like it, I definitely liked it. I was beginning to understand that visual communications can have a big impact on the planet.
That laid a great foundation for me to become the designer I am today. I know that whatever I do in life, I can’t stop creating. It’s just a natural thing for me. Like breathing. Sometimes I get frustrated or stuck. I procrastinate a lot. I get burnt out at times, too. But creativity has always been there for me, and I’m always going to want to express myself.
A lot of other people feel the same way I do about nature. I’m sure you do, too! We really care about the earth and want to make sure future generations can enjoy it as much as we do. Getting to work with clients and collaborators who want to make the world a better place is a wonderful extension of my sustainability mission and creative drive. Art and design can help raise awareness about social and environmental injustice, encourage action, and tap into emotions. I love the storytelling aspect of being a visual artist, especially when it comes to expressing my clients’ stories and the stories of our planet. I can help be a megaphone for all the changemakers improving the lives of people and animals and plants.
Marrying my love of design and sustainability felt like a match made in heaven. There are so many different ways it'll be expressed throughout my career, but nature will always be my throughline. I’m so grateful that I get to create new and exciting things every day, all while advocating for the earth.
That is why I became a designer.
That’s all for now,
Sarah
No AI was used in the making of this blog.
Dive Into the Sapling Log!
