DESIGN + SUSTAINABILITY

We believe design and creative practices have much to offer in creating holistic solutions to the complex issues organizations and society face, crafting a triple bottom line of value that works in practice in addition to theory. Design represents a human-centered approach to change and development – in other words, just what we need to move the needle in making sustainable solutions a part of our everyday lives. Design + Sustainability takes stock of what harnessing design to tackle sustainability looks like in practice in the organizations of today.

Follow us on LinkedIn and instagram to get some bite-sized insights. Our aim is to start a discussion on the next steps that organizations and professionals can take to shape a sustainable future. We welcome you to join the conversation!

READ THE 2021 REPORT

In Spring 2021, we interviewed designers and design managers at 101 organizations in Finland to examine how far along we are at leveraging design to create value. Talking with 29 consultanies and agencies, 66 private companies from all sizes and industries and 6 public organizations, we’ve synthesized key findings and examples on how design adds value in organizations and can advance sustainability. Click on the button to read the English report, and a Finnish version will follow soon.

Download Report

DESIGN + SUSTAINABILITY 101 -RAPORTTI

Haastattelimme muotoiluammattilaisia ja -johtajia yhteensä 101:ssä Suomessa toimivassa organisaatiossa keväällä 2021. Mukana oli 29 konsultti- ja muotoilutoimistoa, 66 yksityistä yritystä edustaen eri kokoluokkia ja toimialoja, sekä 6 julkista organisaatiota. Tutkimuksemme tavoitteena oli kartoittaa miten organisaatiot hyödyntävät muotoilua käytännössä, ja miten sitä nykyisellään valjastetaan kestävään kehittämiseen. Olemme koostaneet avainlöydökset raporttiin, jonka suomenkielisen version pääset lukemaan painamalla alla olevaa linkkiä.

Lataa raportti

GET INSPIRED THROUGH CASES

Hoping to design more sustainable solutions, or teach sustainable design? Take a look at our Design & Sustainability Case Toolkit, a collection of case cards to serve as examples of different areas of sustainability and types of perspectives to consider.

EXHIBITIONS

Our exhibition, touring different sited between 2021 and 2023, offered insights and examples of how design can advance sustainability, ranging from manufacturing to retail and consumer goods to public services. Explore bite-sized insights on what are the most common issues and tactics tackled in sustainability through design, and get inspired by examples of improving environmental, social and economical sustainability. The exhibition has been constructed using UPM’s biobased material solutions and features a sculpture by Erwin Laiho. While the exhibition is no longer on display, check out the report and case cards for some inspiration on sustainable design!