Ideas to Action: Our Workshop at The World Design Congress
The World Design Congress plays a pivotal role in setting the direction for the global design community and prompting collaborative initiatives to tackle major issues. This year was no different, with the theme of ‘Design for Planet’, in collaboration with the UK’s Design Council, we heard from experts in economy, policy and pioneers in new materials, as well as emerging designers who are re-defining what we mean by ‘good design’.
Some highlights from the stage
Day one included economist Kate Raworth highlighting the need to redesign economic systems for a fairer, more sustainable future, reminding us that it’s a “phenomenal time to be a designer.” Musician and innovator Brian Eno urged delegates to “find the others” and emphasised collective creativity as a catalyst for change, while Dr Jane Goodall inspired attendees to design with nature in mind: “She balances every system. Let Mother Nature be your co-designer.”
Another highlight was Indy Johar’s compelling talk stressing the urgency of designing for future realities, reminding us to “design in the reality that is emerging, a different reality than the present.” Leyla Acaroglu addressed the “nature knowledge deficit” and advocated for design practices that are regenerative rather than extractive.
Unsurprisingly many of the speakers touched upon themes that come up in our Climate Action Cards. The cards were co-created with experts from across design disciplines, and designed to shift practice, business and mindset. We launched these at the Congress and over the week they were used in not one, but three workshops!
The Design Council kicked off in their Skills Hive Session, using the Cards to engage with ‘Skills for Planet’, based on their framework for upskilling designers which helped to guide the content for the cards.
Moving beyond ideas with our Climate Action Cards
Our Hive workshop session on day two was timely, after two days of inspiring talks – we focused on turning climate design ambitions into a tangible action plan. The session brought together 60 congress participants, from designers from various disciplines to academics, all with varying levels of experience in designing for planet.
The workshop kicked off with an introduction to Design Declares, new to most of the room. We shared the progress of our global chapters in Ireland, Brazil, and Australia, highlighting how designers worldwide are declaring a climate emergency. Mariana from our Brazil chapter shared some powerful examples of emergency design in the context of her hometown's floods. Her story underscored the critical link between designing for our planet and preparing for climate-related emergencies.
From there, we got down to business. The one-hour workshop was all about moving from big ideas to a personal action plan. Everyone was given a Climate Action Card on arrival, to discuss in small groups of 4-5 people, guided by a Design Declares facilitator.
Defining spheres of action
Participants were asked to create a group of three Climate Action Cards that could be combined into a broader objective, or that worked together chronologically. For instance, a participant might choose "Don't be Afraid to Start," "Create a No-go List," and "Create a Climate Manifesto" to represent a phased approach to introducing climate action guidelines within their organisation and influencing their team.
After defining their group of cards, participants evaluated their chosen actions and mapped them onto what we call the ‘Sphere of Action’ diagram. This process helped them prioritise their goals based on the level of control they had over each item. The three spheres were defined as follows:
Sphere of Control: The central sphere includes areas that you have the direct ability to adjust and change. These are typically internal, business-focused actions where you can have the most impact.
Sphere of Influence: The middle sphere covers areas where you can affect outcomes by engaging with others, even though you don't have direct control. Your organisation can take action on these, but they may be harder to track.
Sphere of Advocacy: The outer sphere refers to topics of interest or concern that cannot be controlled directly. You can advocate for these items through communication, promotion, and collaboration.
And this is just the beginning
This hands-on activity helped participants pinpoint specific goals and evaluate what kinds of action they can take to draft a Climate Action Plan. We encouraged them to outline a few simple steps they could implement immediately (Quick Wins), foundational steps for the long-term (Building Blocks), and ambitious, but worthwhile long-term plans (Stretch Goals).
Some actions overlapped, some were unexpected and new ideas emerged naturally from the discussion. For example, one UX designer working for a health tech company pledged to introduce Design Declares to her team, sparked by the ‘Don’t be afraid to start’’ card. Another group of delegates focused on ‘Maintain a daily connection with nature’, discussing how to observe and be inspired by the natural world in simple moments, to shift perspectives and gain inspiration for nature’s patterns.
A day later, we had the opportunity to repeat this workshop at the Design Museum with the Young Designers Circle, by invitation from the World Design Organisation. The designers had been convened by the World Design Organisation from several countries and were engaged in skill sharing around Design for planet and social impact.
A new WhatsApp group for attendees will help keep the momentum going, encouraging accountability and cross-learning long after the congress ends. We're excited to see what these designers, leaders, and academics do next, and we’re also looking forward to running this workshop again!
If you’d like us to bring our Ideas to Action workshop to your classroom, office or studio, get in touch.
To find out more about the Climate Action Cards click here.
To grab yourself a pack of Climate Action Cards before they sell out click here.