I have to say that I am dealing with an impressive group of women here. Every one of them is well-versed and current in the issues of sustainability and how these affect textiles and their production/distribution. Today’s discussion in class started with Bryan Selterman’s article in National Geographic (June 2018) on Greed vs. the Common Good.

Recognizing that the people in the discussion were already a environmentally-sensitive group -much like the 1000s who marched last Friday (above) – who would choose to forfeit a reasonable percentage of individual gain for the common good, the conversation quickly moved to how this ethical exercise might apply to the broader issues (See Big Board image in Our Own House post) and specifically the marketplace.

As business is driven by a profit motive, how does one understand and inform human behavior towards a more positive outcome for all? What can individuals do to feel effective? And specifically how can a group of talented young designers approach the problem, putting DESIGN at the core of problem solving? Stay tuned as we research and analyze the potential that DESIGN has to change the course!