What I Discovered in Design School that Made be Quite

At 19, I had no idea that going to design school would lead to a brain altering, worldview shattering moment which would make me quit. But that this moment would also lead me to an entirely fulfilling and challenging career, championing sustainability through design.

I went to design school because I wanted to be an entrepreneur, and frankly, creatively solving problems sounded like a less boring career path than most of my other options. Designing ‘stuff’ appealed to me because things were so present in my life, and the idea of potentially creating versions of these everyday things that would be part of other people’s lives was appealing.

Let’s all admit the fact that there are many misconceptions about what ‘design’ is and how it operates in the world. Design is one of the most influential elements of modern life, with nearly everything we encounter having been designed with conscious intent by someone, or a team of somebodies. From high tech electronics and even yes, soft-furnishings, to the bureaucratic systems that seem intent on frustrating us all – design is ever-present, insidiously scripting our behaviors and having tremendous impacts on the planet.