sustainable systems

sustainable systems


Anything we extract from the earth must ultimately go back into it. This course aims to create an emotional and intellectual connection with the life forms and environments which bear the burden of our choices. How can designers, artists and strategic thinkers create products, systems and services that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable? Sustainable Systems is structured around four major themes: Climate Change, Materials, Energy, and Water. We explore these environmental issues as complex and interrelated topics. Understanding them can help us address current social and justice issues in new ways. In this course you will study real conditions that are both local and global. Class activities will combine field trips, lectures, discussion, studio-based workshops, lab experiments and seminars. Fieldwork and applied research methods will be developed into creative works that address diversity, adaptability and resilience in the face of ever changing conditions.

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student work

Felicia Hertada "Deck of Extinct Spirit (Redesign Playing Cards)" Felicia Hertada

Felicia Hertada "Deck of Extinct Spirit (Redesign Playing Cards)"

Jenny Gao "Product of the Obsolescent" Jenny Gao

Jenny Gao "Product of the Obsolescent"

Luca Cyr "Pollution Overtaking the Planet" Luca Cyr

Luca Cyr "Pollution Overtaking the Planet"

Talia Dang "Tackling Food Waste: A Call To Action!!!" Talia Dang

Talia Dang "Tackling Food Waste: A Call To Action!!!"

Anna Emberson "Sidewalk Shed Gardens" Anna Emberson

Anna Emberson "Sidewalk Shed Gardens"

Aijalon Gandionco "Fish Are Friends" Aijalon Gandionco

Aijalon Gandionco "Fish Are Friends"

Vrinda Gupta "How to Get Rights: An Ultimate Guide for Plants" Vrinda Gupta

Vrinda Gupta "How to Get Rights: An Ultimate Guide for Plants"

Nicole Chen "Biodegradable jellyfish" Nicole Chen

Nicole Chen "Biodegradable jellyfish"

Flora Cao "Kombucha Leather Crafts" Flora Cao

Flora Cao "Kombucha Leather Crafts"

sentao chen "Anxiety And the City" sentao chen

sentao chen "Anxiety And the City"

Virginia Alvares Affonso "Reimagining Women's Shelters" Virginia Alvares Affonso

Virginia Alvares Affonso "Reimagining Women's Shelters"

Surali Sangesh Dalal "Golf For All" Surali Sangesh Dalal

Surali Sangesh Dalal "Golf For All"

Salma Ashmawy "NYC Work- Shelter Program" Salma Ashmawy

Salma Ashmawy "NYC Work- Shelter Program"

Elin Nakayama "Oyster & Bamboo Project" Elin Nakayama

Elin Nakayama "Oyster & Bamboo Project"

Dania Chirino Weinraub "DosveDaniaDesigns" Dania Chirino Weinraub

Dania Chirino Weinraub "DosveDaniaDesigns"

Rishita Rajneesh Mehta "Trash Can't" Rishita Rajneesh Mehta

Rishita Rajneesh Mehta "Trash Can't"

Hui Lin Li "The Inherited Tool" Hui Lin Li

Hui Lin Li "The Inherited Tool"

Tiffany Wang "Plant Stand" Tiffany Wang

Tiffany Wang "Plant Stand"

Disha Bafna "Spore Madness" Disha Bafna

Disha Bafna "Spore Madness"

Thomas Paul Walsh "Hazmat Mask Suit" Thomas Paul Walsh

Thomas Paul Walsh "Hazmat Mask Suit"

Shania Dias "The Bones of Might" Shania Dias

Shania Dias "The Bones of Might"

Xinyi Zhao "Paper containers" Xinyi Zhao

Xinyi Zhao "Paper containers"

Leah Horton "Urban Gardeners: The Key to a Healthier Future" Leah Horton

Leah Horton "Urban Gardeners: The Key to a Healthier Future"

Norris Deng and Winnie Zhang "Idea Proposal for Citi bike: A Renewal of the System" Norris Deng and Winnie Zhang

Norris Deng and Winnie Zhang "Idea Proposal for Citi bike: A Renewal of the System"

Junjun Zhou "BoothCare - Redesigned Dental Care Line" Junjun Zhou

Junjun Zhou "BoothCare - Redesigned Dental Care Line"

Alessandro Fontana "Refoodit" Alessandro Fontana

Alessandro Fontana "Refoodit"

Maria Hamacher "simplepod" Maria Hamacher

Maria Hamacher "simplepod"

Tianyu (Alice) Wang "Studio Journal & Field Action Journal for Sustainable Nomadic Design" Tianyu (Alice) Wang

Tianyu (Alice) Wang "Studio Journal & Field Action Journal for Sustainable Nomadic Design"

Huashuang Hu "Anthropocene" Huashuang Hu

Huashuang Hu "Anthropocene"

Edmund Langdell "Sustainably Made Felt Hat" Edmund Langdell

Edmund Langdell "Sustainably Made Felt Hat"

spotlights

news / events