Storytelling with design

‘We recently invited Erica to be one of our key note speakers at our Business Magazine Southern Manufacturing dinner, her talk was fantastic, the audience was truly engaged by her presentation, many questions followed and the audience came away better educated on how they can help the planet’

" At a time when the world seems to be waking up to the effects of our consumptive economy, the plastics in the oceans, fast fashion, e-waste and climate change – what role can the design of “Things” take in helping to shape a sustainable future? One where products are designed considering their lifetime and not for landfill."

“Referring to the ‘Blue Planet’ effect that intensified public concern over climate change and plastic waste, she said: “We need designs for life, with greater collaboration between engineering and manufacturing to get to the root causes of the problems and think about how we can mitigate them and adapt.” Purvis highlighted three areas where change is needed: products, people’s behaviours and policy. “Designers and engineers have a responsibility, especially those involved in mass manufacturing.”

“Despite not having a major interest in engineering, this talk had quite an impact on me. Awareness of the issues surrounding product waste and what is being done to solve the issue is essential in this current climate with all the changes it is going through. Hearing about what organisations are doing to make products more sustainable and what inspires them was incredibly thought provoking and I’m sure it will influence the way I look at products and think about what can be done to tackle climate change.”

“What’s great is that the students are being educated and that they are the designers and engineers of the future; if they can create things with a perspective of being sustainable then they will be the game changers.”