The inner workings of our research studio

February 25, 2011 | Eric Benson  | 

As the world changes, so does design.

In my EDGE (Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy) course taught this semester to a diverse range of students, we are attempting to answer this question:

How do we create a more flexible & sustainable studio as we face a more uncertain future?

The students (in teams of four) are addressing this issue by asking similar questions that the AIGA asked in their Designer of 2015 project.

The EDGE students will be working with classroom guests from: Firebelly Design, Project M, IDEO, Tilt, smashLab and various other designers, academics and social entrepreneurs to help create an actual functioning design studio that meets the needs of the 21st century.

However, we can't do it alone. This is a collective project and we'd love your help. Please tweet, FaceBook or comment below on your thoughts. What makes a sustainable design studio?

• What do we make?
• How do we communicate our offerings?
• What disciplines do we need to work with more and why?
• What are our socio-economic, cultural and environmental considerations?
• What skills must these designer have?
• How will it be organized? Will it be a NPO? Co-Op? B Corporation? etc.

The results will be used to create a functioning studio where it's planning will be laid transparent for all the participants and world to emulate to create a more sustainable industry.