Are We Designing a Landfill or Leaving a Legacy? / Jennifer Rittner / Ep. #211

Service Design Show

Let's start with an "easy" question today... Is design a force for good, or just another cog in the capitalist machine?

I know many design professionals are grappling with this question. We see design's potential to have a positive impact but often find ourselves frustrated by its misuse as a tool for profit at any cost.

The overflowing landfills, the disposable products... These are reminders of design's unintended consequences. And while we yearn to challenge the status quo, to advocate for sustainable and ethical solutions, we often face resistance from those prioritizing short-term gains. Yeah, it's a delicate balance.

So how can we raise our voices as activists without jeopardizing our livelihoods? How do we ensure that our work benefits not only our (internal) clients but also society and the planet?

Our guest, ​Jennifer Rittner​, has dedicated her career to exploring these questions. In the conversation, we delve into the complex relationship between design, ethics, and culture.

• Do we need a moral compass for the design industry?
• How much responsibility do we, as designers, bear for the impact of our work?
• What kind of culture do we want to shape through our designs?

If anything, this episode invites you to step back from your daily tasks and reflect on the bigger picture.

It's an opportunity to clarify your purpose as a professional and think about how you can align your work to that. So if that sparks your interest, join us for an inspiring chat.

Let's be honest, in a world obsessed with instant gratification, it's crucial to pause every now and than to consider the long-term consequences of our actions. We owe it to generations to come.

Enjoy and keep making a positive impact.

~ Marc

--- [ 1. GUIDE ] ---

00:00 Welcome to Episode 211

03:30 Recalibrating Social Dynamics

05:00 Design and Social Dynamics

10:00 Is there an alternative?

17:30 How her approach changed

19:00 Marc's background

24:00 Solution before building

25:00 Designer reflection

26:30 Accountability in design

32:00 The landfill problem example

38:00 What's holding us back?

43:00 How to be better humans

47:15 How we label success

51:30 Her thoughts on designers

58:00 Balancing what to make

1:00:00 "The Lab culture"

1:03:30 Power to change

1:06:30 Resources

--- [ 2. LINKS ] ---

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-rittner
• Design needs to grow up and take responsibility / George Aye / Episode #194 - https://youtu.be/tzGf6T_mMpE

--- [ 3. CIRCLE ] ---

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