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

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 ] --- Join our private community for in-house service design professionals. ⁠https://servicedesignshow.com/circle