Envisioning a Circular and Sustainable Community: Using Co-Design and Futures Thinking to Make an Abstract Vision a Tangible Experience
COMPANY
University of Washington
MY ROLE
Designer & Researcher
PROJECT TYPE
Class Project
TIMEFRAME
10 weeks
💡 While this project isn’t directly related to product design or technology, it influences how I approach design problems more than most others I’ve done.
Helped me understand the power of visualizing connections in a system and remembering to think about how these pieces relate to one another. What relationship do they have to each other?
Gave me the mindset that in order to really understand the problem I’m solving, I should be able to clearly articulate it, ideally in one sentence. If I can’t do that yet, I might not actually know what problem I’m solving.
CONTEXT AND ROLE
Transition Design is an approach for guiding society towards sustainable, equitable futures through design-led systemic change.
This project was part of a Directed Research Group at the University of Washington, where we explored an emerging discipline, Transition Design, and systems thinking to understand the wicked problem of overconsumption in modern society.
Who I worked with: Three Master's students, 2 design professors, and 5 sustainability experts
My contributions
Led analysis processes and ideation; contributed to co-design workshops and final artifact creationThis project was part of a Directed Research Group at the University of Washington.
the challenge
Helping Communities Envision a Sustainable Future Beyond Overconsumption
The guiding question: What future should communities and organizations work toward, and how can we co-create that vision?
We needed to clearly articulate the complex problem of overconsumption and create an artifact that helps people envision what a sustainable, circular future could look like.
The approach
Mapping the Complex System Behind Overconsumption
We used several frameworks to build a comprehensive understanding, beginning with a STEEP analysis (Social, Technological, Environmental, Economic, Political) to map the factors driving unsustainable consumption.
After extensive analysis, I distilled the problem into one clear sentence:
The problem defined: "Overconsumption depletes resources and exacerbates inequitable access."
Mapping the Complex System Behind Overconsumption
We used several frameworks to build a comprehensive understanding, beginning with a STEEP analysis (Social, Technological, Environmental, Economic, Political) to map the factors driving unsustainable consumption.
After extensive analysis, I distilled the problem into one clear sentence:
The problem defined: "Overconsumption depletes resources and exacerbates inequitable access."
The solution
An Interactive Accordion Book That Brings Circular Living to Life
We chose a hands-on, interactive format that immerses users directly in this imagined world. Each page presents a short story, visuals, and associated policies, making circular economy concepts both tangible and relatable through a series of neighborhood vignettes.
The finished accordion book presents readers with a series of vignettes, each depicting a small scene from life in a circular future.
Exploring Different Formats
We initially considered various approaches: a day-in-the-life video, future business meeting storyboards, and reimagined artifacts like redesigned coffee cups.
Pivoting to Neighborhood Stories
After feedback sessions, we reframed our concept as a future neighborhood where sustainable living is normalized because it's affordable, convenient, and fulfilling.
Each page presented a short story, visuals, and associated policies, making the concept of a circular economy both tangible and relatable.
the impact
Providing a Transition Design Blueprint
Transition Design is a new way of thinking. This project can serve as a model for how to apply this approach to the many complex challenges that have deep social, environmental, political, and economic impacts.
Empowering local sustainability organizations
Gives local sustainability experts a concrete vision to work toward and feel inspired by.
Refelctions
How does this all relate to product design?
Drawing connections between all parts of a system.
What I learned: Complex problems require understanding interconnected relationships across multiple domains (social, economic, environmental, and technological).
How it applies: In product design, user needs don't exist in isolation. They're connected to business goals, technical constraints, market conditions, and organizational dynamics. I now approach product challenges by mapping these interconnections to identify leverage points where design decisions can create the most impact across the system.
Stakeholder Alignment Through Experiential Prototyping
What I learned: Abstract visions don't drive buy-in, but tangible, experiential artifacts can. People need to feel possibilities, not just understand them conceptually.
How it applies: When proposing product directions, I create interactive prototypes and journey maps that let stakeholders experience the solution rather than just read about it. This approach generates stronger alignment.
Co-Design for Complex Problem Solving
What I learned: Diverse perspectives reveal possibilities that individual designers miss. Facilitating collaboration across different domains generates more robust solutions.
How it applies: For complex product challenges, I think intentionally about how to facilitate cross-functional workshops that bring together engineering, business, design, and user perspectives. I strive to make these fun and engaging so they don't feel extractive or a waste of anyone's time.
CUrious about other projects?
More stories
Elegant Pack
Elegant Pack
Elegant Pack
Brand Identity
Digital Design
Ridged
Ridged
Ridged
UI / UX Design
Web Development
Web Development
Digital Design
I'd love to connect, share experiences, and grow together 🌱