The Role of the Designer in a Sustainable World is a new course at UC Berkeley Extension in the Sustainable Design Program that will give you the resources to find opportunities within green design, break through obstacles to implementing sustainability and go after your eco-passion.

No prerequisites except a desire to change our world.

June 23 - August 25

at UC Berkeley Extension Sustainable Design Professional Program
95 Third Street at Mission, San Francisco

Mondays 6:30-9:30pm

Instructor Jessica C. Kraft

Course Description

The designer in a sustainable world has a new code of ethics to work with, one that incorporates economic equity and responsible technology in addition to environmental protection. Taking a cue from the Bauhaus and the Arts and Crafts movements, we will approach design as a social intervention, capable of igniting mass cultural change. Students will explore how design can determine consumer desire and influence business practices-replacing the "bigger, better, more" directive with "one planet living" and "natural capitalism." Current trends in corporate responsibility and consumer behavior present a new vision of the global economy that prioritizes the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit, but concepts and technologies of sustainability are still far from main-stream. We'll explore the political and economic obstacles to implementing cradle-to-cradle production and address the design challenges of low-income and disadvantaged communities around the world. We'll also examine how sustainability is influencing the professional institutions and practices of contemporary design, focusing on leadership opportunities. Individual student projects will present "green conflict resolution" strategies. Join us for an invigorating summer course that will prepare you to make sustainability a reality.

To enroll, call (510) 642-4111 or visit: http://www.unex.berkeley.edu/profseq/sustain.html