Government reports and media coverage about sustainable development make clear the imminent negative impact of climate change, accelerating scarcity of resources and dramatic reduction of biodiversity, compromising our future. We are a group of designers and educators working with the support of the nowherefoundation who understand design’s potential to achieve economic growth, social equity and environmental prosperity. Sustainable design practice and thinking re-evaluates and assesses a product, service or system to provide new insights and fresh ideas for creativity and innovation.

‘from Waste to Wisdom’ (fW2W) is the first international sustainable design and education initiative of its kind which aims to develop sustainable practices and promote responsible consumption.

A framework for the initiative has been set with influential practice leaders and shapers in Europe. In order to inspire and educate current and future design professionals about their role as agents of change, as well as make sustainable design solutions the mainstream for consumer choice, we will hold a Europe-wide competition that encourages submissions of visual records of ‘best practice’ and ‘next practice’ in sustainable design. Our primary aim is to create an Image Bank to help develop a visual culture for sustainability and make this concept more tangible to diminish the gap between public debate surrounding sustainable development and the everyday choices we all face. This Image Bank will become a global reference for sustainable design solutions.

The creative and methodological potential of design thinking and practice will become visible and celebrated through the Image Bank and echoed through future learning resources, travelling exhibitions and conferences.

> Learn more about fW2W