How to Use Design to Make the World a Better Place
Making an impact in the world through design
Sometimes when it comes to designing, it can feel like we’re not doing powerful, substantial, or transformative work in the world. There are people in the world, who are actively saving lives, starting nonprofits, donating all of their time, money and resources towards changing the world and if you’re just designing, it can feel like a small or inconsequential contribution.
While some people believe that your work won’t ever be purposeful, here’s what I believe.
In this episode of the Better Brand Designer podcast, I sat down with Jen bring to life a few ways to help you make your mark on the planet in positive and/or regenerative ways. Before we dig in, let’s talk about what changing the world through business means for both myself and Jen as we set the scene.
Jen says, “impacting the world happens at every step of the way! There is no small impact, but I make a difference in the emotional side of the business owners that I work with, to help enable them to change the world.”
For me, “I really focus on the things that point directly to a change in the world, like reducing the way I impact the climate through sustainability or regeneration.”
When it comes to figuring out how you currently, or how you want to, impact the world, ask yourself:
How am I touching someone’s life?
What do I actually feel like I need to do to impact the world in a way that is impacting the world?
As designers, it can be easy to think about how not all of our clients are necessarily “life changing” clients, but I suggest working towards progress not perfection. My challenge to you is to think about what “little bits” you can bring to your own business to create a lasting impact.
Here’s some ways you can make a lasting change in the world today
Donate a percentage of your work to a cause you’re passionate about
This percentage can come from anywhere. Your bottom line, or your total profit, or whatever. I personally donates 5% of my profit to two organizations making a difference locally and globally.
Offer up spaces in your time to do pro-bono work or discounted rate projects.
These opportunities would be for clients who can’t afford a fully custom project. Think of, non-profits, someone just starting out, or maybe an organization who wouldn’t be able to afford your services otherwise. These can be something like 2 hours a month, or once a month, or a quarter.
I think about these projects on an energetic basis because small impacts still make a big difference, but, you can’t go into projects already feeling down about them and expect to make great work. I choose these investments when I’m in the right headspace to pour out energetically.
Direct your clients to sustainable and ecological sites to order their designed printed materials and packaging.
Once I finish with brand design, I recommend a few companies that clients can get signage, business cards, etc, printing in a way that will better serve the Earth.
Do the research to find which companies reduce their carbon footprint (through printing, shipping, etc.) + understand circular design.
Often times it gets really hard to do it all right. I am prioritizing sending my clients options and allowing them to make the decision that they feel strongly about. Maybe it’s a budget decision, maybe it’s an impact one, but it’s not for me to decide, it’s for them to make the choice.
One way I’m focused on presenting choices to my clients is through continuing to learn about circular design, it’s place in the world, and how I can help further that initiative.
Circular Design is a radical, restorative, regenerative approach to business. Think of it as a new mind-set for business which will drive innovation in tomorrow’s companies and reshape every part of our lives.
For me, part of making an impact is staying curious and nimble to learn and make behavior changes based on what I’m learning. With all the new information we have at our finger tips, it can be hard to consume and audit our actions, but pairing the information with an action change is where we create impact.
Teach your clients the importance of using multicultural, size-inclusive, LGBTQ+ photography and promoting diversity.
Here, I think about what is going to be representative of the world we’re in now and how do we help people connect to it? It can be as simple as, “have you thought about hiring this model” or “what about this design style?”
I aim for ways to create a connection for each and every member of our audiences.
Improve your design for visually impaired people by testing your color system contrast and accessibility.
There are some really easy tools for you to test your color palettes, to help people read and interact with your content a little more. These are wins all around though, because tweaks for accessibility also help boost and drive points to your SEO and traffic in Google’s eyes. Simplicity and ease are often the smallest things that make the biggest difference.
Continue questioning everything about your process. Continue learning, growing, and evolving to be better than you were yesterday!
True to the name of the “better brand designers” podcast, I believe that the only person you should be “better” than was who you were yesterday! As we learn, we have to make tweaks to our processes and our habits, here’s to staying curious, being diligent with the small habits, and transforming the world one day at a time.
Sereth Design is committed to making the world a better place through design.
We believe in the power of story-telling and cultivating powerful emotions in your story to connect deeply and move mountains. Ready to see what we can do for you? Inquire here.