On Thursday, 20 March, the Faculty of Design kicked off its 25th anniversary celebrations with an event focused on sustainability in the creative industries. 

The seminar featured prominent sustainability leaders, who shared their valuable insights: Margarita Ducci, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Chile; Ester Xicota, international consultant specialising in sustainable strategy and marketing for the textile industry; Bárbara Peñafiel, Circular Economy Coordinator at the Ministry of the Environment; Bernardita Correa, Sustainability Leader at IKEA Chile; Fiorella Montoya, Corporate Sustainability Manager at Nutrisco; and Jesús Vial, founding partner of JVD Studio and UDD Design lecturer. These professionals offered a broad range of perspectives from their respective sectors. 

The event opened with a reflection from Alejandra Amenábar, Dean of UDD Design, on the crucial role designers play in addressing the climate crisis. She emphasised that the seminar served as a call for designers to recognise their responsibility in creating a sustainable future. 

“According to data from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage, highlighting the importance of making responsible choices from the beginning of the creative process. This means designers have the power to reduce waste, emissions, and resource consumption through their design decisions,” said Amenábar. 

A Holistic and Committed Education 

As part of its sustainability commitment, the UDD School of Design launched the master’s in design and Sustainable Innovation (MADIS) six years ago, in collaboration with the Danish foundation The Index Project. The programme aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship with a strong focus on sustainability. 

In addition, UDD continues to update its undergraduate curriculum, integrating sustainability across all four of its specialisations: graphic design, spatial and object design, digital interaction design, and fashion and management design. This curricular revision aims to nurture a critical and responsible mindset in future designers, preparing them to face environmental challenges with innovation and ethics. 

The event not only reaffirmed UDD Design’s commitment to sustainability but also provided attendees with valuable tools and perspectives for implementing conscious design in their respective fields.