Academics at Sheffield Hallam University are leading a new research network to give educators, researchers and businesses the tools they need to embed net-zero principles into design

Press contact: Greg Mattocks-Evans | g.mattocks-evans@shu.ac.uk

Working with Bernard Hay, programme lead for design at the UK Design Council, professor in design, David Swann, and Kieran Mcdonald, senior lecturer in visual communication, will use the network to advance understanding of the opportunities, barriers and practical behaviour changes and tools needed to incorporate net-zero principles into design education, research and practice.

The framework will be developed over the course of three workshops next year to define net-zero design principles and create a decarbonising tool for managing complexity and carbon risk.

Dr David Swann, professor in design at Sheffield Hallam University said: “The global pandemic has shown how we can all rapidly reshape our thinking and behaviour in response to a global crisis - and the design and delivery of research studies are not immune.

“I am looking forward to leading this project and helping the UK’s world-leading design community create a sustainable, planet-first future.”

Kieran Mcdonald, senior lecturer in visual communication said: “It’s fantastic to have the UK Design Council partnering with us to help us find the answers to embed net-zero into design teaching from primary school right the way through to university level.

“To achieve net-zero targets set by the UK government, it will require us all to rethink the way we operate on a day-to-day basis and higher education is no different.”

Kieran has also been awarded an Early Careers Research fellowship in net-zero design education to devise net-zero teaching and learning practices and boost carbon literacy.