Recycling paper, using a refillable water bottle, and buying organic not enough to zero out your Christmas vacation to the Bahamas

A recent study exposes many of us who claim to be leading ‘environmentally conscious’ lifestyles. The report reveals that, while we may sleep better at night feeling we are ‘doing our part’ for the earth, in fact, we are not zeroing out our lifestyle choices, realistically we are not even close.

How then can we begin to go beyond recycling and Tupperware?

How can we, as first year design students, tackle environmental concerns that are admittedly overwhelming in lieu of project deadlines, lectures, and cleaning our apartments?

My proposal is just that we Start. Let’s start designing solutions. Let’s think of it as a process and let’s start taking steps. As Madi suggests let’s draw inspiration from firms like HWKN. Let’s become inspired, but then let’s go beyond inspiration. Let’s use that inspiration to motivate our projects. Let’s continue our years of education with an environmental ambition that will inspire others. Let’s remain environmentally creative well into our careers. Let’s think beyond, imagine beyond, and discuss beyond, but once we’ve done that, let’s follow through, let’s do beyond.