Introduction to Sustainability Review - Jessica Nagle
This course provided an excellent introduction, offering a broad yet connected overview of sustainability across various sectors.
During my product design degree, sustainability was always a key focus for me. I enjoyed the challenge of creating sustainable designs and found the research behind sustainable practices fascinating. However, the vastness of the topic often made it easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. This course helped tie everything together, filling in gaps in my knowledge and solidifying my understanding of sustainability as an interconnected framework.
The course is structured into five modules. Here’s a brief overview of each one:
Module 1: What is Sustainability?
This module set the tone with impactful data and facts presented in an honest way. It got straight to the core of the issue, making the challenges of sustainability both clear and actionable.
Module 2: Net Zero and a Low Carbon Economy
This module explored the scale of the climate challenge and what the lighting industry has achieved so far, as well as the steps needed to reach net zero. I found it particularly enlightening, as it clarified areas I hadn’t fully understood before. The use of diagrams and interactive video links made the content engaging and easy to follow. This module provided a clear path forward to considering sustainability within lighting.
Module 3: The Circular Economy
As a designer, this was my favourite module. It introduced the concept of the circular economy as more than just repairing products—it’s about considering every stage of a design’s lifecycle. Something I enjoyed thinking about throughout my approach to designing at university.
Module 4: LCAs and EPDs
This module discussed Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), offering a solid introduction to these tools for measuring a product’s environmental impact. It provided practical insights into how these can be applied in design and the lighting industry, which I found incredibly interesting.
Module 5: A Sustainable Way of Thinking: ROLAN
The final module focused on how product design decisions can reduce light pollution and improve efficiency. It was a great conclusion to the course, offering actionable insights on integrating sustainable thinking into real-world projects.
Course Highlights
What I appreciated most about this course was its refreshing honesty and optimistic tone. Sustainability can often feel overwhelming or disheartening, but this course framed it as an exciting opportunity for positive change within the lighting industry.
The course was well-structured, breaking down complex topics into manageable, bite-sized modules that flowed logically. It provided detailed explanations where needed, with helpful links to further reading and video content for deeper understanding into specific topics, if needed, making it very accessible for learners at any level.
My Personal Takeaways
This course gave me a clearer and more connected understanding of sustainability within lighting, smoothing out uncertainties and enabling me to approach the topic more holistically. It enabled me to think broadly about sustainability while also considering specific opportunities for change.
If you’re looking for an engaging, approachable introduction to sustainability, I highly recommend this course. It’s not only informative but also inspiring, presenting sustainability as a challenge full of exciting potential.
