Catalog
On this course, students learn about the principles of the circular economy. Students explore the economic advantages for cradle-to-cradle design, closed loop manufacturing, align of waste-streams to material flows, and industrial symbiosis. Through a design assignment, students explore the challenges of transitioning from infinite growth to circular economies.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites:
In this course, students reflect on their program studies so far and make persuasive cases for policy and political change. Understanding global mapping of climate action politics, business practices, and social justice is necessary for effective advocacy for change. Students learn about geo-political, economic and trading factors that impact climate change.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites:
This is the first of a series of studio courses that allow students on the MA and MFA Design for Climate Action programs to develop their skills and knowledge in live design briefs with industry and community partners. By their nature, these courses include socio-economic and political considerations. The studio courses are designed to challenge students with projects of increasing complexity and progressively strengthen the students’ problem-solving skills. Students will solve design problems requiring substantive research, concept ideation and realization, and implementation. In conjunction with the Zero-Waste Materials and Processes course, Climate Action Studio I uses creative practice to focus on life-cycle analysis: manufacturing cycles, materials cycles, and distributions systems.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites:
This course introduces scientific theories, methodologies, and findings used to explain anthropogenic climate change. It provides designers and those from other disciplines with a clear understanding of processes, terminology, data and statistics that can reliably inform and support problem solving and systems intervention with multidisciplinary perspectives; it enables credible and transparent shaping of strategic narratives and communication.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites:
This course introduces students to the selection and specification of appropriate materials, processes and systems for carbon neutral, non-polluting design. Students explore low-energy and renewable materials, closed-loop manufacturing and construction, industrial symbiosis, and perpetual material cycles for circular economies. Students learn about the development and selection of non-harmful materials and processes, localized logistics, design for disassembly, longevity and ethics. The course also covers regulatory factors relating to safety standards, materials recovery and reuse, pollution and emissions.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites:
In this course, students will learn techniques for effective listening, persuasion and negotiation in the climate crisis. They will learn to form rational and ethical arguments and debates that advance positive action informed by verifiable data. The climate crisis is culturally and politically complex, and often polarized. Communication narratives require rational, measured and skillful delivery. In this course, with reference to the work of others, students will learn how to create accurate and well-judged communication, PR, and persuasion strategies in the climate crisis, using text and audio-visual formats through a range of media channels (social and commercial).
Credits: 3
Prerequisites:
This is the second of a series of studio courses that allow students on the MA and MFA Design for Climate Action programs to develop their skills and knowledge in live design briefs with industry and community partners. By their nature, these courses include socio-economic and political considerations. The studio courses are designed to challenge students with projects of increasing complexity and progressively strengthen the students’ problem-solving skills. Students solve design problems requiring substantive research, concept ideation and realization, and implementation. Projects on this course address the environmental impact of human habitats, including domestic waste infrastructures, energy usage, transport systems and logistics.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: CLA 605
This is the third and final of a series of studio courses that allow students on the MFA Design for Climate Action program to develop their skills and knowledge in live design briefs with industry and community partners. By their nature, these courses include socio-economic and political considerations. The studio courses are designed to challenge students with projects of increasing complexity and progressively strengthen the students’ problem-solving skills. Students solve design problems requiring substantive research, concept ideation and realization, and implementation. Projects on this course address environmental stewardship, concern for natural habitats, ecology, urban green spaces, and land use.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: CLA 605 CLA 606