Episode 11 – Rachel Cifarelli

Rachel Cifarelli joins Eric to share her story of finding sustainable design after leaving school, why she wished her teachers taught her the topic, and explains why she started the New Wave research project to help design students take the lead on climate action when educators didn't.

Rachel Cifarelli
Rachel is a freelance graphic designer and researcher using her skills to support and uplift those who are making the world a more sustainable place.

She received her B.A. in communication design from Elon University, where she realized she was actually good at designing content more extensive than birthday cards. Rachel also always knew she was an environmentalist, but it took her a long time to figure out how to blend these two passions of design and sustainability together. It wasn't until she discovered Climate Designers that she saw a whole new career path unfold in front of her, one where she could make a living doing something she loves. Today Rachel works with environmentally-minded organizations and businesses on projects like branding, fact sheets, promotional materials, and digital assets. Some of her clients include Sierra Club, Bedford 2030, and Brooklyn Organic Kitchen.

Rachel is also a researcher working on New Wave, a joint project with Climate Designers. What originally started as a class project during undergrad has grown into a sponsored research project that has garnered lots of support and participation. The goal of this research is to inform design educators how student designers understand sustainability in the design field and how they might like to see sustainability incorporated into their design curriculum. She wants to be part of establishing the climate design education in undergraduate universities that she never got from her own.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys reading, taking walks around her neighborhood, and visiting the best local eateries and breweries in her town.

rachelcifarelli.com

linkedin.com/in/rachelcifarelli

instagram.com/rachelcifarelli

TikTok: rachelcifarelli

climatedesigners.org/edu/newwave

instagram.com/theprojectnewwave

TikTok: theprojectnewwave

Theme music by Casual Motive

At the end of each episode, we ask our guests what their ideal climate design project would be. They have four weeks with a class full of design students. We translated their response into a project brief that you can use for your class.

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