Why saying no, asking honest questions, and having empathy can build the career & impact you aspire to
We meet designer Joshua Stehr, whose path runs from industrial design and mass manufacturing into UX, service design, and ultimately impact-driven work. Early in his studies, he began asking why we keep putting “more of this stuff” into the world, a question that never left.
A trip to New York in 2020 - bright lights in Times Square followed by the sudden quiet of the pandemic - became a turning point, revealing the social infrastructures behind consumerism and how environmental and social issues are inseparable. Joshua describes feeling “radicalised” by what he learned, while stressing humility for people who aren’t there yet.
He explains how he now works with Dark Matter Labs inside the EU’s NetZeroCities mission, focusing on learning infrastructures that let cities learn from one another rather than rely on one‑way “expert” content. We talk about designing hands‑on exchanges to surface what actually works, what doesn’t, and why. We discuss patience, empathy, and meeting others where they are on their journey.
Joshua shares how he stands up for values at work, moving from designing “for” people to designing “with” them. He chose a selective client strategy, even as a new freelancer, because sustaining work you don’t care about is its own risk.
Along the way, we touch on his interests in regenerative economies, de-/post-growth, and community learning spaces that build the inner skills needed for resilient organisations and democracies.
Finally, we go inward: Joshua’s “Beyond Patriarchy” journey and the power of men’s peer spaces to turn shame into accountability and care. We end on trust‑building as step zero of any democratic conversation: people change through relationships, not one‑way persuasion.
💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode
✨ Why “designing more stuff” lost its appeal—and how confronting Times Square’s spectacle (and its hidden workers) can flip a career
✨ “I can’t unknow this”: the moment knowledge turns into responsibility, and how we keep empathy for those not there yet
✨ The scary wisdom of saying no: why a selective portfolio can be safer than chasing any gig
✨ Interview the Interviewer: ask about conflict and runway to reveal how a team really works—and how you’ll be expected to operate
✨ Freelance with limits: reduce simultaneous life risks, build a small safety net, then commit to work that aligns with your values
Please note that, unfortunately, the audio quality in this interview is occasionally disrupted by a faint echo.
👋 ABOUT Joshua (he/they)
Joshua is a designer who turns strategic thinking into tangible impact — for people and the planet. He has over 10 years of experience designing services with purpose-driven startups, corporates, non-profits, public services, and consultancies such as Dark Matter Labs, Oatly, Mended, Work On Climate, and Impacc.
He's currently interested in regenerative food & agriculture, new ecologically and socially focused economic paradigms, and how we transition to them, as well as restoring and strengthening our capacity and infrastructure for empathy, conflict resolution, constructive disagreement as the foundations for a more resilient democracy.
🔗 CONNECT & follow Joshua's work
👉 Dark Matter Labs
👉 Website
👉 Net Zero Cities
👉 LinkedIn
📚 RESOURCES to dive deeper
➡ Beyond Patriarchy: Creating pathways for men* to learn and build alternatives to patriarchy. Hosted and initiated by Jack Becher
➡ Regenerative Economy Lab: Immersive learning experiences to help people learn the principles of regenerative economics and find ways to put them into practice. Initiated by Katy Shields
➡ Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit
💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗
If you consider yourself an #impactjobseeker or aspiring #impactpreneur at the beginning of your journey, jump on my Newsletter “Impact Insights” where I regularly share tools and best practices from my work as a sustainability consultant and system change facilitator. 🤓⚖
For daily insights “behind the scenes” and event updates, join the extended community on the @work.with.impact Instagram account. 🧐💓
😍 You feel inspired by Joshua's career transformation? ✨
And would love a sparring partner on your own journey?
Doors to the "Sustainability Career Compass" for aspiring purpose-driven professionals will open soon! 🔔
Let's have a quick chat to see if it is the right program for you. ☎️
Apply here.
Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍
P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋 🙂
#regeneration #impactdesign #servicedesign #climatework #degrowth #postgrowth #empathy #conflictresolution #freelancelife #values #netzerocities #darkmatterlabs #workonclimate #berlin
