Season 2: Episode 2 – Weslynne Ashton

Our current human-centered cradle-to-grave design process only exacerbates our waste woes and worsens the climate crisis. How then can the designer transition their process away from this to one that creates to value and improve all life? A first step could be to understand the potential negative impacts of our work, to avoid them in the future. To see what those impacts could be, designers need to understand that everything is connected; a principle that is embedded in life-centered systems thinking. In this episode, Dr. Weslynne Ashton provides you with a better understanding of life-centered systems thinking, how she uses it in her classes and research, and provides readings and resources so you can begin your journey using systems thinking in your own design work and classroom.

Ashton+Dahle 2022 Systems and Systems Theory Seminar

Nogueira-etal 2019 RCR Expanding perceptions of circular economy - 8 capitals

Dr. Ashton is a sustainable systems scientist, whose research, teaching, and practice are oriented around transitioning our socio-ecological systems towards sustainability and equity. She studies the adoption of socially and environmentally responsible strategies in business, and the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in addressing social and environmental challenges. Her research is grounded in industrial ecology and the circular economy. Her current work focuses on increasing sustainability and equity in urban food systems and developing regenerative economies in post-industrial regions, newly industrializing countries, and small island states.

id.iit.edu/people/weslynne-ashton

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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