Sustainist Design Guide

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In the era of ‘sustainism,’ designing is not just for society, but within it. Authors Michiel Schwarz and Diana Krabbendam highlight a surge of local social initiatives where dedicated individuals are creating collaborative, socially just, and sustainable living environments. This movement emphasizes the role of everyone as potential “social designers.” The guide explores the evolving landscape of social design through the lens of sustainism, a new ethos for design that Schwarz co-developed with Joost Elffers in the Sustainism manifesto. It introduces a fresh agenda for design rooted in values like sharing, connectedness, localism, and proportionality, urging us to incorporate these sustainist qualities into our design criteria and briefs. The guide showcases best practices and encourages designers to adopt more socially and ecologically responsible approaches. It ignites a discussion on the essence of being “sustainist designers.” Michiel Schwarz is a cultural thinker and consultant, while Diana Krabbendam is a social design producer and director of The Beach, a network for creative innovation in Amsterdam.