'what design can do' book shines a yellow glimpse into a circular future

in response to one of the greatest challenges of our time, a new yellow book by what design can do(WDCD) is shining a spotlight on 31 creative optimists who are working to reinvent our relationship with waste. from building with bacteria to designing for disassembly, ‘never waste a good crisis’ offers an exciting glimpse into the initiatives and experiments that bring us closer to a circular future. all together, these ideas serve as much-needed signposts for a new economy in the making. each one is as much a reason to be optimistic, as it is an urgent call-to-action.

a section of the book is dedicated entirely to the 16 winners of the global ‘no waste challenge’ initiated by WDCD and the IKEA foundation

all images courtesy of what design can do

in more detail, one section of the book is dedicated entirely to the 16 winners of the global no waste challenge, a design competition initiated by WDCD and the IKEA foundation. in this chapter, from thousands of entries, some of the most inspiring visions and big-picture ideas on waste notion are valued. projects also include small hacks to shift consumer habits or make waste disposal safer for those who need it most. from repair clubs to living coffins, the targeted concepts are changing the field of circular design as we know it.

‘designers are in a unique position to change how things are made and what they are made of. this is a huge responsibility—and an opportunity. with this book, we want to throw our weight behind those creatives who dare to imagine different ways of living, creating and consuming, all within the boundaries of our planet,’ explains WDCD’s creative director richard van der laken.

circular garden, photo by marco beck peccoz

the changemakers featured prove how creative industries are part of the ecological crises by touching on over-consumption and over-production. besides, design can and must be a part of the solution. among the creatives, names include studio formafantasma (italy), whose artwork ‘ore streams’ explores the pitfalls and politics of electronics recycling; fernando laposse (mexico), whose project ‘totomoxtle’ brings together agricultural waste and indigenous crafts and yasmeen lari (pakistan), who builds with mud and lime to create shelters that are zero-carbon and zero-waste. ‘never waste a good crisis’ also features a wide array of emerging designers from around the world, including the work of recent graduates like valdís steinarsdóttir (iceland) and carvey maigue (philippines).

seaweed cycle, photo by studio klarenbeek & dros