What is sustainability? How can we design better futures? Studies have shown that following major economic downturns like the one caused by the COVID -19 Pandemic, the rate of resource consumption and environmental degradation increases significantly. With scientists predicting that we only have a decade left before irreversible climate damage, how can designers create products and services for a sustainable future?
Join Sayeh as she discusses topics that have helped her understand sustainability and range from the foundational way we value nature and define sustainability, to the importance of local economies.
Sayeh Dastgheib-Beheshti, IDSA, is the Toronto Vice Chair of the IDSA Central New York Chapter. She is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of a Silicon Valley start-up currently in stealth mode, and researcher focused on sustainability. Her previous industry experience includes designing motion capture systems for movies, automotive interiors, aerospace interiors, and consumer products. With over 15 years of experience teaching in higher education, her research explores the intersection of product design, systems thinking and ecological economics to create critical pedagogy for design education.
Sayeh holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Art Centre College of Design in Switzerland, and a master’s degree in environmental studies from York University in Canada. In addition to her IDSA professional membership, she is a member of the Sustainable Consumption Research Action Initiative (SCORAI), and Canadian Society for Ecological Economics (CANSEE).
