The limits of good design

Good design, while valuable, isn't sufficient to address global challenges; it needs to strategically drive positive change. Current design practices often prioritize profit and consumer desires, neglecting broader societal and environmental impacts. Human-centered design, while aiming to improve lives, often serves corporate interests, leading to unsustainable consumption. Human-made objects now outweigh all life on Earth, highlighting the unsustainable nature of current growth. Earth Overshoot Day demonstrates our overuse of planetary resources, jeopardizing future generations. This overconsumption extends to the digital realm, with even online services contributing to environmental strain. Shifting from human-centered to life-centered design is crucial, requiring long-term thinking and collaboration. Small, cumulative changes are more effective than drastic, last-minute actions. Designers must influence organizations to adopt sustainable practices, acknowledging the far-reaching consequences of their decisions.