Abstract
Graphic design has the potential to integrate the topic of sustainability due to its interdisciplinary and systemic nature. However, few studies have explored the current situation of sustainability topics within the graphic design field. Through semi-structured interviews, this study explores the current state of sustainability topics in graphic design within Higher Education (HE) settings to explore the possibilities of graphic design on sustainability. This study involved 16 HE graphic design stakeholders in the UK. Findings highlighted the dilemmas and challenges stakeholders encounter when teaching, practising and researching sustainability topics, and identified potential solutions to address these dilemmas. Results show that most Higher Education(HE) graphic design stakeholders in the United Kingdom are aware of the importance of sustainability and have basic sustainability awareness. The current challenge is the blurry definition of terminology and the need for guidance and support in practising sustainability topics within HE graphic design. Feedback from stakeholders also suggests that systems thinking should be applied in supporting HE graphic design in discussing and practising sustainability topics, and this needs to be followed up with more integration and research. Finally, this study concludes with a direction for further research and provides the key factors and components that need to be included in the future.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drslxd.2025.026
Citation
Yu, F.(2025) From Awareness to Action: Embracing Sustainability Topics – An Interview Study about Sustainability Topics with Graphic Design Stakeholders, in Clemente, V., Gomes, G., Reis, M., Félix, S., Ala, S., Jones, D. (eds.), Learn X Design 2025, 22-24 September 2025, Aveiro, Portugal. https://doi.org/10.21606/drslxd.2025.026
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
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Full Paper
From Awareness to Action: Embracing Sustainability Topics – An Interview Study about Sustainability Topics with Graphic Design Stakeholders
Graphic design has the potential to integrate the topic of sustainability due to its interdisciplinary and systemic nature. However, few studies have explored the current situation of sustainability topics within the graphic design field. Through semi-structured interviews, this study explores the current state of sustainability topics in graphic design within Higher Education (HE) settings to explore the possibilities of graphic design on sustainability. This study involved 16 HE graphic design stakeholders in the UK. Findings highlighted the dilemmas and challenges stakeholders encounter when teaching, practising and researching sustainability topics, and identified potential solutions to address these dilemmas. Results show that most Higher Education(HE) graphic design stakeholders in the United Kingdom are aware of the importance of sustainability and have basic sustainability awareness. The current challenge is the blurry definition of terminology and the need for guidance and support in practising sustainability topics within HE graphic design. Feedback from stakeholders also suggests that systems thinking should be applied in supporting HE graphic design in discussing and practising sustainability topics, and this needs to be followed up with more integration and research. Finally, this study concludes with a direction for further research and provides the key factors and components that need to be included in the future.