EDUCATOR
Chennai, India
Embedding the SDGs in Design Education
EDUCATOR
Chennai, India
Embedding the SDGs in Design Education
Project Team
Esther Kiruba Jebakumar Clifford
Rithikaa P B
Sony Varghese
Varshini
Nidhishri K S
Karri Swapna
Sandya
Nivedithaa
Karthikeyan
Harshini
Shruthi N
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Design Process Studio integrated UNSDGs into second-semester interior design education, positioning sustainability as foundational rather than supplementary. Students addressed real-world challenges, examining how design decisions intersect with environmental, social, and economic systems.
Overview
The integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the Design Process Studio represented a pedagogical shift towards socially conscious design education. Second-semester interior design students engaged with the SDGs framework to develop projects that addressed real-world challenges while learning fundamental design methodologies. This approach transformed traditional studio practice by embedding global sustainability principles into the creative process from conceptualisation through execution.
Students analysed how their design decisions impacted environmental, social, and economic systems, developing critical thinking about the built environment’s role in achieving sustainable futures. By working with SDGs, students developed competencies that extended beyond aesthetic considerations, learning to balance user needs, environmental responsibility, and community.
Institution
Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology
School of Building and Environment
Community Engagement
Students actively engaged with their identified user communities: new moms, architecture students, toddlers, home chefs, conducting research to identify needs aligned with SDGs. This participatory approach ensured designs addressed real community challenges while developing students’ empathy and collaboration skills.
Partners
Ar. Hariesh Sankaran, Ar. Kums P Kumaresan
Ar. Fiona Evangeline, Prof. Shalin Douglas
