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A novel course at the University of Washington instructs students on how to investigate the climate crisis and environmental challenges from a communications and design viewpoint.Aidan Moeck/Dominic Muren/Adrienne Russell

On the second day of “Communications & Design for the Environment,” a Communications Leadership course taught for the first time this spring, Adrienne Russell and Dominic Muren took their students to the Apple Store and instructed them to implode it.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

The idea derives from Donna Haraway, a scholar focused on science and technology studies, who famously encouraged her students to “implode” everyday items to better understand how the world operates. Russell, a professor of communication at the University of Washington, and Muren, a teaching professor of design, implemented this approach in their course by urging students to analyze the objects in their surroundings and how they relate to the environment and the climate crisis.

The notion of “implosion” prompts students to scrutinize the objects surrounding them and their connections to the environment.Aidan Moeck/Dominic Muren/Adrienne Russell

For instance, in a zine crafted for the course, Russell and Muren applied the implosion method to explore a ceramic mug. The processes of mining, shipping, and firing porcelain clay produce carbon emissions. The industrial molding technique yields a low-cost product, but resources and energy are squandered on mugs that easily break. A novelty gift mug, which probably sees little usage, still contributes to carbon emissions. Consequently, a ceramic mug frequently has a carbon footprint ten to hundreds of times greater than that of a glass or plastic mug.

At the Apple Store, the students arrived with a printed checklist of observations and inquiries. They engaged in the implosion process for an hour and a half before returning to the classroom. Upon their return, they discussed the dissonance between the inviting store layout and sleek brand design against the environmental repercussions of mining, refining, and manufacturing the company’s products.

This course teaches students how to analyze the climate crisis and environmental issues from a perspective beyond hard science. From a communicative angle, this includes contemplating which subjects resonate with audiences, whose opinions are elevated while others are suppressed, which concepts receive financial backing, and beyond. The design perspective involves exploring how people move, what they wear, and where they reside. Russell and Muren are currently developing a certificate program for CommLead, where students will complete a series of courses centered on environmental design and communication.

“The climate crisis is such a vast issue,” Russell remarked. “Many individuals find themselves paralyzed trying to tackle it. However, we hope students leave this class understanding that regardless of where you are or what you do or what your expertise encompasses, there’s a point of entry to contemplate things and their relation to the environment.”

The idea for the course emerged during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Russell and Muren, being neighbors, started a book club to navigate lockdown, much like others. Much of their individual work involves environmental and climate change topics, which influenced their reading list. Since they were already engaged in research on these subjects, they began outlining a class.

“The way communication and design enable an understanding of the climate crisis is markedly different from the scientific or political traditions,” Muren noted. “Both traditions wield power, but they often leave individuals feeling powerless. Addressing climate change through science or government requires substantial contributions from major players. Our approach is more grassroots and influence-oriented, where ideological elements can be embedded in objects, spaces, or organizations.”

With this framework, students embarked on projects tailored to their interests and expertise. One student, experienced as a user experience designer, sought to create more sustainable websites. While redesigning the site of a well-known clothing brand, she discovered how to build energy-efficient websites and produced a how-to guide for fellow designers.

Another student, inspired by her Native Hawaiian heritage, concentrated on loʻi kalo — traditional Hawaiian wetland farms where taro is cultivated in terraced ponds. She considered the viewpoint of an organization working to restore this system, elucidating the science involved and the rationale for pursuing this mission. She developed various formats for sharing the information, including a zine and a presentation that explicitly articulated why engaging children is crucial for the success of revitalization efforts.

“One of the things everyone is eager to discover is what actions they can take regarding the climate crisis,” Russell stated. “The reality is, we cannot resolve this if we merely leave the most vulnerable populations to fend for themselves.”

However, Russell highlighted that numerous individuals engage with environmental concerns in various ways. Some professors, for instance, incorporate the climate crisis into their regular courses. There are also coalitions like Clean Creatives, a movement of advertising and public relations professionals who refuse to collaborate with fossil fuel companies.

“The core principle behind this course is to shift people’s mindset to consider how their actions can intervene and not exacerbate the climate crisis,” Russell explained. “This differs significantly from discussing individual solutions and does not shift the blame from governments and corporations, which are the principal polluters. It’s a mentality shift to alleviate feelings of discouragement and also addresses how we can influence our smaller communities.”

This reframing enables individuals to tackle issues like emissions while concurrently fostering resilience.

“We had a farmer present on his work regarding community food sovereignty and racial inclusivity in food production,” Muren shared. “He’s working to unite wine and people of color within the community. That’s a joyful byproduct of attempting to solve the climate crisis. It doesn’t have to focus solely on negativity if you can approach it in innovative, more holistic ways.”

For further inquiries, reach out to Russell at [email protected] and
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Muren at [email protected].

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