DESIGNSTORM: SEA LEVEL RISE
Integrating climate issues into design education
As part of a faculty team, I led a 3-day immersive workshop created as a partnership between The Nature Conservancy, The Aquarium of the Pacific, the U.S. Geological Survey, the City of Long Beach, hosted by Art Center College of Design.
Over the course of 3 intensive days students were challenged to design adaptive planning models to address the anticipated consequences of sea level rise for residents of specific Long Beach neighborhoods that contain residential properties, public recreational spaces and businesses.
Students designed strategic forward-thinking concepts for the years 2030, 2050 and 2100 incorporating temporary and permanent solutions which allow residents to remain in their homes as long as possible while also planning for managed retreat.
This Designstorm was an exploration into how this can serve as a model for integrating climate issues into design education and for collaboration between designers and climate change experts.
“So much of my work often feels like doom and gloom with unsurmountable problems, but seeing all the ideas here gives me a lot of hope. I was really struck how quick the students could, in three days, use scientific information available from many sources and bring that together with case studies around the world to present these really innovative ideas. I was struck how formed their ideas were in such a short amount of time.”
– Alyssa Newton Mann
Coastal Project Director, The Nature Conservancy
”Mariana was part of a faculty team of 3 leading the students and interfacing with knowledge experts, environmental advocates, government representatives, residents and community members. The science was complex and the interaction between the various stakeholders critical. Mariana was especially skilled at helping student teams integrate insights from scientific data and social/cultural research, and think through the sea level rise timeline to create phased solutions for 2030, 2050 and 2100. Mariana contributed to the success of this demanding project through her understanding of the concept development process, as well as her skillful guidance in goal-oriented decision-making. ”
— Heidrun Mumper-Drumm
Director Environmental Initiatives, Art Center College of Design
