Sustainability in Design: A Conversation with George Dempsey, Senior Graphic Designer at the FACTORY and Graduate of Design Skillnet’s Certificate in Design for Sustainability and Circular Economies (DfSCE) Programme.
Wondering if the Programme is for you? Interested in Sustainability and Circular Design?
Meet up with George Dempsey, Senior Graphic Design at the FACTORY, Ireland’s leading sustainable design and print studio. George is a graduate of Design Skillnet’s Certificate in Design for Sustainability and Circular Economies.
In this interview, George shares with us how his passion for sustainability evolved and the role education – specifically the Certificate in Design for Sustainability and Circular Economies (DfSCE) – played in shaping his approach. He also gives us insights into the creation of “The FACTORY Method,” an open-source framework aimed at helping designers make environmentally conscious choices and discusses the challenges and opportunities of bringing clients on board with sustainable practices.
- Tell us a little bit about yourself and the work that you do as a Senior Graphic Designer at The Factory.
I’m a senior designer working in the midlands specialising in design for print but my career began after returning from travelling abroad in 2010, when I started out working as a freelance designer, running my own business with noted success as a craft maker, origami artist and self-published children’s author, before joining the FACTORY in 2016 – originally to cover maternity leave. At the time the business was growing and in 2017 I took the opportunity to join full-time. Sustainability was always a part of this family run business and in 2020 the business rebranded, with a primary focus on making everything as sustainable as possible, with a drive to becoming Ireland’s leading sustainable design and printers. Being a part of the rebranding journey and seeing the vision of the owners come to life was quite inspiring.
- How did your passion for sustainability and circular design begin?
Through work I gained my first true insights into sustainable practices and this very quickly became a personal ethos I aligned very naturally too. I’ve always been very conscious of the role design can play and the potential it has to inform, engage and serve as a platform for educating and sharing knowledge. My work in print and my background in crafts all fed into wanting to explore ways to bring sustainability into design on a deeper level. Being part of a business which champions sustainable practices was a huge motivation in wanting to learn more.
- You’re a graduate of our Certificate in Design for Sustainability and Circular Economies (DfSCE). What does it mean for you and your business to have a qualification in sustainability?
Personally it validated my drive to learn and know more about what sustainability truly means within design as a means to making a positive impact. Having support from my employers and the business was amazing; we are a closely knit team which is wonderful support to have and recognises the value every member can bring. Within the business itself, part of my role is to help advise clients in their choices to find solutions that not only execute specific tasks but can also incorporate the opportunity to consider more sustainable solutions – which in turn can inspire alternative ideas for what we create together and more importantly for how it is made. Having the certificate gave me a new sense of confidence and validation to be better equipped in guiding and educating clients, as well as sharing knowledge with my colleagues in relation to choosing better methods of practice, which support greater sustainability and future outcomes.
- What were the key takeaways you learned from the various leading designers in sustainable practice and circular design who lectured on the course?
Having the opportunity to learn from a wealth of knowledge, from a diverse range of experts, was eye-opening to so many areas of sustainable practices and aspects within systems beyond just design. It created an awakening as such, to the broader reach within understanding such areas like the nuances of product life cycles and policy making. It also allowed me to gain a higher level of understanding of the use of language around sustainability.
- How did the course change your approach to your day-to-day practices?
One aspect of the course that I really enjoyed was taking the opportunity to develop a personal project. As I was approaching the course from a professional standpoint, it felt natural to try and align it with my own work and experiences. Taking part in the course allowed for me to take time to look at my role, what I do both myself and as part of a sustainably conscious business and I was able to explore what we offer as a business, in terms of how we collaborate with clients when developing design for print projects. The knowledge and changed perspective allowed me to focus on ways in which I and my colleagues can better guide clients in making the best decisions for their individual and business needs; to achieve sustainability goals for reducing the impact made on our planet, and its resources.
- I believe the Factory Method is the project that came about from the course – tell us about the open source framework project you worked on as part of the Certificate in Design for Sustainability and Circular Economies (DfSCE). How did the project bring value to the business you work in?
The FACTORY Method was born from my personal project which developed during the course. In response to all that was influencing me at the time, both in my place of work at The FACTORY and on the course, the culmination of my work and studies led to the development of a ‘know-how’ toolkit in sustainable design techniques. The goal — to establish and share a set of guidelines to help my colleagues and all designers think more consciously in terms of how we create and what we produce.
It was developed to empower the team in making decisions and applying practices that reflect The FACTORY’s core values. Additionally I wanted it to help us aid clients to make better decisions, adding value to their business and elevating their story to make stronger connections with consumers – while supporting a better future for our planet. Part of this process was embracing openness to questioning everything in an effort to reveal a better approach and solution to a problem. The challenge is to start thinking about how we can integrate sustainable development into every project. We need to not only aspire to influence consumer behaviour for the better but also offer transparent services they can trust, knowing the environmental impact has been considered in support of a sustainable future.
The ground work was developed on the course within my personal project – but what was most important for me at the time was for the framework to actually become implemented and potentially be a source of information not only for my colleagues but for all designers within the industry.
Shortly after completing the course, Design Declares Ireland was launched and the importance of sustainable design came even more into focus. With such serendipitous timing, we strongly believed that, as Ireland’s leading eco-printers and design studio, The FACTORY had a responsibility to contribute. With a foundation laid, a goal set and a mission made, in the following months, the whole team at The FACTORY was galvanised and this idea was expanded and adapted. The work evolved and was then refined to become ‘The FACTORY Method’.
A framework of seven design principles was created to function as a basis for a new, ambitious industry standard of practice. Additionally it can serve as a learning aid for professional designers, students and clients to achieve a better understanding and perceive the greater value of conscious design thinking. The result — empowerment to reduce environmental impact when designing for print. The FACTORY Method at its core is about making better design choices and is a project I am proud to stand by. I hope it will inspire others to embrace innovative problem solving that champions environmental and social good.
- Do you find it challenging to bring clients on board when it comes to sustainability?
Fortunately, as a sustainably conscious business, the majority of our clients are already in a mindset that lends itself well to being open to sustainable practices. However, it can still be a challenge in terms of aligning both the clients expectations, meeting the needs and the basic functions of what is being created while maintaining a balance with sustainable choices.
Often I find it is simply a matter of giving some extra time to explain and talk through the options available and the thinking behind certain choices or recommendations. I firmly believe, if we are to expect others to make a choice, then it is only fair to make sure that choice is an informed one. I believe a key part of my role as a designer specialising in print is to share knowledge, experience and provide alternative solutions, so that clients are part of the design process, resulting in solutions that feel more natural for the client to adopt.
Interestingly, this question of bringing clients on board with sustainability is one I often revisit, particularly at the moment as I am currently pursuing Masters in Design for Change at IADT – and is a large focus of my research and work at the moment. This step forward to gaining a Masters in Design for Change I can safely say is a direct result of having participated in the DfSCE course. Motivated by my work and platforms like Design Declares Ireland, I want to be able to do and offer more: a designer who advocates for change. I strongly believe that it is through knowledge and education that I can best pursue this purpose in which I strongly believe.
- Where do you see the biggest opportunities for sustainability and circular economy practices in Graphic Design?
I think the biggest opportunities can be created if design creates for longevity and reusability. Instead of designing “disposable” materials or promotional items that are quickly discarded, graphic designers can prioritise reusable or timeless designs that extend product lifecycles, which also would embrace the thinking behind developing solutions that fit with the Circular Economy. Sustainability and circular economy principles in graphic design in Ireland present a wealth of opportunities for designers to lead change. Whether through sustainable materials, digital-first design, energy efficiency, or upcycling, the industry is in a prime position to make a meaningful contribution to environmental goals. Ireland’s vibrant creative community and increasing focus on sustainability policies create a perfect environment for these practices to take root and flourish. The key will be collaboration—working alongside clients, material suppliers, and other stakeholders to ensure that every design decision contributes positively to the planet’s future.
- What skills or knowledge gained from the course do you use most frequently?
I think my biggest take away from the course is more a mindset than a skill or knowledge. Fortunately, we cater to a very broad collection of clients from fellow designers to community groups, small businesses and artists to large companies and everything in-between, so it’s very rare to have a day where a question or situation doesn’t require some kind of input that draws from my experience and knowledge to achieve a more sustainable solution to a problem or task.
- Would you recommend the course and why?
Without any hesitation, I would say 100% yes. It provides so much in terms of insights and knowledge from a vast array of backgrounds by the guest lecturers. The opportunity to engage with a diverse group of designers taking part provides a lot of value for considering areas outside of your own field. Also, it brought about focus and created an opportunity for me to learn and research areas of sustainability I wouldn’t normally have access to. It gave me time, which is such an important resource I all too often find lacking in the constant hustle and bustle of a normal day at work.
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