
Using knowledge, creativity and collaboration to design circular solutions to real world problems
The ADA Innovation Hub partnered with philo & co in 2023 to design and deliver an immersive two-day workshop and design sprint focusing on the circular economy. Sixty students from across the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture and the Faculty of Science formed 12 interdisciplinary teams to creatively problem solve and pitch circular solutions to UNSW sustainability issues.
The program was designed to acknowledge that the move to a circular economy requires not only the skills of scientists, designers and architects, but also educators, policy makers, linguists, social scientists, media experts and the arts. The training module was therefore designed to resonate with the breadth and depth of disciplines represented by the faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture.
How can we engage students with knowledge regarding Circular Economy principles and embolden them with the depth and breadth of ways these can be applied?
Through a combination of pre-work and in person workshops, students were given training in:
The two-day program culminated in an exciting pitch night where the teams competed for a total of $11,000 in prize money. The Innovation Hub would like to acknowledge the contribution from the Faculty of Science in supporting this event.
A student-driven service to rehome, repurpose and recycle unwanted household goods from student accommodation.
Team members: Hannah Beaton, Himamshu Umesh, Prerna Gupta, Zhenzhuo (Star) Xian.
An on-campus service that teaches you simple mending skills aimed at reducing fast fashion’s environmental footprint.
Team members: Lu Zhang, Saumya Khandelwal, Sushrut Mogarkar, Yinghan Qiu, Zixiao (Marton) Zhou
A service that repurposes campus catering food waste and assist students struggling with cost-of-living expenses.
Team members: Damien Sinha, Jack Li, Tejas Patel, Twisha Prakashbhai Mistry
A UNSW clothes-swap community system.
Team members: Abeerah Saad, Anil Babu, Melanie Notaras, Nishita Joshi, Pocut Shaliha Finzia Panglima Polem, Sirin Satthatips
Dean - Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture
Dean, Faculty of Science
Director, UNSW Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology (SMaRT)