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Phil Hamlett, graduate director of the MFA graphic design program and founding co-chair of the AIGA Center for Sustainable Design, has been teaching a course in sustainability for the past three years at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. When he became aware of Design Ignites Change, he realized it was a natural fit for his course to be integrated with the program. The Academy saw Design Ignites Change as a chance to encourage work for social good while, at the same time, targeting a couple key issues for the school. Since its inception, they’ve been using the program as an opportunity for cross-disciplinary study, having four graduate departments participate, as well as a chance to get alumni involved as mentors for the MFA students.

To unify the projects across the Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design and Photography departments, AAU developed a theme, Sustaining San Francisco. The Academy of Art University is the largest private art and design school in the country, with a tremendous presence in San Francisco. Through Sustaining San Francisco, Hamlett hoped to localize the Academy’s response to Design Ignites Change, leveraging the school’s local presence and relating the projects to the neighborhood. The resulting student work touched upon a wide variety of issues and businesses in the Bay Area. An example of an innovative project to come out of Sustaining San Francisco is Mooko by Shihwen Wang. She and another industrial design student designed a supermarket milk vending machine and a reusable bottle as well as print materials to promote the principle of sustainability to both the farming system and the packaging design of an organic dairy line.

The first run of Sustaining San Francisco took place over the course of spring semester 2009 and culminated with the work being presented at AAU’s Spring Show which was attended by hundreds of visitors, including numerous professionals in the design industry. Hamlett and the other professors plan to continue Sustaining San Francisco over the coming years to build a body of work and compelling in-depth story. Several other classes have also joined Design Ignites Change, including web design.

When asked why the Academy of Art University wanted to be a part of Design Ignites Change, Hamlett explained that historically the Academy has focused on building portfolios and helping their graduates find work but, over time, he has noticed that students have an itch they want to scratch—to use their skills other than for commercial gain. This desire to do work that is fulfilling is not exclusive from the real world. Many studios and companies are also building these concepts into their business models. He believes there are a growing number of viable applications for the skills Design Ignites Change cultivates. Hamlett says you can, “do this type of work and eat too!”

Students involved with Design Ignites Change are set on a path to continue doing work for social good in the future and, by being part of a bigger network, their work gains exposure and becomes more tangible. One particular graphic design project from Sustaining San Francisco has already gained considerable recognition. WHOLE, by MFA student Katy Liao, won judges choice in the AIGA cause/affect competition and 2nd place for the student environmental sustainability category in the AIGA (re)design awards.