We caught up with Marianna, a student on the MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability, to hear about her experience on the course so far.
What has been the highlight of the course for you so far?
“The highlight for me is the innovative technique used to learn—the experiential learning.”
What inspired you to do this course?
“All my life, I’ve been interested in sustainability. My background is in interior design, and I want to combine the two areas—sustainability and design. I think there is a lot we can do in this area, for example, creating new materials from recycled resources and rethinking how we approach sustainability in design.”
What companies are you working with during the course?
“We have worked with a few organisations so far. For the Innovation Sprint module, we collaborated with the Abbey Theatre, which was a five-day sprint and a great experience. At the end of the sprint, we presented a set of recommendations to the leadership team.
For my Spark Project on the Design for User-Centric, Sustainable Solutions module, I was on a team consulting for H&MV Engineering. We investigated ways to reduce waste from their sites, and it’s been amazing to work on a real-world challenge.
Right now, I’m focusing on securing a host organisation for my final master’s module, the Applied Sustainability Project. I’m currently speaking with a company to see if we can collaborate. It’s a mutually beneficial project—I get to use my skills to solve a real sustainability problem, and they get a tailored solution to their sustainability challenge from a design-thinking perspective.”
Would you recommend the course to someone who’s interested in sustainability?
“Yes, of course! It’s a broad course that covers many topics. As well as that, you’ll really develop your leadership skills and capabilities.”
Applications for the MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability are open for September 2025, apply here.