Our Sustainable Design MA offers more than just academic exploration, it opens doors to meaningful, research-led projects that allow students to engage with real-world issues through creative and interdisciplinary approaches.
One example is a recent initiative led by joint course leader, Dr Sally Sutherland, which investigates the impact of gambling on LGBTQ+ communities using creative research methods.
In this blog, we hear from Alice Strutt, a student who had the opportunity to be involved and learn more about their pivotal role in the project.
Discovering the project and why I applied
“My course co-leader, Dr Sally Sutherland, sent me the opportunity. I applied because the role aligned with my professional background as a Production Director and Senior Project Manager in creative industry. Beyond that, the project really resonated with my values. It used creative methods to explore how gambling impacts LGBTQ+ communities, which connected both with my personal ethics and the themes we explore on the MA in Sustainable Design. I also saw it as a key opportunity to work within a funded research context. Since I’m preparing to begin a PhD, it felt like the right step at the right time.”
My role and responsibilities
“I worked as a co-curator on the exhibition. My responsibilities included organising production, managing logistics, designing the exhibition layout and selecting materials. I also created the posters and the catalogue. The role combined creative decision-making with practical planning. I had to balance visual communication, ethical messaging and project delivery within a fixed timeline, all while working across research and community-based contexts.”
Examples of my work
“The poster was one element in a wider set of materials that also included the printed catalogue and signage. These pieces had to function individually but also work together as a coherent whole. They were designed to communicate the aims of the research in a way that was both accessible and visually grounded in the lived experiences the project was centred around.”
What I learned and skills I gained
“A big part of the learning came from working with an interdisciplinary team. Everyone brought different strengths, and that meant communication needed to be really clear. In my professional work, I’ve mostly collaborated with teams who are used to delivering creative projects. This was a bit different. The team had strong experience in research and community engagement, but hadn’t worked on a photo exhibition before. So part of my role involved explaining how certain design or production choices would support the exhibition and help tell the story in the space. It made me think about how I share information with people from different disciplines.
“It also gave me a chance to think about how to present the participants’ work with care. Because this was a photovoice exhibition, it was important that the images weren’t treated as objects, but as part of a wider conversation. Matt Smith, the fellow co-curator and a researcher on the project worked hard on selecting the right text and imagery to highlight the findings of the research, so my job was to ensure that this came across in presentation. Layout, framing, sequencing, those decisions had to be made in a way that respected the people who took part, considered their anonymity and valued the stories they chose to share. That’s something I’ll carry forward into my PhD and any future collaborative work.”
Reflections on the course and advice for future students
“The most valuable part of the course has been the chance to use design to work with complex theory. It’s pushed me to question assumptions and approach complex issues from new perspectives. It’s also made me think differently about what design research can do. It’s not only about solving problems. It’s about paying attention to what’s happening, and asking different questions.
“One of the biggest shifts for me has been recognising that sustainable design goes beyond material choices in design. It’s also about considering what is being sustained. Which systems, behaviours, relationships or values are being maintained, and at whose expense. That kind of thinking doesn’t offer easy answers, but the course gives you the space and tools to work with that complexity.
“For anyone thinking about applying, I’d say come ready to unlearn a few things. You don’t need a fixed idea of what sustainable design is, but you do need to be open to where the process might take you.”
Sally says:
“The research team from public health and inequalities are not used to using creative methods and ways of documenting and disseminating research – so Alice’s skills and experience (and patience and communication skills) were essential to make this run smoothly.
“The event went so well and this, I believe, is testament to Alice’s skills and knowledge in producing work to a high standard – this made such a difference. A well-designed and beautifully constructed exhibition and catalogue changes how people engage and really affects how valued participants feel. Alice’s hard work made that possible.”
Interested in studying Sustainable Design?
If you’re passionate about using design to tackle complex social and environmental challenges, our Sustainable Design MA offers a unique space to explore, collaborate, and grow. With opportunities to take part in real-world, research-led projects, it’s a course that goes beyond the classroom.
👉 Find out more and apply through the University of Brighton website and start shaping a more sustainable future through design.
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