How can design contribute to a more equitable and sustainable world? Researchers in this cluster work alongside communities—particularly those historically excluded from technology and service design—to address structural inequities and envision long-term, restorative futures.
This work is grounded in values of equity, justice, and sustainability, and reflects a deep commitment to participatory, community-centered research. Faculty in this cluster engage with complex challenges like climate change, humanitarian response, accessibility, and technology's role in systemic harm.
Research spans topics such as sustainability transitions, environmental restoration, disability access, crisis informatics, and emerging technologies within political and social contexts. Across these efforts, we examine how design can both repair and reimagine relationships between people, systems, and environments.
