Creative Director, Sustainability Designer & EDUCATOR

Creative change-maker Emma Segal brings over two decades of experience designing and producing local and international manufactured consumer goods. She also specializes in graphic design and illustration, specifically around demonstrating, clarifying and communicating complex social and environmental concepts for broader understanding and use.

Emma has a wealth of experience in sustainability, design and systems change that she brings to our dynamic creative approach to challenging the status quo by design.

With formal training in international relations, design and illustration, along with a Masters degree in changing the way designers create products, she has a deep breadth of work from creating multi-million dollar programs for multi-national organizations to bootstrapped entrepreneurs.

Emma’s experience as a creative director includes designing and producing consumer products and apparel, large scale fashion shoots, communication and ad campaigns, leading factory production trips in locations such as India, Thailand and China, as well as designing for change-making projects to support the growth of the circular economy at all levels.

Emma’s work has given her a unique insight into all aspects of how we create and produce goods and services, from initial concept, factory floor, through to delivery, sales and end of life. Her experience allows her to deeply understand and communicate change at all levels of our global systems.

Emma also works extensively in all aspects of education, including facilitating of programs around the world as an UnSchool Educator in sustainability, design and systems thinking, as well as independently running international workshops in sustainable design and social impact communications.

Emma’s award winning work has been seen in Harrods, Nordstrom, Barneys, Fred Segal, Galleries Lafayette, movies, TV shows, magazines, stadiums and on celebrities, been included in books on systems change, featured by the Smithsonian, included in academic textbooks, global social media activation campaigns, government projects and embedded into educational systems around the world for both corporate and large NGOs such as the United Nations and Oxfam.

What motivated you to become certified by the UnSchool?

My motivation for becoming part of the UnSchool community and Educator group was one that I hear a lot - frustration! Having come up against a multitude of challenges in my professional life but deeply wanting to make a change to the way the systems worked, I sought out the education, skills and experience I knew I would need to accomplish those goals, and continue to work within my field in a way that was congruent with my beliefs, values and ethics, and most importantly, my desire to get things done rather than just talk. Action is integral to creating change, and I wanted the tools to do so.

I’ve had the great benefit and enjoyment of being involved in several Fellowships - as a volunteer for San Francisco, production & education teams for Mumbai, Kuching, and as lead educator for Cape Town. I also co-hosted the UnSchool PostDisposable Workhop in Arhus, Denmark, along with KaosPilots and take part in contributing to the UnSchool online content and Disrupt Design change projects.

Throughout these programs and opportunities, I’ve had the space to experiment, experience and refine the way that I communicate, share and collaborate

What is your professional background?

I have two decades of experience designing and producing local and international manufactured consumer goods, and during that time developed a a wealth of experience in design, sustainability and systems change.

From creating multi-million dollar programs for retail giants and international organizations, to projects with the CBC and United Nations, I developed a broad spectrum of skills with an emphasis on creating beautiful solutions that make our world a better place. With a an academic background in International Relations, Graphic Design and an MA in Sustainability, the intersection of these areas are a central part of my focus, designing, writing, teaching and speaking on the subject.

I’ve always been deeply involved in every aspect of the design process from creative + art direction, brand, product and concept development (design through to production and marketing), strategy, sales, forecasting, illustration, packaging, editorial, textile, retail, product and photoshoot production, mentoring, consulting, high level budget and team management.

My skills and experience span multiple industries - from metals to fabric to beer to digital - informed by years spent travelling to factories and with manufacturers, and creating workshops/products for a broad spectrum of for, and not for profit, organizations. My background is global, working and travelling in number of cultural contexts and countries in North America, Europe, China, India and broader South East Asia.

What type of change do you want to make and why?

The focus of my professional life and academic studies has been the production of physical goods, and in the last few years on the educational aspect and mindset shifts of those who are doing the designing and production of such products. While I could create many sustainable products myself, supporting the uptake of skills and knowledge of the people around the world who actively create the things we all use and buy will help create a larger effect than making more “stuff” on my own. My change goals are solidly in the realm of getting more people to make better things more often and effectively.

How do you plan on applying what you have learned through the UnSchool certification?

As an UnSchool Educator, I design, run, produce and facilitate workshops around the world both independently and for the UnSchool, as well as work on change projects with Disrupt Design. Along with the knowledge content on the systems, sustainability and design pillars, the UnSchool has a unique method of facilitation to encourage and increase the uptake and follow through of participants to take the few hours of inspiration and turn it into new ways of doing things. We’ve all been in workshops and courses that are exciting (or sometimes boring!) in the movement, and then quickly forgotten them. With the UnSchool methods, you walk away with simple, effective tools that can be applied to any project you have, big or small, that support the mindset shifts gained during the workshop. Applying these knowledge transfer methods gained through the Educator certification go a long way to helping me achieve my change goals.