The designer as an agent for promoting sustainability in the creative industries in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The scope of this study was to engage the designer to evaluate the extent to which they act as agents of change towards achieving a greener world as their products have a significant bearing on how the communities consume products or services. The study provided an audit of how the three key pillars of sustainability namely economic, environmental, and social are promoted in the creative industries in Zimbabwe. Five distinct areas in the creative industries were selected for this study and these were fashion design, interior design, product design, graphic design, and multimedia design. A total of five in-depth interviews were conducted in each sector where the design agent was purposively sampled from. The informants were purposefully sampled using their present and past creative works as a key indicator for one to provide a meaningful contribution to the study. A huge gap with regards to knowledge on sustainability issues was identified amongst designers across the sectors though opportunities for improvement were also identified. The study highlights that there is a need to improve sustainability education as a concept for both designers and consumers of products or services. The study concluded that creative industries in developing economies like Zimbabwe have significant potential to contribute towards the achievement of –Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).