01 Jan Swipe Exhibition: Sustainability in the UAE

Global sustainability was the thematic backdrop for the entire semester of a “Design for Social Change” course taught in Dubai, with issues relevant to the MENA region as the core focus of this Digital Narratives & Sustainability project.

The project began with a series of presentations and field trips introducing the class to sustainability issues within the UAE. Each student chose an area of interest for primary and secondary research collection around the topics of health, climate change, and consumption in the local context. With the goal of educating the local community on the importance of issues such as the environmental impact of international imports or excessive waste in the region, each student created culturally appropriate illustrations to help influence and frame the issue for their readers.

At the close of the project, students showcased their finalized eBooks on iPads to invited professional guests and government figures during a series of exhibitions and activities held on University grounds.