Jess Parker
Design for
climate change, community, degrowth
Year
2019-2020
Jess’s professional background lies in graphic design and illustration. Originally from Australia, she studied visual communication design at Queensland College of Art in Brisbane. In 2014, Jess moved to the UK and worked for different organisations, designing materials for magazines, data centre conferences, and homelessness campaigns. Wanting a new challenge, Jess went back to university to learn more about complex societal issues and how can designers can be more actively engaged.
INSIGHT
What is your favourite part of the D4C programme?
Forming new connections and friendships with like-minded individuals from all over the world. Jess is thankful to have had supportive Design for Change peers to speak and share thoughts with since finishing the Masters programme too.
One book or reading recommendation?
Social Design and Neocolonialism by Cinnamon L. Janzer and Lauren S. Weinstein, 2014. This paper has a useful matrix to analyse the impact of design projects. Depending on the level research performed, a project can support transformative social change or stifle it.
Where are you working/ where do you see yourself working?
Since graduating, Jess has worked on a project called Owning Our Futures for Community Land Scotland. Using a speculative futures approach, she helped the people of Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, reflect on the role of community ownership and how their community might be strengthened post-pandemic. Jess hopes to do more design work related to community and young people in the future.
