*details™
Welcome, Worldchangers
*details™ is a playful, fun, informal space for conversations with design and business leaders around the world who are walking the talk, and is meant to make the high vision of this work tangible, accessible, and feasible.
At a time when our world has changed on so many levels, we continue to collectively face climate change in its myriad of adverse effects on communities, economies, psyches. The dream of design as a catalyst for positive change in the face of massive odds, is one that comes true in these conversations and the practitioners featured in them.
The series format brings together two people from fields or spheres of influence that have synergy, convergence or inflection, and who are joined by a member of the Stardust team, to explore solutions they have worked on or would like to work on. The concepts are borderless but lazer-focused; the speakers form part of a global fabric of changemakers with ties to the Caribbean, United States, United Kingdom, Africa, Europe and Asia (thus far).
The capsule series first featured three episodes in October and November 2021, with new episodes launched in October 2022.
Episode 1 - Reimagining Transportation: Connecting Human Beings to Nature and to Each Other
When we look at the impact of transportation on our climate, there is a need to encourage transformation and to unfetter our thinking in a way that ignites the imagination. This talk features Barbados-based biofuel company Rum and Sargassum Founder, Legena Henry and Astrobiofuturist and TV show host Billy Almon, moderated by Giselle Carr. Together, we explore the many ways that solutions are found sometimes in unlikely places, urging us to refocus on our local environments, to immerse ourselves in our history and experiences. We reveal the ways that historic patterns can unravel and evolve to create a world of thriving.
Episode 2 - The Nexus: Designing a Future for All of Life
This episode explores how Design and Science in education calls leaders and participants to greatness in a time when humanity and our living systems on Earth need it most. At Pratt Institute, Mary McBride designed and leads the Creative Enterprise Leadership international graduate programs in Arts & Cultural Management and Design Management. She is dedicated to developing creative and cultural leaders who grow economies that cultivate well-being. At University of Calgary, Marjan Eggermont is Academic Director for Sustainable Engineering and recently launched the Bachelor of Sustainable Systems Engineering degree, with colleagues at the Schulich School of Engineering. A Biomimicry Institute Fellow, she has volunteered with NASA VINE for five years as lead of the Education research working group to explore nature-inspired technology.
Episode 3 - Intellectual Cultures: Designing Sustainable Change in the Caribbean
In 2022, intellectual communities have dominated the virtual space, with the ability for numerous, formerly isolated, communities to interact. This episode explores the need to design and implement systems that not only protect and foster Caribbean nations, but also create opportunities to leverage the Caribbean’s true potential in this new digital space. We investigate what it is like to embed design into ecologically, economically and socially sustainable societies in the Caribbean, and how that can vary from territory to territory. Moderated by Stardust Collaborator Christopher Collens, this episode features Debbie Estwick, Business Development Officer, Design at Export Barbados, and Alvin Arthur, Co-Founder of Guadeloupe-based Whistle Associates.
2021 Speakers and Talks
In October 2021, the *details™ Speaker Series was launched as an invitation to playful, fun, informal conversations with design and business leaders around the world. As we navigate the post-pandemic era, these talks are a testament to design as a signal of human intention, in a variety of contexts and markets, being used to bring about positive change from the personal to the exponential.
The work of these pioneers spans the industries of design, architecture, technology, education, biomimicry, photography, finance. In diving into the conversations with them, we uncovered insights about their contexts that are vital and applicable in many other contexts - in fact that is the purpose of these conversations.
Stardust is a truly local and global company and community - our dedication to the Trinidadian and Caribbean community is strengthened by global perspectives, and enlivens those outside of the region who come into contact with our design and business leaders. We hope that viewers will feel inspired by these conversations, as well as informed, supported and ready to take these perspectives into their organisation, project or initiative that addresses climate change.
Episode 1 - The Responsibility of Designing Resilience
Have you ever wondered what defines resilience in the face of sudden change? What do countries such as St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Japan have in common when it comes to recovering from natural and man-made disasters? This talk features photographer Nadia Huggins and interior architect Yutaka Takiura, moderated by design strategist Giselle Carr. In this video, we ask the question - can resilience be designed? And if so, how do we create it, and what are the parameters to responsibly designing it? We explore the terrain of recovery, of re-imagination, and reflect on the ways that cultures around the world have leaned into these experiences.
Read the transcript here.
Episode 2 - Amplifying Thriving in a Global Community
Have you ever wondered how can technology be harnessed to both support and propel positive change? What are the pathways to the development of a thriving future for all life? This talk features design thinking lead at Tata Consultancy Services, Jayashree Nagarajan and biomimicry entrepreneur Lily Urmann moderated by design strategist Giselle Carr. In this video, we ask the question - how can positive change be amplified across borders, in this age of interconnectedness? In this conversation, we spotlight applications that emulate nature rather than oppose it. We explore the benefits of scale in deploying solutions that address complex challenges. We consider the many ways that innovation can amplify environmental, social, and economic thriving.
Read the transcript here.
Episode 3 - New Systems of Value and Wealth with People in Mind
Have you ever questioned the systems of value and wealth currently in place in Western society? Value and wealth are no longer only linked to economic prosperity, and their definitions have evolved to speak on the quality of life - the relationships between people, the receptivity of the community, and its adaptation to community needs. This talk features design thinker, facilitator and entrepreneur Gareth Jenkins, alongside architect and educator Mark Raymond, moderated by brand strategist Christopher Collens. In this video, we ask the question - what are the new systems of value and wealth that create thriving for all? How do we create it, and what are the parameters to responsibly designing it?
Read the transcript here.