On Thursday evening, The Ecology Center was delighted to welcome Mark Smith, Global Creative Director for the Nike Jordan Brand to kick off the Basic Needs: Summer Speaker Series. Mark spoke to a sold-out crowd about his work, what inspires him, and Nike’s commitment to sustainable design, specifically the ecologically sound Air Jordan XX3, the first basketball shoe to embody the criteria for Nike’s Considered Design program. We learned that Nike is making a corporate-wide effort to be ecologically responsible by doing things like using less solvents and adhesives, using eco-ethical materials like recycled rubber and organic cotton, and reducing material waste and energy consumption all along the way. When asked what inspires him, Mark said simply, “Designing things that I love, things that get better with age, things that I wouldn’t want to throw away.”

Also joining us was Rose Brantley, Chair of the Fashion Design Department at Otis College of Art and Design.  Rose echoed Mark’s sentiment about the relationship between design and the environment, saying that sustainability truly begins with how we design things. Thankfully, young people and fashion trends seem to be gravitating toward more sustainable practices–not just in manufacturing, but also in consumer habits. Where is fashion headed, according to Rose? “The future of fashion is going back to the way our grandmothers dressed”–clothing that is organic, high-quality and lasting, and far less energy intensive.

All in all, it was a great evening and a great conversation. Join us for the next Basic Needs Summer Speaker Series event, when we’ll hear from Tyler Valiquette, Co-Founder and COO of Catapult Design, a San Francisco-based nonprofit design firm that develops and implements products to help communities in need.

Tyler Valiquette, Co-Founder & COO, Catapult Design
Thursday, July 21, 6:30 to 9:00 PM
Beer, wine, and light fare will be served. Registration is $10 for members/$25 for non-members. Guests can purchase tickets online or by phone at 949.443.4223.