Professor, Director of Doctoral Studies, Chair of Design Studies Carnegie Mellon University (USA)
Jonathan Chapman is Professor, Director of Doctoral Studies, and Chair of Design Studies at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design.
Jonathan leads the PhD in Transition Design, an advanced-level research program addressing the most pressing social and ecological challenges of our time.
He is the author of five books at the intersection of design, human experience, and sustainability. His most recent book, Meaningful Stuff: Design that Lasts calls for an “experience heavy, materials light” design sensibility. His Op-Ed for The Guardian, “Today it’s Cool, Tomorrow it’s Junk,” received 1,000+ comments within an hour of going live.
Chapman is a consultant and strategic advisor to global businesses and governmental organizations from Puma, COS, and Philips, to the House of Lords, the United Nations, and NASA. This work accelerates the transition to a circular economy by shaping national and international policy, and advancing the design practices of global companies.
He is Visiting Professor in Design at the Politecnico di Milano, and graduate student advisor at MIT, Cambridge University, Royal College of Art, and KAIST. He holds a PhD in Design (2008), MA in Design Futures (2001), and BA (Hons) in Industrial Design (1997).
At the age of 38, he became the youngest person in the UK to achieve the rank of Full Professor in Design. New Scientist described Chapman as “a mover and shaker” and a “new breed of sustainable design thinker".
Product Moments, Material Eternities
We live in a time where we constantly buy, use, and discard more stuff than ever before. Sneakers worn once, forgotten smartphones, and abandoned gadgets are clear signs of our wasteful habits. How do these once desired items turn into meaningless junk so quickly?
In "Product Moments, Material Eternities", Professor Chapman delves into why we discard items that still work and how we can design products that last. The talk explores a crucial concept: products may be temporary, but the materials they are made from persist. By focusing on circular design strategies that extend the life and relevance of these materials, we can reduce waste and promote sustainability.
This talk explores themes such as object meaning, urban mines, maintenance and repair, and rich experience. Through vivid examples and insightful analysis, we’ll see how stronger relationships with our possessions can foster sustainability and accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
By blending practical examples with thought-provoking insights, this talk reveals how a design approach that values the ongoing human experience over the fleeting nature of material excess can reshape our connection with objects and guide us toward a more sustainable future. Professor Chapman is director of Doctoral Studies at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design. The author of five books, his research helps accelerate the design-led transition to a sustainable future.
As a circular design specialist, he advises global businesses, governments, and NGOs—from Sony, Puma, The Body Shop, and Philips to the House of Lords, the United Nations, and NASA. New Scientist described him as “a new breed of sustainable design thinker".
Presentation | Wednesday 9 October
Plenary Keynote Speaker
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