EcoLabs is a network of designers and visual artists addressing sustainability and systemic change. They aim to nurture whole systems thinking, foster ecological literacy, and create an alternative cultural vision that will drive transformational change to meet the needs of a fully sustainable society.

Their aims:

- create material, projects & programs that support ecological literacy.
- promote an ethical agenda within the discipline of design.
- critique ‘green-washing’ practices and hold agencies accountable.
- work to embed sustainable thinking into the design industry.
- use the skills in art & design to address environmental issues directly.
- provide a resource, network and a platform for designers
& visual artists interested in these issues

ON DESIGN AND TRANSITION

We have no alternative but to learn to live within the natural imperatives of the ecosystem. One Planet Living™ is the goal and the sooner we can make it happen the better. How can design participate in this change? The primary tool in this transition is systems thinking, a conceptual process necessary for reconfiguration of the systems that are presently entirely unsustainable.

Design has the potential to communicate systems thinking and help embed new cognitive facilities into public consciousness. Design can communicate integrated thinking and is useful towards visualizing & instigating transition. Still, this vision of design is still largely unrealized. The notion of design itself must change. Design must embrace its ability to facilitate change. Unless this change happens, design will be superfluous to the most basic challenges we now face.

Their current projecs include: Transition Towns Brixton, Six Degrees, EcoMag, and Ecodemia. Many more project are on the drafting table, TBA shortly.