Greengaged was London Design Festival's sustainability hub for 2008. A fantastic mix of speakers gathered to challenge the design industry on sustainability - from designers to academics, chemists to magicians, engineers to entrepreneurs.

The programme ran from 15th-23nd September 2008, at the Design Council in Covent Garden, London. It brought together free debates, seminars, workshops, excursions and exhibitions. Innovative and inspiring speakers include: scientists, engineers, designers, business people, educators, publishers, activists and architects.

Highlights included:

•  Breakfast launch with Design Council Chair, Sir Michael Bichard, with Juila Hailes MBE; Ed McCann of Expedition Engineering UK; Dorothy MacKenzie, Chair of Dragon; and Clive Grinyer of Cisco.
•  Michael Braungart, world-renowned chemist and co-author of publication ‘Cradle to Cradle: Re-making the way we make things’ in conversation at the RSA.
•  Debate on the challenges for delivering a sustainable Olympics with key players from the London 2012 design team.
•  Rob Holdway (presenter of Channel 4’s “Dumped”) hosts a canal boat trip to a waste recycling centre to showcase the importance of  ‘designing in’ re-use and recyclability.
•  Seminars on best practice and innovation, with cutting edge practitioners in graphic and communication design, fashion and product design, and behavioural change
•  Practical workshops on bringing sustainable smart thinking to design studios and projects; packaging, and sustainable print and paper.
•  A night walk through London, “re-thinking the city” with artist and magician aladin.

greengaged has been developed and organised by Sophie Thomas at thomas.matthews, Sarah Johnson at [re]design, and Anne Chick from the Sustainable Design Research Centre at Kingston University, with support from Arup and Three Trees Don't Make A Forest in association with our host for 2008, the Design Council. Our sponsors are the Audi Design Foundation, Saint-Gobain, Own It, Forum for the Future, Adnams and LOFT.