Taking a Leap

Do you ever wonder, what if? I love the expression about taking a leap, no, not the “take a flying leap…” but the “leap, and the net will appear” one. Why? Because it is SO incredibly true. Time and time again, I have seen that this is nature’s way. Things work out, they always do (eventually!). Why? I’m not completely sure but possibly because the planet keeps on spinning and, like it or not, we’re simply ephemeral creatures living on Earth for a titch of time when compared with the mountains we climb, the air we breath, the water we drink, and the soil we walk on.

“Leap, and the net will appear.”

–John Burroughs

With this realization I feel an enormous sense of relief. What’s the worst that could happen if I take a leap? Maybe I won’t reach my goal. Even so, things carry on. What’s the best that could happen? The experience may change my life in some way, maybe even alter the way I see the world. Maybe other people’s lives will change for the better, or perhaps, maybe the impact to the planet will be taken a little more seriously by a few, even many.

Take a chance. Get out of that comfort zone. Leap, and the net will appear. Thank you, John Burroughs.

My commitment to the 1000 mile bike ride to raise funds for need-based sustainable design scholarships for students of MCAD’s Sustainable Design Online program, feels like taking a leap. Not only because I am a relative newbie to cycling and have never done an overnight solo bike trip. Mostly, much worse actually, is that it means over coming one of my biggest life challenges – asking for help from others. Why this is so hard for me will likely remain a mystery throughout the remainder of my life but it doesn’t make it any less true. I simply do not like asking for help. Yet, this is not only at odds with the goal of raising money (hard to raise money without asking for help!) it is also directly at odds with creating truly sustainable designs, which is what I’m trying to do here. See the pickle?

The Secret to Sustainability

No one can create fully sustainable products, services, or systems single handedly. It simply isn’t possible to create socially-just, environmentally-responsible, and economically-sound work without the help of others – be they experts in another discipline, end-users, or other stakeholders in the process. We need each others help, expertise, feedback, and ideas to go that much further to that sweet spot where “good design” becomes “sustainable design”. Despite the fact that I struggle to ask friends, family, colleagues -really anyone- for help, I have come to learn that only through effective collaborations (which fundamentally requires, err, asking of help) will I be working on something really worthy of investing my sliver of time on Earth, whether it be the design of a course, a program, or a product.

So, I’m taking a leap and I’m conquering my fears. I am asking for your help. Please help me. Help me to help one (or many!) student(s) become truly sustainable designers by supporting my fundraising campaign. Please spread the word about the campaign and donate what you can. I am trusting that the net will appear. Thank you!

Campaign Update:

THANK YOU TO MY GENEROUS CAMPAIGN SPONSORS!

In the first week of the campaign, 10 amazing people contributed. Thank you: Rebecca (the very first to take a leap), Ricky, Denise, James + Geoff, Kakee, Sherry, Kelsi, and 2 anonymous donors. I really appreciate your support!

THANK YOU TO MY GENEROUS GEAR DONORS!

Backcountry Boiler: Pittsburgh, PA

Bike Doctor: Missoula, MT

Bike Fixtation: Minneapolis, MN

Good Food Store: Missoula, MT

Hellgate Cyclery: Missoula, MT

Nice Ride: Minneapolis, MN

Cindy Gilbert is faculty, student advisor, and directs MCAD’s Sustainable Design program which currently offers an 18-credit Professional Certificate in Sustainable Design (just launched!) and a 30-credit Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Sustainable Design. The program emphasizes small classes (capped at 18 students) at the graduate-level that foster interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaborations, global innovation, and creative leadership – all taught by a diverse faculty of practicing professionals. Learn about systems thinking, biomimicry, life cycle analysis, sustainable product, packaging, and graphic design, as well as design for social change and sustainable business practices. Interested? Contact us to learn more; we’re always happy to answer questions.

Bike tire image courtesy of @oedipusphinx- – - – theJWDban. Trapeze artist image courtesy of @blmurch.