Enjoy our FREE Earth Week Activities [day 1]

Take a class!

Happy 50th anniversary of Earth Day!

To help you celebrate, MCAD’s fully online MA in Sustainable Design program is posting 3 days of FREE Earth Day activities to help you engage. We’ll follow the themes SEE, DO, THINK, SHARE. Enjoy!


SEE: What is sustainability really about? 

It’s way more than changing your light bulbs, carrying a reusable bag, and buying Fair Trade goods. In MCAD’s MA in Sustainable Design program, students set their Sustainability Benchmark, then consider ways of making improvements both in their personal and professional lives. Explore here to set your own Sustainability Benchmarks.

>> Calculate your Ecological Footprint

>> Calculate your Slavery Footprint


DO: Learn about Empathic Action

How might we shift our focus from seeking money and status to seeking a simpler, balanced life that is rich with connections to people, community, and environment? One key to enabling this shift is empathy. In this mini-course, you will have a chance to explore the idea of empathy and why it’s important for Delivering the Good Life. You will leave with tools you can use to practice empathic action.

[mini-course] Introduction to Empathic Action


THINK: What does it take to be a sustainable designer?

There have been many discussions and declarations around the definitions of sustainability and sustainable design. But what about sustainable designers? What should a sustainable designer understand and be able to do?

[read] What does it take to be a sustainable designer?


SHARE: Green Drinks

Green Drinks is an informal get-together held monthly to connect with other like-minded individuals. The format is brief introductions, a short presentation, small group chats, and then gathering together again to reflect. 

Join hosts Curt McNamara and Holly Robbins from the MA in Sustainable Design program. Wednesday April 22nd at 5 p.m. CDT.

>> Send e-mail to cmcnamara at mcad.edu for login information. 


We hope you’ll come visit again for more activities tomorrow!

Denise DeLuca / Former Director

Denise DeLuca is the Director of MCAD’s Sustainable Design program. She was co-founder of BCI: Biomimicry Creative for Innovation, a network of creative professional change agents driving ecological thinking for radical transformation. Denise is author of the book Re-Aligning with Nature: Ecological Thinking for Radical Transformation, which was illustrated by MASD alum Stephanie Koehler. She also teaches with the Amani Institute.

Denise’s previous roles include Education Director for the International Living Future Institute, Project Manager for Swedish Biomimetics 3000, and Outreach Director for The Biomimicry Institute. Denise is a licensed civil engineer (PE) and holds a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering with a focus on modeling landscape-scale surface and groundwater interactions.  In addition, Denise is a Biomimicry Fellow and a member of the Advisory Council of The Biomimicry InstituteBoard Member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), on the editorial board of the Journal of Bionic Engineering, and an Expert with Katerva. Denise is based in Oregon.

contact:  [email protected]