During difficult times (and they can all seem difficult), it is hard to reconcile being pissed off and optimistic at the same time. But my guest today is able to blend the two into her work, becoming a pissed-off optimist for a greater good. Sara Cantor, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Greater Good Studio, describes how she left the retail sector to make a bigger different in community and society She describes projects, like maternal and infant mortality prevention as well as increasing homeownership programs, that are part of her drive for a greater good. We explore the importance of inclusive design, as well as the unique challenges to working in non-profit and social service settings. Finally, we talk about the importance of using good design for social justice.
I think it is part of getting older that you start to think of your past not as one singular life, but a series of lives that have culminated into wherever you are at the moment. The passage of time allows for that perspective, but I suppose a five year old is going to think in similar terms of where did the time go, it was just yesterday that I was four (which in fact, it was). We all go through episodes and identities and phases, which can involve different outfits and hats and accessories. It can be a fun ride. Perhaps in a sense reincarnation isn’t about coming back from a previous life in a literal sense, but how we evolve in this one.
In one of my past lives, I worked at United Way Community Services. For those not familiar, United Way serves as a conduit to disseminate funds to partner social service agencies. I was doing research in the Research and Data Services division. It was a good way to be introduced to the world of social services and non-profits, developing a deep appreciation for their work and the challenges associated with their work. The degree to which it is challenging is proportionate to how vital it is. In the land of profit-margins and mass consumption, social services are often misunderstood and ignored (except by those who need their work).
My guest today on Experience by Design describes herself as a “pissed-off optimist.” You have to be both to do the work that she does at Greater Good Studios. Sara Cantor went to graduate school for human-centered design, then applying her skills and passion in retail spaces. Further work with major corporations left her wanting to do more and have a greater impact. This led her to co-found “a design firm dedicated to the social sector.” Rather than moving product, their goal is to build “a more equitable society” through work that is “more inclusive, innovative, and impactful.”
We talk about her journey to the work that speaks her passion today. She recalls transitioning from engineering into design. Sara describes her work in projects like creating marketing materials for maternal and infant mortality prevention programs. She talks about the importance of involving those directly impacted by social services in the design and decision-making processes. She shares her experience working to develop initiatives aimed at increasing homeownership for families that were traditionally locked out. We also discuss designers as social justice catalysts, addressing social injustice, channeling anger productively, and motivating positive change.
And I have to say this is a very motivational conversation about what can be accomplished through good design.
Sara Cantor on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/saracantor/
Greater Good Studio: https://greatergoodstudio.com/
Greater Good Studio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greater-good-studio/