Gareth Kane
Founder of Environment and Sustainability Consultancy Terra Infirma
The North East is not the most creative or innovative place in some ways, and it’s good to get young people not only looking at the issues, but also doing something hands on. The Eco Design Challenge will be empowering because they will see the benefits directly. The region also needs to encourage innovation and start-up businesses not only for the economic benefits but also for the social benefits and projects like this make people start to think differently, and more creatively.We need to get young people engaged with the fact that design isn’t just pretty pictures, it’s something concrete that can make a difference. We also need to get away from the idea that environmental problems are something that a mythical ‘they’ will fix - it’s something that we can do something about.
