This past weekend Princeton University hosted BETTER: Design for Social Causes, a conference to discuss how graphic design can serve as a vehicle for social change. The event brought together practicing professionals and students, to confront designer’s ability to shape society’s conscience. How can design compel disaffected audiences to take action on social issues? How is it possible to sustain a career designing for social causes?

Speakers included:

Jessica Helfand & William, Partners at Winterhouse
“A Design Practice in Evolution: Rethinking Cultural Engagement and Social Innovation”

Debra Rizzi, Partner at Rizco Design
“One Change Now: Preserving the Environment One Design At a Time”

Jeffrey Zeldman, Executive Creative Director at Happy Cog Studios
“Design as Partnership”

Brian Collins, Founder of COLLINS: & Leland Maschmeyer, Director of Strategy, COLLINS:
“What’s the Story?”

Abbott Miller, Partner at Pentagram New York
“The New Materialism”

Posters on display, submitted for Sustainable Design Contest focusing on the topic of environmental sustainability. The entries were judged by the panel of speakers.