Friederike von Wedel-Parlow
Director, Beneficial Design Institute

From our conversation

“I think students should always ask, how is this made? What is in it? Who made it? We don't always have the answers, but I think we always have to have good questions.”

Biography

Berlin-born designer Friederike von Wedel-Parlow is designer and Director of Beneficial Design Institute. Her work pursues the vision of healthy fashion systems with the goal to combine quality, innovation, culture and aesthetics into design for the future as a new definition of sustainability with a global approach. As Professor for Sustainable Design Strategies, she has led the Master's program Sustainability in Fashion at ESMOD Berlin University of Arts in Fashion since its start in 2011. Prior to becoming a professor, she co-founded a fashion label, worked as a costume designer and served as the Chair of Vivienne Westwood at University of the Arts Berlin. In her field of research and development Prof. von Wedel explores eco- and resource-effective, circular and cradle to cradle concepts for designing, producing and using fashion with a positive agenda.

Visit the Beneficial Design Institute website to learn more about current projects.

Interview

Envisioning Beneficial Design as the Standard: Friederike von Wedel-Parlow
In this conversation, Friederike considers how design can not only do less harm but also foster systems, materials and relationships that create positive impacts for both people and the planet. She outlines innovative solutions that can support this idea, including an example of student research and a project connecting democratic principles to fashion. With the hope that beneficial design becomes standard practice, Friederike shares her thoughts on how student designers and businesses can support this vision.