This book examines global sustainability issues that are complex, interconnected, and transdisciplinary. Through a research-led design process, and embedded Work Integrated Learning (WIL), students across seven design disciplines applied the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding framework for implementing QUT’s Sustainability Action Plan and Campus to Country positioning strategy.

The cross-disciplinary nature of this design education cultivates holistic thinking, essential for addressing complex challenges. It enhances systems thinking skills, enabling students to grasp the interconnectedness of issues. Fostering critical thinking and creative problem-solving prepares students with the tools needed for innovative solutions, preparing them for success in diverse and dynamic career landscapes.

This book is a celebration of student work as the outcome of a collaboration between the QUT School of Architecture and Built Environment, School of Design, Arup and United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA). This book showcases the dedicated efforts of students enrolled in Impact Lab 3: Planet, an undergraduate program in QUT’s Bachelor of Design. Students are enrolled across diverse disciplines in architecture, fashion, industrial design, interaction design, interior architecture, landscape architecture, and visual communication. Overall, this type of transdisciplinary education in climate literacy is indispensable for shaping well-rounded, forward-thinking graduates for their future career pathways.