Jens Bringsjord
You're listening to Design Atlas Season four.

Megan Luedke
Have you ever pause to consider the evolving and converging landscape of creativity and innovation from an environmental perspective? Melissa Imbruglia is a visionary entrepreneur who stands at the forefront of shaping the next generation of creative ventures.

Jens Bringsjord
With a passion for imagining, designing, and building. Melissa's work is dedicated to providing upcoming Africans worldwide with greater cultural and economic freedom. Her expertise lies at the intersection of technology, business development and culture, reflecting a holistic approach addressing the challenges of our evolving world.

Megan Luedke
In a time where global systems are undergoing significant shifts, Melissa focuses on seeding ventures that tackle pressing issues, particularly those in the forefront of climate sustainability and the digital society. Her collaborative spirit extends to a global network leveraging diverse perspectives to drive innovation and positive change. Throughout her journey, Melissa is committed to centering the African narrative, ensuring that the stories and contributions of the continent are recognized and amplified on the global stage.

Jens Bringsjord
At the time of this recording, Melissa was the co-director for creatives for climate, an innovative initiative at the intersection of art, design and environmental consciousness. The movement serves as a dynamic platform that harnesses the collective power of creatives worldwide to address and advocate for climate sustainability.

Megan Luedke
This movement brings together artists, designers and visionaries who are committed to using their skills and talents to inspire change and raise awareness about pressing environmental issues. While Melissa no longer works at creatives for climate, she continues to be a driving force in the creative space, with other initiatives.

Jens Bringsjord
Hailing from the vibrant city of Nairobi, Kenya, her roots may be firmly anchored in the bustling streets of Nairobi, but her story and impact stretch far beyond geographic boundaries.

Megan Luedke
In the rhythm of her life, Nairobi serves as a home base, a centering force that grounds her amidst the whirlwind of a truly global existence. Born and raised in the heart of Kenya's capital, Melissa's journey unfolds against the backdrop of a city alive with diversity, culture and the unmistakable energy of urban life.

Jens Bringsjord
Yet as she extends her reach beyond the borders of Nairobi, her work emerges as a tapestry woven on the loom of global collaboration.

Megan Luedke
Melissa's endeavors are not confined by her limitations of a singular location. Rather, they dance across the international stage. Her endeavors are not just about places. They're about people, conversations, and the richness that emerges when diverse minds come together.

Melissa Mbugua
I work in like it's interesting, so I see. I consider myself like my skill set, like a toolbox because I have such varying, interests. And so I've picked up kind of skills, knowledge, and networks along the way in the tech side. So my training universities in business and tech and it and then I worked as a project manager and software project manager.

Melissa Mbugua
and then from there I kind of developed an interest in international development, you know, socially innovation, and so ended up working on projects. So I end up studying actually development, for my, my master's, you know, so politic works, how NGOs work, how aid works, you know, the society basically and got in governance, and then ended up working after that in the governance space.

Melissa Mbugua
But, you know, for civic technology, so still supporting technology innovation in Africa and Asia. but specifically the government's bent with how do we build tech that is inclusive and that connects bring citizens and governments closer together? Just my curiosity led me down. A rabbit leg, so deep down the rabbit hole that I ended up collaborating with the team at creatives for climate and at the time, Creatives Time.

Melissa Mbugua
It was just beginning to scale up. It had started like, in 20 2019, before the pandemic. And I mean, 2020 became a community platform, you know, and started working towards registering as a formal nonprofit out of kind of we started in Amsterdam, but the movement is global. and so now I'm a director at Creatives for climate.

Melissa Mbugua
And what, what, what my like assignment is that and what I work on, a lot of what I think about is how to harness this power of creativity, communication. You know, there's so much powerful with people who are working in media and in the digital space.

Megan Luedke
So who exactly can be a part of creatives for climate? Well, the answer is refreshingly simple it's anyone who identifies as a creative spirit. But when you peel back the layers, it's about more than just individual creativity. At its core, it's a network that beckons professionals in the expansive realm of communications and storytelling. And it's not just for those already entrenched in these fields.

Megan Luedke
It's a welcoming embrace for anyone aspiring to connect through the powerful medium of communication. Consider it like a dynamic ecosystem where creatives for climate acts as the connective tissue, weaving together individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. This network is a collective powerhouse, a melting pot of skills and perspectives held together by a shared purpose to wield the influence of creative professionals and communications like a force for positive change.

Megan Luedke
In this inclusive realm, you'll find PR, advertising and media professionals all contributing to a mosaic as broad as the spectrum of their expertise. It's a call to action and invitation to take meaningful steps deploying their skills, sharing their knowledge, and positioning oneself as an asset. It's about harnessing the collective prowess of storytellers to propel the climate movement forward, one compelling narrative at a time.

Melissa Mbugua
Some of the work that pages does is we have, virtual a platform, a network, you know, members platform that's free to join. And on there you can find loads and loads of resources from, that answers, you know, questions such as, like, what is greenwashing, how to, how to and for example, like, toolkits on like how to push back against greenwashing.

Melissa Mbugua
If, if you're working for a brand that's greenwashing and you're the one responsible for that brand comms, you know, things like those very practical is a very practical. it's a space for, for comms professionals to really get practical support every in an everyday kind of way. and then we also do offer courses, we create and and implement courses, that support again.

Melissa Mbugua
and this stepping up, for climate action, how do I push back against it. How do I communicate against greenwashing. so things like that. So we have in academy, we have a, you know, virtual network platform that's also a resource hub. and we also run regular kind of topical community events. Yeah, yeah. So it was founded by, Lucy von Sturmer, who's, PR she is like, was the PR expert created for climate in 2020?

Melissa Mbugua
really became a global movement, global community. formally registered as a nonprofit. Yeah. And so what? Yeah, the model is pretty much that it's it's made up of chapters in different cities. So for example, the de New Zealand chapter, and I'm trying to set up like a chapter, again in kind of.

Jens Bringsjord
Let's dive into how creatives for climate operates. It's like a well-oiled machine seamlessly linking local and global efforts. Basically, a project takes root in a specific community, tackling its unique challenges, and then extends its reach to the broader global creative community. One notable project from Melissa was in New Zealand, which centered around beads. Not your typical beekeeping venture, though this one focuses on preserving a natural farming method dubbed noise farming.

Jens Bringsjord
No, the bees aren't wearing headphones. It's about farming practices in tune with the environment, a symphony of cultivation that respects the land's natural rhythm. The New Zealand project is a prime example for creatives for climate adapt, finding resonance locally and echoing globally. So think of it not just as a network, but as a dynamic ecosystem where projects like the one in New Zealand sprout, connect and contribute to a global conversation on climate consciousness.

Melissa Mbugua
And so the community came together and ran a campaign very local, like those outdoor, advertising in Auckland. It was very local, and mostly offline, because it was meant to drive action around this particular law. and voting against it. and this worked. and so through collaboration with CFC members, political climate members, they implemented this campaign.

Melissa Mbugua
it, it actually worked the, the the, the were successful in preventing what we didn't want to happen from not happening. So so that's one example. that, that really, really shows the power of of yeah. Of of access to like minded people who have different skill sets and who are willing to volunteer because a lot of that work was done, you know, below market rate or pro bono.

Melissa Mbugua
And then it's also so cool that you see, like, of course I described it to you, but in a way that's not detailed because I, I've never been to New Zealand.

Megan Luedke
Tackling the challenge of conveying scientific insights about the environment to drive change in the global climate movement is no small feat. In the realm of activism and beyond, one of the most formidable hurdles is articulating the complexities of climate science in a way that resonates with diverse audiences. For scientists and seasoned activists entrenched in the climate movement, the struggle lies in distilling the intricate details into layman's terms.

Megan Luedke
How do you convey the urgency of climate change to your neighbor, or rally and local community to take action? It's a communication conundrum that demands a strategic approach to engage and mobilize people from all walks of life. So the team at creatives for climate had this grand idea why.

Melissa Mbugua
Don't we create a course together with them? We get them to facilitate this record. You know, it's a book. It's an online course. People can, you know, for a small fee, take this course it so one it it's and it just lives there. So one it's it's a way for people to carry out self-directed learning to it amplifies and really digs deeper.

Melissa Mbugua
It allows us to dig deeper, within the expertise of people in the community. And it's also a way to generate, revenue in, within the ecosystem itself. I mean, we we we are not charging people kind of it's not meant to be exclusive. Like, it's not meant to be like, where are for profits? and so we're charging you a premium for these courses, but then we do cost to make, and yeah, that, that cost involved.

Melissa Mbugua
so it's also a way to generate revenue and what we found also is that there are organizations, like, for example, brands that are interested in paying to have their teams be taken through these courses. Let's say in my live sessions rather than self-directed, you know, and so, yeah, so, so that's an experiment that, we tried and it was also to see that we realized, oh, this is a really cool and relevant, aspect of the work, continuous knowledge generation, because we are also, I think, in the climate movement and in much of the world right now, really, it feels and I think we are at a place where we need

Melissa Mbugua
nobody really has everything figured out. You know, we are kind of all relearning, and learning as we go. So these quick courses that are community generated are a way for us to document what we are learning and scale it. Skilled access to it, to knowledge. Yeah.

Megan Luedke
In the pursuit of a common goal, the landscape is shifting. What's becoming increasingly evident is the emergence of climate communications and narratives that bear significance, forward thinking, and a commitment to propelling climate justice. As we navigate this transformation, the aim is clear to contribute our part in fostering a movement that transcends boundaries. The vision is grand to influence a shift that not only resonates industry wide, but permeates the global communications landscape.

Megan Luedke
It's about redefining norms and reshaping the common space to create a universe of communication that echoes the urgency of climate action. So how can you join the creatives for Climate Global Community?

Melissa Mbugua
Yes. Well, the first step to take is to head on to, creatives for Climate Talks CEO and join the the membership space, the membership platform, join the network. It's free. secondly, especially for students, take the courses. So right now in the Critical Climate Academy, which you'll find on the website, has two courses. One is positioning for purpose and the other is a greenwash lunch.

Melissa Mbugua
those are, I think, fundamental for if you're a student now and you you're thinking you want to prepare yourself, for your career in the creative industries, this will give you like, the 1 to 1 and really equip you to be ahead of the curve and to be to be able to move into your career with, with, with the awareness, and the language, of, of that very kind of on the edge.

Megan Luedke
You can also start your own creatives for climate chapter in your local area.

Melissa Mbugua
Yes. So to start your, your chapter, what you have to do rather all you need to do, is let us know, you know, get you on the community platform that, hey, you're interested in starting a chapter or you can contact, contact the team and you can easily find what the team is like once you're, on the committee platform, say you're interested in starting a chapter.

Melissa Mbugua
And of course, the first step before you kind of commit to, like, seeing a chapter is to start organizing. People gather people, do an event, you know, and it can be kind of as simple or as fancy as you can make it, you know, so we don't have we don't require you to have like, big budget, fancy kind of a big event with hundreds of people for your first event or even for a subsequent event.

Melissa Mbugua
It's just it just has to be kind of start where you are with what you have. find a theme. we what we do is we provide support, with, you know, kind of branding support. We have we have brand guides. We support you with the how to communicate, and promote the event we can support you with, like, how to craft the programing of it.

Melissa Mbugua
And of course, you can tap into the community for, performers, panelists, you know, masterclass facilitators, etc.. So the first step, if you want to start a local chapter hit, hit us up, on the community platform, let us know what you're thinking, will have a conversation with you, give you the guidelines. But the best thing for you to start doing now is to think about what your first event could look like.

Jens Bringsjord
The beauty of what creatives for climate does wise, and the ability to shape the narrative and set the table for discussions that truly matter. For Melissa, it's a source of joy because in creating the metaphorical table, she has the power to center the issues that deserve the spotlight in the realm of the climate movement. It's crucial to ensure diverse voices, perspectives, and nontraditional decision makers that have a seat at the table.

Jens Bringsjord
It's about broadening the conversation, dismantling the traditional norms, and inviting everyone to partake in the decision making process.

Megan Luedke
For Melissa, sustainable design isn't just a process, it's a philosophy. It begins by centering the individual who encounters the very problem the design seeks to address. But here's the thing it's not a one size fits all scenario. Sustainable design acknowledges the multiplicity of perspectives, understanding that there's not just one kind of person. In essence, designing sustainably is about crafting solutions that resonate with the diverse experiences of those who interact with it to deliberate and thoughtful approach, ensuring that the design isn't just a solution, but a harmonious fit for all it touches.

Melissa Mbugua
So if it's like a car, like it upsets me so much because the other day I was reading about how cars currently cause us to design for male bodies. so even like the crash test dummies it took us, I'm like, no wonder I get these pains and weird. Like when I whenever I'm in traffic, I was like, am I really?

Melissa Mbugua
Yeah. And so it's like, okay, so cars are still technically being designed for male bodies of a certain height. And so even I'm guessing there's a lot of males who are also left out. Yeah. So, so so a maximum of sustainable. So the big challenge I think for us in our time who are working in design is to really spend that extra time and extra effort and, you know, put in that extra investment into as much as we can, solving the problem in this very specific ways that the different people are experiencing them, that they're designing for.

Melissa Mbugua
and of course, not everything is possible in one moment, you know, because maybe the technology's not available, maybe it's too expensive. It doesn't make economic sense at this point for example, to like, do some things, but kind of just leave the cliff notes there or the step by step guide for the next generation, of designers to come and pick up, where you left off.

Melissa Mbugua
and this cuts across every facet of life. I don't think that the built world should be separating us from nature. So I think we have a lot of, like, doing work to, you know, design wise, because. Yeah, because we live in apartments that close us off from from nature, you know, all the many problems which are now global, like the old.

Megan Luedke
Rusting is an integral part of the creative process. It's not just downtime. It's a deliberate act that contributes to the pursuit of excellence in creativity. The notion that resting is an essential part of the effort to be an outstanding creative might seem counterintuitive, but we've all experienced that magic moment. The moment we return to a project or a problem after a restful night or a rejuvenating break, the productivity skyrockets and the quality of our work ascends to new heights in a surprisingly short span.

Megan Luedke
So in the realm of creativity, remember, rest isn't a pause. It's a crucial chapter in the ongoing narrative of becoming your best as a creative.

Melissa Mbugua
But then we live in a system that's built into us that we need to just push hard, hard, hard, long, long, long. And that recipe is for the weak recipes for those who have no ambitions. All those like negative, beliefs and myths yet again, because it connects also to what I had said earlier about we are who we are natural organisms, like human beings, are we?

Melissa Mbugua
We are not machines. and especially those of us who whose, professional lives are focused on our creativity. You can't rush or kind of pressure cook or force good ideas. There's this, there's this stuff that comes fast, but there's also a lot that comes slowly. and I think it's very hard for the logical system to accept that creativity and being natural is just it.

Melissa Mbugua
You just have to trust the process. And so and that's hard when when, you know, results are like kind of measured quarterly. And I mean, it's like oh, so, so, so it's by no means easy. I'm not in any way trying to say that it's easy for us to shift our individuals systems as creative.

Megan Luedke
And so we conclude this captivating episode, delving into the life and insights of Melissa Imbruglia, a force seamlessly bridging the realms of creativity, sustainability, and global impact.

Jens Bringsjord
From the vibrant streets of Nairobi to the far reaching corners of global collaboration, Melissa's journey exemplifies the power of creative expression in the pursuit of positive change. As we bid farewell, let her narrative resonate a testament to the boundless possibilities when creativity intertwines with purpose.

Megan Luedke
Join us in celebrating the vibrant tapestry of Melissa's endeavors, and may her story and her next steps in her career journey inspire us all to craft a future where creativity becomes the catalyst for a more sustainable and interconnected world.