Measure What Matters: Eco Design vs. Sustainability

Chair & Moderator – Design Days Dubai (2015)

In March 2015, I was invited by Design Days Dubai to chair and moderate a critical discussion on the intersection of eco-design and sustainability. Titled “Measure What Matters: Eco Design vs. Sustainability,” this conversation brought together leading voices in architecture, design, and environmental strategy to explore the practicality, ethics, and evolving role of sustainability in design practices.

As the moderator, I led the discussion with:

• Giuseppe Moscatello, Curator of the Zero exhibition and Manager of 1971–Design Space at Maraya Art Centre.

• Nada Taryam, Architect and Senior Project Manager at Bee’ah, a leader in sustainable development in the UAE.

This session aimed to challenge conventional ideas of sustainability, questioning whether eco-design is truly achieving its promises or if it remains a surface-level trend. We explored material innovation, circular design, and long-term environmental impact, engaging the audience in an open dialogue on how sustainability must be measured, applied, and evolved in creative industries.

Through this talk, I reinforced my role as a cultural strategist and thought leader in design, sustainability, and discourse facilitation, shaping conversations that bridge innovation, responsibility, and artistic practice.