Steelcase award promotes sustainability in design

Steelcase Canada has supported Ryerson University since 1986. Most recently, the world’s largest office furniture manufacturer renewed the Steelcase Canada Sustainable Design Award through 2020 for students in the Faculty of Communication and Design.

“The talent Ryerson is developing has a direct impact on the market,” says Laura MacHardy, Regional Sales Manager at Steelcase Canada. “Supporting that market and promoting sustainability in design are important priorities for Steelcase,” she adds.

The annual award is given to a Ryerson School of Interior Design student who best demonstrates the Steelcase values of socially responsible design, and consideration of human, economic, environment and ethical factors within their work. In 2015, that student was Melissa Poon.

“Cradle-to-cradle design is something I am very passionate about,” says Poon. “Steelcase, as a company and with their award, really exemplifies that focus on sustainability, and made it a priority before it was mainstream,” she adds. “The application process alone helped put into perspective how important this factor was to me. Being the recipient reassured me that I was heading in the right direction, and reinforced my commitment to this element of design as I move forward in my career.”

Following graduation in 2016, Poon spent the summer working as a designer with Diamond Schmitt Architects. She is now pursuing a master's degree in architecture, and using the money she received from the award to help pay tuition. Following completion of her graduate degree, she intends to continue to work for companies committed to using sustainable methods, materials, and accessible technology to produce socially responsible architecture.

“Countries in the developing world do not necessarily have access to the technologies we have in first world countries,” says Poon. “Using sustainable design solutions to build things like hospitals, schools, and community centres with low-tech requirements, we can enhance the lifestyle of people in these places, improve efficiency, and reduce maintenance.”

“The most talented designers combine their creative vision with the ability to make a design viable from a business perspective,” says MacHardy. “Part of our role is to support architects and designers as they furnish solutions to today’s challenges,” she adds. “We want to make sure the right resources are available not just to those already working in the field, but to students as well.”