André Nogueira
“Impact occurs through forming relationships. Those relationships grow, expand, and subsequent ramifications are felt widely.”
Currently serving as the Deputy Director of the D-Lab at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which he co-founded in 2019, André Nogueira began his career in design as a PhD student at IIT Institute of Design where he first met Carlos Teixeira and began exploring the idea of “everyday infrastructures,” while also helping create the school’s Action Lab.
André leads investigations on complex issues related to pandemic preventions, urban food systems, infrastructures for local circular economies, and organizational models for environmental conservation. His work has been funded by numerous organizations, including by the USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Chicago Food Policy Action Council, Feeding America, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. His research and development of the Anatomy of Infrastructure framework has been utilized in prototypes and research Carlos continues to lead at ID, including the Microgrid as Civic Infrastructure project which won a Core77 Design Award in 2022 and was featured in Fast Company's 2022 World-Changing Ideas.
How would you describe the central focus of your work?
Catalyzing cross-sector partnerships towards social transformation - private, public, social sector and academia.
Social transformation that improves wellbeing.
What key questions does your work ask?
How is the knowledge you develop in design different or complimentary to business or public administration? Why should we engage with design and not policy or municipality experts?
What is good design?
Good design contributes to an equitable and regenerative economy.
From the maker’s point of view, good design is regenerative and equitable in its reach. From the user’s point of view, good design helps people overcome problems in daily life and achieve their aspirations.
Good design fits people's lives without compromising the next generation.
What is bad design?
Bad design centers around the maker's interest.