The World’s Biggest Design Challenge
Authored By Stephanie Hanes (Staff writer); Published by CS Monitor, December 4, 2023
“In Barbados we are at an intersection,” she said. “It’s KFC versus conkies…”
“For some decades, much of the world has been striving for KFC. But to design solutions for a massive and complex challenge like a heating planet, we need different ideas rooted in different experiences. In other words, we need unique approaches to the marshmallow-and-pasta towers. All of them.”
Personal Note: Growing up at the intersection of KFC (a picture of developed industrialisation) and conkies (a Barbadian dish made and served in a sustainable banana-leaf wrapper), along with being educated in Design Strategy in the UK and practicing my work in the Caribbean, has given me a perspective somewhere between two worlds. I’m grateful for this opportunity and am looking forward to all the future holds.
Special thanks to the author and CS Monitor for their Climate Generation series, for sharing the climate action work across the globe that so many people are involved in and for sharing our chat.
A Student’s ‘Aha’ Moment Becomes A Nation’s Alternative Fuel
Authored By Stephanie Hanes (Staff writer); Published by CS Monitor, November 21, 2023
“…From individual entrepreneurs and groups of young researchers to the country’s prime minister herself, Barbadians are developing new ideas and approaches to everything from climate technology to climate finance. Young people, who’ve traditionally emigrated from Barbados for better opportunities abroad, are starting to imagine – and build – a home-based future for themselves in sectors such as clean energy, sustainable design, and climate-friendly agriculture…”
Honoured to be quoted in this article that dives into climate change, innovation, financing cleantech and other climate action initiatives. This work is important, not just for our survival, but we're designing, developing and introducing approaches, initiatives, and solutions that the world needs.
UNESCO, Published: 12 May 2023
“The UNESCO programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity, funded by the European Union, organized on 11 May 2023 the online event Designing development: young designers and intellectual property in the Caribbean and Europe, with the collaboration of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Bureau of European Design Associations (BEDA).
Debbie Estwick worked with the UNESCO team in moderating “Solving Problems Profitably. Design and its Crossroads” at a UNESCO Designing Development event and is quoted in a news article on the UNESCO Transcultura initiative.
Episode 3 - Intellectual Cultures: Designing Sustainable Change in the Caribbean
Stardust Life-Centred Design Podcast: *details, Published: Nov. 23, 2022
This episode explores the need to design and implement systems that not only protect and foster Caribbean nations, but also create opportunities to leverage the Caribbean’s true potential in this new digital space. We investigate what it is like to embed design into ecologically, economically and socially sustainable societies in the Caribbean…
BGIS, Ministry News; Published: Aug. 29, 2019
Photo: Debbie Estwick, national lead, ClimateLaunchpad Barbados
ClimateLaunchpad Barbados finalists will compete at the national level in the world’s largest green business ideas competition…
*EIT Climate-KIC initiative
Bajan Designers on World Stage
Barbados Business Authority, Published: Sept. 10, 2018
…The amount of published work and research in design from the Caribbean region has been limited to non-existent. Mayers and Estwick will be among the first designers in the Caribbean to become academic authors in design, [who are] published by the Design Research Society (DRS)*…
This opens the door for serious discussions around the more deliberate inclusion of design into corporate strategy, public policy and innovation objectives…
*The DRS is the longest established, multi-disciplinary worldwide society for the design research community.
A Design Schooling in the Caribbean
Debbie Estwick, Designer Island; Published: September 23, 2017; Photography: Damian Libert, Designer Island
"…I’m ‘testing’ my curriculum at a school in Moruga, then I’m looking to see how empathy and critical thinking feature in the way the children solve design problems or interact with each other during the camp…
For me, the workshop confirmed the possibility of including design in ‘basic mainstream education’, not as part of an "arts and crafts” class… Evidence of critical thinking throughout their design process was easy to spot as the children dealt with…”
Paula Lindo, Guardian Newspaper; Published: Saturday, March 11, 2017
"There's a new organisation created to support the development of design and designers in T&T."
Newspaper article celebrating the launch of new non-profit and membership organisation, Design Objective.
Shereen Ali, Guardian Newspaper, Published: Tuesday, November 1, 2016
"Designer Debbie Estwick, originally from Barbados but now based in Maracas Valley, St Joseph, is currently an adjunct instructor with the UWI’s Department of Creative and Festival Arts. She is doing her own project inspired by the signs—recycling them into sturdy, unique notebooks.
... “This experiment was about trying to help people understand what design strategy can do, and what design can mean — how it can fuel innovation and help find solutions to problems,” said Estwick."
Tanya Marie Williams-Rhule, Designer Island, Published: October 01, 2016
"The small covers provided a new lens through which to view the details of hand-painted signs. Assertive brush strokes, bold colours, playful shapes, authentic textured effects and perfectly imperfect pencil lines from the hands of the sign painter, were the focus.
The covers felt Caribbean. — Somehow the spirit of everyday Caribbean life, music and culture made it into every little piece of the sign that became a book cover."
Designer Island Loves List, 2016
Tanya Marie Williams-Rhule, Designer Island, Published: December 13, 2016
"Throughout the year we make notes and edit our list until the very last day. Paying close attention to the detail and craftsmanship inspired by the Caribbean and made at some of the highest standards, changing the way the world views, ‘Made in the Caribbean’.
We take great pleasure in curating our 2016 list of exquisitely created items by Caribbean makers and hope you not only invest in us, but also share the work of the designers and makers on our list."
USC Introduces Its First App - A Fun & Informative Game App from USC
USC News, Published:
July 30, 2015
"During this interactive journey players are required to pick mangos, hitting the Head, Heart and Hand icons with them to unlock 15 fun levels of fact-finding about USC...
The experience of picking mangos during a cricket match or even during high winds or hurricane season are just a few of the experiences that players can expect to encounter in this intriguing game.
“…Debbie-Ann Estwick, IMC Director and App Producer shared that "This project was an opportunity to share the good news and spirit of USC while involving students in a real world project. Gaming apps are an increasingly popular way for brands to engage persons...”
Spotlight on Engineering and Design
Brunel University, Published: December 7, 2011, p. 8
“Welcome to the seventh Spotlight newsletter from the School of Engineering and Design. In this issue we again celebrate the many achievements of staff and students over the past year…
“I developed a model that could align business and brand strategies as I realised that branding could not be limited to colours, logos and design of a physical space, but needed to be deeply embedded in a company’s goals, daily processes and every aspect and activity of the organisation…”
Economics of Innovation - Paper
Submitted to Compete Caribbean Academic Course Leads: September 17, 2023
A Caribbean regional innovation system for the botanical sector offers unique opportunities for inclusive and sustainable social and economic development and growth and can contribute to addressing concerns and unearthing opportunities around climate action, public health and wellness, environmental and cultural preservation, food security, intellectual property, and economic integration and cooperation across the region.
This paper reviews economic, trade, academic, and other data across multiple sources, filtering it through a creative, future-focused lens. It highlights the opportunity and value of a regional botanical innovation system (frame 3) and recommends the design of a strategic policy mix of instruments and interventions that could have transitory and permanent effects for individual jurisdictions and the region in general.
Connect with Me: Let’s connect to design and pilot new approaches to development projects, developmental policy and national systems of innovation that better respond to the complex social, environmental, and economic needs of our time.
The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy for Sustainable Development Workshop by the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, through the Ministry of Education and National Reconciliation, with the technical support of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean.
Event Occurred: October 3-5, 2023
Presented to personnel of the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders on the roles of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) in the context of developing a Science, Technology and Innovation policy. Advocated for the value and relevance of design and math skills in patterns, puzzles, and problem-solving and how these competencies, collaborations, and multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary efforts across STEAM can help bridge the gap from invention to innovation.
Sargassum: An Ocean of Possibilities
Published December 2022, Export Barbados (BIDC) BioIsland Magazine, p. 33
Initiated an experimental exercise in inclusive and empathetic discovery, reframing and communication while serving as Editor of Bioisland Magazine. Held discovery discussions and introduced visualising opportunities for applied scientific research towards innovation, engaging actors and bridging gaps across academia, government and private sector to communicate opportunities in ways that were easy to understand. Sargassum is a natural source of alginates, known for hydrating tendencies, among other uses. Through dialogue, it was discovered that possible innovative applications for sargassum include anti-aging (hydrating, moisturising) cosmetics. Many micro and small businesses in Barbados can be observed at Farmer’s Markets selling face, skin, hair and other body care products. A local graphic designer / conceptual photographer was engaged and guided to support visual communication.
Designing A Sustainable Philanthropic Ecosystem
Business Barbados; Published: Jan. 4, 2022
A focus on solutions for Barbados' third sector which is large, mostly unpaid and financially vulnerable.
The Citrus Mind Podcast - Design & Branding Strategy with Debbie Estwick
Chatting with and highlighting people with sweet moves, sharp thoughts and a variety of ideas.
Barbadian Designers on World Stage
Caribbean Startup Scene*, p. 20-22, Published: August 15, 2018
“Debbie Estwick, a Design Advisor at the Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC) wrote and presented on, “A Case for Caribbean Design Principles”. Her work presents and analyzes case studies from Caribbean design practitioners, using these to propose principles of good design that may be relevant for CARICOM states. Estwick presents the value of establishing fundamental design principles and integrating design and culture in policy development in order to reap social, environmental, technological and economic benefits…”
*Caribbean Startup Scene is a publication of TEN Habitat.
Debbie Estwick, Designer Island; Published: February 4, 2017; Illustration: Tanya-Marie Williams Rhule, Designer Island
"Continuous change is important, like the constant movement of stilt walking. If we want cultural practices, traditions and art forms to live on, the next generation needs to adopt them and we need to evolve their practice. This has been true for our dialects, music and other art forms."
#MakeItRain – UWI DCFA Th?nk 3 Cultural Policy Symposium: A Stimulus for Action
Marsha Pearce, ARC Magazine, Published: Thursday, May 18th, 2017
“Design is often overlooked or treated as art in many local policy documents and manifestos. However design is distinct from art, craft and engineering though it has a historical relationship with both the humanities and the sciences,” [Estwick] observed. She cited the work of creativity and innovation consultant Linda Naiman who sees a design mindset as “not problem-focused [but rather] solution focused and action oriented towards creating a preferred future.” Given this understanding of design, Estwick insisted, “design must be recognised and treated distinctly from the arts and crafts in the development of cultural policy in order to capitalize on innovative opportunities for growth.”
Art of the Times: A Look Back at T&T’s 2016 Art Scene
Marsha Pearce, Guardian Newspaper, Published: Sunday, January 1, 2017
"If Minshall, Hadeed, Govan, Nanan, Todd, Lue Chee Kong and Peters pointed out certain ways of looking at the local milieu, such designers as Kriston Chen, Agyei Archer and Debbie Estwick offered their own way of seeing. Instead of casting their gaze outside the region for inspiration, these designers looked within, using the fete signs by sign painter Bruce Cayonne as the stimulus for innovative offshoots."
Making a Living from Fete Signs
Shereen Ali, Guardian Newspaper, Published: Tuesday, October 31, 2016
“How can we apply creative skills to not only make a living, but solve problems? T&T Guardian feature writer Shereen Ali spoke to sign painter Bruce Cayonne and designer Debbie Estwick to see how their different but related projects seek to find solutions…”
Soyini Grey, CNC 3, Published: Nov 7, 2016
"Debbie Estwick is turning fete signs into books. Her signs of choice are Bruce Cayonne's iconic fete signs. His lettering style has inspired 2 computer fonts, currently in progress: Fete Font and Cayonne Sans."
Volume 1 Ministry of Design - From Cottage Industry to State Enterprise
Editors: Lesley-Ann Noel, Michael Lee Poy, Published: Department of Creative and Festival Arts, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad, May 28 – 29, 2015
“Debbie-Ann Estwick, (pp. 91 - 104), hypothesizes the role of a proposed Ministry of Design to wield design as a strategic tool for innovation and economic development in and through small businesses in Trinidad and Tobago. Her paper is based on three premises that she identified in her literature review that: 1) designers are natural innovators and creative problem solvers; 2) that design thinkers are the new leaders of the future and 3) that collaboration through design can improve the competitiveness and viability of small businesses, engineering and manufacturing industries