Food Systems Action Lab
Food Systems Action Lab
Working with communities to shape a more sustainable food system.
Grounded in authentic relationships with our partners, the Food Systems Action Lab at the Institute of Design develops the knowledge, frameworks, and tools to shape a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable food system.
We foster community-oriented learning by prototyping and experimenting with a range of stakeholders, combining sustainability science, systems design, and human-centered design methods.
Working with and across a range of communities, governments, businesses, and experts, we visualize current systems in order to maximize collective action and support.
We leverage a diversity of perspectives to broaden our collective vision of what is possible and desirable. What we learn together is embedded in the new tools and frameworks that we build and share.
Courses in ID’s Graduate School, including Design for Climate Leadership and Methods of Community Development, are developed in tandem with lab partnerships and research work.
OUR APPROACH
The Chicago area food system from a loss and waste perspective. Created by Ran Konaka (MDes + MBA 2023).
We create clear pathways to better food systems for us all.
The path from farm to fork is often a mystery—but it needn’t be. Working with a range of partners, we visualize the current state. Removing the mystery is an initial step.
Once we build understanding of the current situation, we can activate new ways for communities to create more accessible, equitable, and effective pathways and systems.
OUR PARTNERS
Food Systems Action Lab faculty are part of the Community Engaged Research Coalition (CERC) at Illinois Tech, whose mission is purpose-driven community engagement for mutual benefit. CERC partners and extends academic research for community empowerment and advancement.
