Conventional sustainability teaching, especially within business schools, often remains constrained by orthodox socio-economic models. Addressing this educational challenge requires engaging students at an emotional and creative level, an approach where creative arts are uniquely positioned to stimulate deep learning.
Supported by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Teaching & Learning Innovation Fund 24-25, the workshop brought together Fine Art and International Business students for a dynamic exploration of sustainability challenges through creative expression. The project aimed to break down traditional disciplinary barriers and foster innovative approaches to understanding complex global issues.
Held on 20 November 2024, the first workshop highlighted the transformative potential of combining creative arts and business perspectives to address global socio-environmental crises. The event deliberately sought to transcend traditional teaching methods often confined to business school orthodoxy, encouraging students to engage critically, emotionally, and creatively with sustainability topics.
Sixteen students participated in the workshop, bringing diverse perspectives and disciplinary backgrounds. The session began with an analysis of satirical environmental cartoons, prompting discussions about the role of visual storytelling in conveying complex messages. Students explored the power of art and humour in communicating critical environmental challenges.
The workshop’s interdisciplinary approach yielded profound insights. A Fine Art student shared, ‘The discussion about the comics helped me understand the root causes of these sustainability issues,’ while a Business student remarked, ‘It made me think creatively about how to communicate to my generation in engaging ways.’ In breakout sessions, students experimented with collaborative drawing techniques like Exquisite Corpse and created abstract emotional art inspired by sustainability challenges.
The session concluded with participants crafting cartoons that explored the roles of villains, victims, and hidden narratives in the climate crisis, fostering insightful interdisciplinary dialogue. This approach demonstrated the potential of creative methods to deepen understanding of complex sustainability challenges.
Building on the success of this event, a follow-up workshop in February will focus on designing creative solutions to sustainability issues. This entirely student-led session will continue to emphasise innovation, collaboration, and ownership, embodying the University’s commitment to pedagogical innovation and preparing graduates to make meaningful contributions to sustainability efforts.
The workshop exemplifies an innovative approach to interdisciplinary learning, showing how creative collaboration can transform our understanding of global challenges.
