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Another Water Bottle?

September 17, 2025
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
11th Floor - Breakout B
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

SK O'Brien

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

This reflective inquiry challenges industrial designers to critically examine their purpose and responsibility in a saturated market. Using the familiar trope of the water bottle, it asks: do we truly need to design another one? Or should we redirect our skills toward deeper ethical, environmental, and social issues? This presentation explores the evolving role of designers—not just as creators of objects, but as advocates for change, facilitators of dialogue, and stewards of collective impact. It invites educators and professionals alike to reimagine design education as a platform for values-driven practice, empowering students to navigate complexity and lead with conviction.

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For 60 years, the Industrial Designers Society of America has worked to advance the practice of industrial design through education, information, community, and advocacy. Our roots stretch to the beginning of the profession, and our members are, and have been, some of the most celebrated industrial designers of all time. Today, we exist as a global voice for industrial design within a broad ecosystem of design disciplines and we celebrate the cross-functional overlap of many creative fields.

Learn more at IDSA.org

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