Narrative Researcher, Educator & Designer

I help people learn, explore and communicate sustainable futures thinking, researching values, behaviours, what matters to different people and how we navigate it - while examining the role design plays in connecting our pathways.

Across projects in global health, civic innovation, and the design of spaces where people live, work and connect, I teach and apply methods that uncover hidden perspectives, unexpected connections and resonant narratives - mapping new pathways for ‘unlike minds’ to explore complex challenges together.

Teaching & Learning Programmes

I demonstrate how to approach sustainable futures challenges through creative and collaborative thinking, and how to communicate them in ways that consider diverse perspectives. This is supported by 15+ years in innovation and design combined with an MSc Sustainable Development in Practice (distinction).

Cross-Sector Research & Collaboration

Through practice, I’ve learned that sustainable futures progress ultimately depends not only on external communication, but on thoughtful collaboration across sectors and disciplines. This requires the agility to anticipate and flip perspectives - public, private, civic - and recognise the different needs, interests and energies of others ahead of time. Here, I develop and share methods to help build this agility.

"I would describe Carra as rigorously creative, in that she combines systems thinking and critical thinking with the spontaneity needed for new ideas. Not many people can do this. She questions everything and because she's also a terrific person, connects with people on many levels. It's an impressive combination of skills for change-making. Working with Carra definitely made me a better designer."Darren Evans, Design Council Expert & Founder, The Engine Room

Contact

I typically work with universities, design schools, professional bodies, creative practices, public organisations and cross-sector collaborations navigating complex challenges and interactions.

If you sense that a conversation, course or initiative could benefit from fresh perspectives, email me or connect on LinkedIn to arrange an exploratory call.

© Carra Santos. All rights reserved.

Teaching & Learning Programmes

When I returned to university to study sustainable development, I realised that many practicing designers - like me - had never been taught the fundamentals: the core problems, principles and possibilities.Instead, we were working from an overly simplified version that sidelines what designers do best: inspiration, imagination, creativity and problem-solving.

Today, I design and support learning experiences, workshops, and curriculum insights that help creatives and designers first ‘unlearn’ this oversimplification, then explore sustainable futures challenges through multiple perspectives, bringing all their design and communication skills to the table.Working with universities, design schools, professional bodies, and creative practices, I turn understanding of sustainability into imaginative, future-shaping projects - underpinned by a robust rationale - helping designers make socially, environmentally and economically progressive decisions, and placing design at the centre of meaningful change.

Ask me about:

'The Sustainability Spectrum'

A CPD learning series for creative and professional service micro/SMEs, demonstrating the full scope of sustainable futures beyond 'green', and their unique potential to support an integrated approach to environmental, social and economic innovation.

The Future of Interior Design Education

Focused research into how UK interior design education can support regenerative, distributive and circular economies - and safeguard the future of the sector - analysing needs, gaps and opportunities to inform programme development.

Design Council 'Design, differently'

A six-month capacity-building programme of workshops, site visits and one-to-one coaching for six UK teams - community groups, social enterprises and local councils - that combined design+systems thinking to strengthen place-based climate innovation and enterprise.

'Design for Thriving Cities'

A future-shaping series of CPD workshops for responsible property developers and urban design professionals, conveying needs, knowledge and innovation in context, including Circular Economy, Social Value, Inclusive Design and Reinstating Nature.

'The Basics of Sustainable Futures'

A four-part CPD programme for design, business, finance and technology educators, introducing an initial sustainable development layer to their subject specialisms, and helping inform their content and curriculums in response to increasing student enquiries.

100% Design (now Design London)

Concept generation, design and production of a series of industry-acclaimed exhibition features on the sustainable future of food, design and materials - voted ‘most popular’ by 25,000 global professionals, and supporting international industry-wide change.

"The whole sustainability subject is overwhelming and terrifying, and as we are all agreed, we need to act. It’s fantastic to be shown that we can start a conversation and provide leadership/guidance through our courses, even if we are not experts."Course Leader, Associate Lecturer & practicing interior designer, London, UK

“Working with Carra is a fantastic opportunity that all businesses should be lucky to have. You need to know more than you think you know, and I would highly recommend that Carra be the person to bring the passion and creative solution to your business.”Studio Manager, international graphic design practice, London, UK

“I wish we'd done it sooner. It blew away some myths and helped me realise there is so much more to sustainability than use or non-use of materials.”Simon Clark, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Lumsden Design, London, UK

For more information, availability or to talk about a custom programme, please get in touch.

© Carra Santos. All rights reserved.

Cross-Sector Research & Collaboration

Taking sustainable development principles into architecture, design and other professional practices, I realised that understanding the problem was only the first step.The bigger challenge is developing ideas across sectors, backgrounds and levels of decision-making - requiring a shift from working with like minds to working with unlike minds, where real-world change actually happens.

Alongside my teaching practice, I research gaps in communication and understanding across sectors and disciplines - from design to economics to public health to urban planning - and between levels of action, from global institutions to local government and grassroots.Drawing on values thinking, systems thinking and design thinking, I translate these insights into strategies, narratives and tools that help cross-sector groups develop ideas together, build shared understanding, and move projects forward.

Ask me about:

Exploring new narratives for public health promotion and communication

World Health Organization • Geneva

Identifying values-led narratives beyond health and 'loss' framing, creating tangible opportunities for country-level practitioners to research local, culturally resonant entry points for anti-tobacco communication, and action WHO FCTC policy innovation guidance.

Weaving youth values and vision into council climate communication

Design Council • UK

Closing a critical communication gap between local youth and Essex County Council, by applying futures thinking to co-imagine a climate-positive Essex. Participatory workshops revealed ten values-led narratives for the youth climate ambassador programme.

Connecting cross-city stakeholders for a regenerative local economy

B&NES & University of Bath • UK

Designing and leading an experimental engagement in Bath, UK to test how Doughnut Economics tools could be introduced to multi-stakeholder groups. Collected actionable insights into what conditions can make constructive engagement more achievable.

Finding common ground in post-growth economics perspectives

Independent research at UWE

Analysing language used by academic post-growth - specifically, degrowth - economy advocates, and by UK finance/technology leaders. Developed strategy and a research method to identify shared entry points for constructive dialogue on highly contentious topics.

Aligning Net Zero agendas with reducing urban inequality

Design Council • UK

Supporting London Borough of Hounslow council leaders to connect across departments and align Net Zero goals with local needs. Reframed climate strategy around equity, care and social-environmental co-benefits based on proven local needs/perspectives.

Strengthening public-private-civil society collaboration on health innovation

World Health Organization • Geneva

Demonstrating behavioural foresight and design research to enhance collaboration within the WHO Tobacco Cessation Consortium. Curated tools for leaders to align stakeholder knowledge, perspectives and resources around the goal of reaching 5m people.

"Carra brought insight, thoughtfulness, and a deep sense of curiosity to the work we did together at the WHO on tobacco control. She approaches complex challenges with care and intellectual rigor, always seeking to understand the deeper dynamics at play. At the same time, she brings real joy and warmth to a team - Carra made a lasting impact on the work and on me personally."Dr Hebe Gouda, Project Officer, World Health Organization

'Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity'
2018 ACID Female Design Champion Award, Runner Up
“For the imaginative boundary breaking work she is doing between different individuals.”
- the late Sarah Weir OBE, former CEO, Design Council

For more information, availability or to talk about a custom research project, please get in touch.

© Carra Santos. All rights reserved.

Talks, Lectures & Learning Experiences

I extend my teaching through talks, lectures and learning experiences, building connections between people, place and behaviours - and sharing how design and new narratives can translate research into practical action.Whether in the design sector or across public health, civic innovation or education, I focus on uncovering fresh perspectives, testing ideas in context, and providing accessible tools to move concepts from research into discussion into real-world outcomes.

Selected Talks & Publications

2025

World Health Organization
10th WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic

Contributing findings of new narrative angles and research recommendations for health communication, supporting policy innovation and implementation.

2024

The RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce)
'A Different Way'

An online talk for the RSA highlighting the role of creatives to shift sustainability-thinking ‘beyond net-zero’ and create the conditions for everyone to thrive within the means of the living world.

2024

Doughnut Economics Action Lab
'3 Horizons for Systemic Change'

Contributing to the Doughnut Economics 'Doughnut Design for Business' adaptation of the Three Horizons framework by Bill Sharpe, inspiring futures thinking around enterprise innovation.

2023

Routledge
'Accelerating Sustainability in Fashion, Clothing and Textiles'

Lead author of Chapter 17: Crafting connections with clothing: values, influence and relationships. Book launch chapter presentation and facilitation of a roundtable discussion on a sustainable future for the fashion industry.

2023

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution
‘Doughnut Economics: Can Bath Thrive Like Amsterdam?’

An in-person lecture at BRLSI exploring the potential of the UK city of Bath to thrive like Amsterdam - the first European city to adopt Doughnut Economics as its economic development strategy.

2023

Design Council
'Design, differently with Communities'

Scriptwriting, delivery and recording of a futures narrative imagining life in circular communities in the year 2033 - on themes of energy, mobility, land use, food, education and circular skills - including co-facilitation of the related Design for Planet workshop.

2022

Design & Technology Association (DATA)
'Designed for Life'

Interviewed for an ongoing podcast series considering the future of design and technology education within industry, aiming to inspire "tomorrow's solutions today".

2021

UCA Centre for Sustainable Design
'All Sewn Up: Dismantling Fast Fashion Consumption as a Social Practice through Creative Empowerment and Consumer Collaboration'

Academic research paper and Sustainable Innovation Conference presentation on enabling sustainable social behaviours through post-growth fashion design and business model innovation.

2018

International Food & Drink Event (IFE) London
'Talking Trends: Waste Not Want Not'

Panel discussion on food waste, exploring various topics including how food and design meet in the circular economy through enterprise and materials innovation spanning clothing, packaging and construction.

"Carra is a driven, intelligent and curious colleague. When working with us at the Design Council, she helped to deliver a complex project with a range of stakeholders. She pushed participants to think deeper about the work they were aiming to deliver, and ultimately created a more meaningful process. This, in turn, led to longer-lasting outcomes."Emily Whyman, Senior Programme Manager, Design Council

Installations / Experiential Learning

2015

100% Design (now Design London)
'Mattergarden'

A 160sqm eco-design feature concept exploring the connections between food and regenerative materials for design in the built environment. Sponsored by Formica® Group.

2014

100% Design (now Design London)
'Maker Carousel'

An immersive 81sqm design installation to make, craft and create - from age-old artisan skills to 3D printing and smart technology. 100% Design's 'Most Popular Feature', sponsored by Oikos.

2013

100% Design (now Design London)
'Farm Kitchen'

An educational 272sqm design installation and pop-up restaurant exploring the future of kitchen design and growing our own food indoors. ICON Magazine's 'Top 3 Highlights of 100% Design', sponsored by Gaggenau.

'Carra's involvement with 100% Design has been a huge boost to the quality of design thinking at the show. Her approach to every project is in-depth, practical and passionate; working with her is always a very pleasurable experience and her ability to make things happen both creatively and practically is invaluable.'William Knight, former Director, 100% Design London - now Design London & Clerkenwell Design Week

For more information, availability or to discuss possibilities around talks, lectures and learning experiences, please get in touch.

© Carra Santos. All rights reserved.