“Discarded” Project Brings Sustainability and Creativity Together

Students from the ARUCAD New Media and Communication Department brought together the concepts of sustainability, recycling, and creative communication through a hands-on project titled “Discarded,” developed as part of the RKLM132 Creative Advertising Design course taught by Dr. Ahmet İyici. Throughout the project, students not only examined the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) theoretically but also had the opportunity to implement and experience these goals through the products, communication strategies, and design works they developed. In this way, they directly observed how the sustainable development approach can be connected to everyday life, production processes, and creative industries.

As part of the project, which attracted significant interest on the ARUCAD Campus, students evaluated waste and sustainable materials to produce environmentally friendly soaps and candles. In addition to the production process, original packaging designs were created entirely from recycled materials, and sustainability-focused brand identities were developed for the products.

Designed in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the project primarily serves SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. By allowing students to experience sustainable production processes firsthand, it also supports SDG 4: Quality Education. Through its contributions to environmental awareness and resource efficiency, the project further advances SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Moreover, with its creative and innovative product development approach, the project can also be associated with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. While developing creative solutions that encourage a rethinking of consumer culture, students demonstrated how materials commonly regarded as waste can be transformed into products that generate economic and social value.

Throughout the project, students focused not only on product development but also on creating sustainability-based communication strategies, developing a corporate communication language, and designing advertising and branding campaigns aimed at increasing environmental awareness. As a result, participants had the opportunity to combine creative advertising approaches with perspectives of social responsibility and environmental sustainability. Reflecting the creative, interdisciplinary, and innovative educational philosophy of the ARUCAD Department of New Media and Communication, the “Discarded” project enabled students to enhance their design, communication, and strategic thinking skills while producing sustainability-oriented solutions.

The project stood out as a successful example of how creative industries can contribute to sustainable development goals. The project reports and products developed within the course provided concrete examples of how sustainable production and consumption principles can be applied in everyday life, while also highlighting the importance of promoting environmental responsibility through creative communication.