Dr. Leyla Acaroglu

Pioneering change in the field of sustainable design, Dr. Leyla Acaroglu has had an influential impact on the way in which society views the environment. Troubled by the wasteful nature of design, Leyla has dedicated her career to championing creative alternatives and encouraging others to follow suit, a mission that has seen her gain global recognition for her innovative methods. Now, supporting corporate clients through her work as a speaker, Leyla’s exploration of topics including disruption, social sciences and systems thinking is highly impactful for business environments.

Since 2014, Lyla has been developing the world-renowned Disruptive Design Method, which instigate social change through design. Encouraging businesses to follow her methods, Leyla’s strategy for progressive change has enabled corporations globally to contribute to social solutions through her education agency Disrupt Design New York. Challenging societies ideas is at the heart of Leyla’s work and having changed her education path from design school to environmental sustainability, one she is deeply committed to. As a designer and owner of Eco Innovators, Leyla has created award-winning works, including Secret Life of Things and the Gender Equality Toolkit.

An internationally respected speaker, Leyla’s ambitions as a creative change agent have been her appear at prestigious events around the world, speaking as an expert on cogitative sciences, environment, and innovation. Taking to the TED stage with a talk titled ‘Paper Beats Plastic? How to Rethink Environmental Folklore’ her presentation is one of the most viewed in the sustainability category, due to its invaluable content and accessible style. Called on to share her alternative views, clients that have benefited from Leyla’s input include Google, where she discussed ‘Disrupting the Status Quo by Design’ and the United Nations.

Continuing her influence Leyla has founded the UnSchool, a knowledge lab that runs unique programmes on systems, design, and social innovation, and is the collaboration of a several change agents and creative rebels. Receiving the Core77 Design Education Initiative Award 2012, Leyla’s dedication to change was deservedly recognised, followed by being named the 2016 UNEP Champion of the Earth. Her latest project combines sustainable design and social entrepreneurship by regenerating a Portuguese farm in The CO Project, a testament to her ability to infiltrate and influence new industries.