John Henley
BDES 2024 Design, Environmental & Sustainability Studies Minor
John Henley is a graduating senior at Carnegie Mellon University pursuing a Bachelor of Design with a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ESS). With a passion for the crafts and an interest in sustainability, John finds himself at the intersection of the arts, humanities, and sciences—a praxis nurtured by the ESS program’s intersectional focus. While exploring material culture and maintaining a making-practice in his Design studios, ESS science courses such as Geology offer him a richer scientific understanding of materiality, while humanities courses like Introduction to Environmental place his projects in a broader social context. John has particularly integrated ecology and systems concepts—which are discussed under different contexts throughout the ESS program—into his design process. Following graduation, John hopes to make meaningful products and experiences that are driven by sustainability.