Design is more than just aesthetics. It is attitude, responsibility – and an effective tool for social change. In a world faced with global crises, social inequality, and ecological challenges, the creative industry has a special role to play: it can raise awareness, mobilize, and transform.

But how can this be implemented in practice? And what does it mean to be creative – with regard to sustainability and global responsibility?

Valentina Marschik is someone who can answer these questions not only theoretically but also from deep practical experience. As the program director of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network at the PVBLIC Foundation, she works at the intersection of fashion, sustainability, and social impact. Her goal: to actively advocate for transparent, inclusive, and transformative engagement of global stakeholders through the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network.

In this Expert Talk, we speak with Valentina about the responsibility of design, the role of the SDGs in the creative industry – and what taking a stance can look like in practice.

Valentina Marschiks Expertise in sustainable transformation in the fashion and lifestyle industry is based on her background in management, communication, and international cooperation.

She began her academic career at FH Wien WKW, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Management and Entrepreneurship, and recently completed her MBA in Apparel Management at IFA Paris, which she combined with her practical work in the field of sustainable fashion.

Her professional career took her from international consulting internships – for example at KPMG Austria and a Viennese business law firm – to leadership positions in the non-profit sector: as head of the fashion program at the PVBLIC Foundation and as program director of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network, where she is now responsible for global programs at the intersection of creative design and social impact.

With a sharp eye for strategic connections and a deep understanding of the cultural power of fashion, she is committed to ensuring that design not only shapes but also transforms.

Valentina: >Through my work with the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network, a global multi-stakeholder platform committed to sustainable development through fashion and lifestyle, I have the opportunity to collaborate with incredible organizations, including fashion brands, academic institutions, textile innovators, artisans, resale platforms, accessory brands, as well as beauty and cosmetics brands that make a real impact on the global sustainability agenda every day, whether as fashion designers, slow fashion brands, international non-profit organizations, or grassroots organizations.

I feel honored to see firsthand how sustainability can be implemented in various industries and how important creative practices are for this change. For me, "design with purpose" means designing consciously and creating something that serves both people and the planet. It's about embedding values into every phase of the process, from concept to production, and ensuring that creativity becomes a force for justice, renewal, and long-term change.

Meaningful design has the power not only to inspire but also to reshape systems and create significant social impact.<

Valentina: >In today's world, designers bear a great responsibility to use their work as a tool for transparency, dialogue, and connection. The United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network brings together a diverse ecosystem, including public institutions, academia, media, and the private sector, serving as a dynamic hub for education, innovation, and collective action.

We believe that open and honest communication with end consumers, from the initial idea to the final product, is essential. Designers must clearly explain where the raw materials come from, how the products are made, and who is involved in this process. By involving consumers in the entire lifecycle of a product, design can build trust, promote accountability, and counteract misinformation.

In the best case, design becomes a form of advocacy that brings values such as sustainability, justice, and inclusion to life through concrete decisions. This is both the responsibility and the opportunity for today's designers.

Valentina: >Through my work with over 360 members of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network, I experience firsthand how companies implement sustainability in all three areas: environment, social, and economy.

While sustainability is often exclusively associated with environmental responsibility, which is of course essential, the social and economic dimensions are equally important and are sometimes overlooked. Design plays a key role in implementing all three pillars.

In the environmental sector, this can mean sourcing sustainable or renewable materials and developing products that consume less energy or water during manufacturing and use.

In the social sector, this can include working with marginalized communities, supporting fair wages, and preserving traditional craftsmanship.

In the economic sector, this can include the development of circular business models or the creation of local employment opportunities through ethical supply chains.

Every day I am inspired by the innovative and meaningful ways in which our members align their design processes with the goals for sustainable development. This is proof that design is not just about aesthetics, but that it is a powerful tool for systemic change.

The United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network is a joint initiative of the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the Fashion Impact Fund – a program of the PVBLIC Foundation – and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Valentina: >I believe that the greatest opportunity lies in the fact that the possibilities are limitless. Through my work with the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network, I have seen countless examples of how creatives have integrated sustainability into their design process, whether it be Converted Closet, which elevates upcycling to a form of couture, Saheli Women, which transforms traditional craftsmanship into economic independence, Caxacori Studio, which uses organic leather to protect the Amazon and secure the livelihood of the indigenous population, or Maren Jewellery, showing us how circular economy and beauty can go hand in hand through recycled materials and transparent practices.

These are just a few examples that prove that creativity, when connected with a purpose, can unlock entirely new value systems.
Moreover, the target audience is continuously growing as modern consumers become increasingly conscious and sustainability-oriented, which will also help to overcome certain challenges. Since sustainable and ethical practices often require more time, resources, and transparency, these approaches may initially appeal only to a niche audience and are difficult to scale. Nevertheless, consumer interest in ethical and sustainable consumption is growing.

To achieve this, clear and honest communication with consumers is essential. Full disclosure is not just a value, but an expectation.

Valentina: >The inclusion of the WeMind Initiative by Maren Jewellery The UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network is an impressive example of how design and entrepreneurial commitment can be aligned with shared values.

Through recycled materials, environmentally conscious practices, and transparent sourcing, Maren Jewellery demonstrates that good design and responsible leadership are not mutually exclusive.

Your presence in the network underscores the importance of mindful entrepreneurship, based on meaningfulness, creativity, and transparency, as a driver for ethical consumption and systemic change.

It shows how creativity combined with intention can shape a more sustainable future for the fashion and lifestyle industry<