Cohort 1

Looking Up

The first cohort of the Responsible Design for Change Fellowship was called Looking Up.

Because no matter how heavy life feels, when we step into nature and lift our eyes, the sky reminds us of wonder—the same sky our ancestors once gazed upon.

Looking Up is a call to remember that we, too, will be ancestors.

The outcome of this first cohort has surpassed anything I could have imagined. We learned from each other, collaborated deeply, engaged with Lesley’s community, and critically examined the very foundations of design practices we often take for granted. The Regenerative Leaders, with the support of their team members, delivered two outstanding contributions:

An extensive report on all the learnings from the first cohort, thanks to the leadership of Lara Rodgett
An event on May 27, 2025, led and hosted by Tara Janes, where the research findings of the report were presented, followed by an ideation session with the UX for Change London community and founding members of Pillow.

This Fellowship has been transformative, not only for UX for Change, but for me personally. I am deeply grateful for the learnings and opportunities for growth it has brought, and I look forward to continuing to enable positive change in the world through the Responsible Design for Change Fellowship for years to come.

Sandra Gonzalez
Founder of UX for Change

This extensive report takes you on a journey through the Fellowship’s origins, context, and timeline, weaving together research insights, methodologies, and strategies.
More than a record, it’s a living toolkit, shaping the future of the Fellowship while honouring the first cohort’s dedication to responsible design practices.

Mini-Hackathon

On May 27, 2025, the UX for Change London meetup came together to co-create ideas for Pillow, a digital tool supporting survivors of domestic abuse. A powerful night of collaboration, empathy, and action—showing how design can truly shape futures.

Here is what some of the members of the UX for Change community had to say about the event:

Testimonials

This fellowship has strengthened my ability to push back on [clients that ignore research] and make sure we are designing for real people not just for those business goals and growth.

❖Jon Bennallick, Fractional Product & Design Consultant

The Fellowship has given me the chance to step into a more senior leadership role which is something that’s really beneficial to me going forward in my career. It’s helped me see the different ways in which we can enact goods and ethical design... a lot of framework and tools that I can use in my job going forward in my career.

Tara Janes, Senior Product Designer @ Publicis Sapient

Through the fellowship I learned about how to truly co-create without it just being an extractive process. The fellowship gives a lot of guidance on how to achieve designs by not just taking a systems thinking approach but how to consider a full ecosystem right from the beginning and how to think about ensuring that every element of your design process doesn’t inadvertently cause harm down the line

Theresa Mullins, Senior Healthcare Clinician Transitioning into UX Research